A friend of mine has recently taken on a dog he confiscated from a scumbag (complicated situation, I can PM you details if you want, warning, they're graphic) in his town. Sorry if this is a bit long....

I've seen dogs that have come out of situations similar to this dog's background and 13/14 of those times it hasn't ended well....however, my friend is determined to give this dog a chance despite my warnings.

Here's the info I have.....

This is an intact male dog,he's a good amount german shepherd with what could be lab. He's about 5-6 years old. He will be neutered but the vet insists my friend be able to get him to the vet without drugging him before he'll do it and he was only just cleared healthy enough for the surgery. We can't figure out if he's fearful, aggressive, or both.

If you stand at his side he'll urinate and cry, if you kneel he'll jump on you snarling and biting. If you stand in front of him he'll give you a 5 second warning growl and attack. If you stand behind him he lays down, cries, and urinates. If you pet him on the back he cries, on the head he will lick your hand if you let him, touch his back end and be prepared for teeth. You can't touch his stomach at all. At this point he is physically healthy, he has a slight rash but it's been treated and is nearly gone, he has no pain that can be found (and he's been xrayed, ultrasounded, tested, etc).

He has no food aggression but won't touch any food until you're out of sight, he won't take treats either. He won't play with toys, balls, or bones. You can pick up all four of his paws with no issue, you can even clip his nails with no issue. You can look in his ears, examine his teeth, and clean around his face with no issues. He does not wag his tail, ever (and this was checked, his tail does everything else but will not wag, it's not broken or sprained and it's been this way since my friend first picked up the dog a couple of weeks ago)

Most of the first weeks were at the vet's getting treated for numerous injuries and infections. During that time little training was done. The dog was fed, watered, put in a crate (which he doesn't mind, he feels safe there and can even be pet on the back with no crying when he's close to his crate...my friend has not attempted to touch the dog while in his crate). Provided you don't touch him he has perfect leash manners and isn't reactive to other dogs. He can not be taken out around people, he shuts down. He likes other dogs and interacts very well with them. He sits, stays, downs, stands, and goes on an off things on command. He does not guard furniture, food, people, or spaces. In the time my friend has had him the dog will not come to him, can be leashed, will ride in a car, will go to the bathroom outside (he had a marking problem initially and of course he still has the submissive urination). My friend has been doing confidence building (all positive) games with him but it's difficult because the dog won't take food or toys, his rewards have been leaving him alone and warm water (he drinks it and plays in it....I don't understand it either...but it works). He's very paw orientated so my friend has been trying to encourage him to play with things with his paws but so far it's not working.

As for human interaction. He tolerates my friend at this point but is generally afraid of men (and will behave aggressively) and is aggressive and pushing towards women. I met this dog when he was first taken in. When I stood up straight he avoided me, I turned to sit down on the couch and he lunged (he was leashed). However at the time he was still quite beaten up. After about 30 minutes he was comfortable in the same room with me provided I ignored him completely. If you ignore him he'll lie quietly in the corner.


Any advice on how to work him him on these issues? The dog is located in Maine if anyone knows of any trainers willing to take him on (apparently the couple my friend has talked to won't go near the dog). This dog's only other option is to put him down as it would be extremely irresponsible to attempt to rehome him with anyone other than a highly experienced stay-at-home trainer (which just aren't reality available) or dump him in a shelter.

Sounds to me like he's fearful and conditioned. Yikes... I've only dealt with one dog who was like this after what we believe was a year and a half of constant abuse ending with a dragging behind a car, he came to us burned, beaten, sick, and very afraid. We couldn't fix him enough to help him live a normal life so we opted to have him PTS. It was the only solution we could think of at the time to help him, and frankly knowing what I know now I would have done the same thing over again.

Dogs like this can take years to come around and it can take awhile to get this dog to the point where he can be managed. He very likely will be a dog that will never be able to be trusted because in conditioning you may never get a consistent reaction to similar events.

My gut reaction to this is that if you can't tell if this particular dog is fearful or aggressive and if it's conditioned, training, or temperament (or all of the above) is that you're out of your league. You need to have a qualified behaviorist/rehab specialist take a look and see where this dog is at and if there is anything that can be done so this poor dog doesn't have to live in fear. If this dog is of size to do some serious damage to anyone personally I would look at Sanctuary placement if you're determined to keep this one alive. There are only three sanctuaries I know of with the facilities to handle dogs like this with trainers who can help dogs this borderline. The waiting lists for places like this are years long sometimes so if he has doubts I would go ahead and start the process, you can always opt out later if it works out.

Best of luck, I hope your friend stays safe.

How long ago was he taken in? A month, less or more...is the honeymoon over?

Can the dog ever not be tortured emotionally? We have been there and done that and besides learning to be selfish and wanting more for myself I knew that no normal dog would want to deal with all this stress all the time. Then there is the whole liability , responsibility.

Melissa: I'll tell him to look into sanctuaries. He'd be a great candidate, he enjoys the company of another dog it's people that bring out the less-then-desirably behavior.

Sonya: He's been with my friend about a month now and he has warmed up to him considerably and seems to understand that my friend is not going to do what his previous owner did. I think my friend wants to give him a few months to see if he comes around, and is willing to house him, keep him healthy, and pay for a trainer (if he can find one) for that time. If by the end of that time he's going in the right direction, he's got a home with him, if not he'll have him PTS. So far he's consulted a handful of trainers who won't touch him and an animal behaviorist that has said she's never seen anything like him and can't offer much help. I was sent an email last saying that for the first time he ate pat of his meal with a human in the room and showed interest in a squeaking toy. He's not afraid of new things, he typically will ignore them if they're not human, there's only fear if there's a human involved. I'll be visiting the house again in another week to pick up some paper work and help him get the dog back to the vet again to make sure all the infection he had has responded to the antibiotics.

What happened to this dog was horrible and while it's understood that he'll never be a normal dog I think his new owner at least wants to try to give him a chance at a comfortable life.

Jamie,

not an advice, but a thing that *might* help:

one thing your friend might try - talking a lot. Not directly to the dog, but in the dog's presence (to himself, for example). In a calm soft mumbling(?) voice, not too excited. Watch him out of the corner of the eye, when he looks curious, nice and interested, no intensity, say "good boy" or whatever, repeat this key phrase often.

It worked on most dogs I met, but I haven't met really bad aggressive ones. Some of Ed's dogs will probably rip my head off while I am mumbling to myself.

 Quote: Jamie Craig

I think my friend wants to give him a few months to see if he comes around, and is willing to house him, keep him healthy, and pay for a trainer (if he can find one) for that time. If by the end of that time he's going in the right direction, he's got a home with him, if not he'll have him PTS.

This sounds like a very reasonable, unselfish plan. I wish your friend the best of luck with this dog.

He deserves a shot, yet also deserves peace should he prove too far gone.

Sounds like things are on the up, though.:smile:

 Quote: Jamie Craig

I was sent an email last saying that for the first time he ate pat of his meal with a human in the room and showed interest in a squeaking toy.

A thought:

Introduce the scent of human into things the dog likes. For example, I often mix some moist food with Casey's kibble, and I mix it up with my hands instead of a fork. It is my belief that this introduces my scent into the food, and makes a positive association (food is associated with me, and she does love to eat.)

Toys? It's going to sound odd, but handle them after a good workout, and get the scent of your sweat on the toys.

In short, you're taking everything positive in the dog's world, and adding your scent to it.

Just a thought... comments and criticism welcomed.

It seems very good that he is progressing in the right direction in so short (relatively) a time. I have dealt with rescues that were abused and traumatized but not to the point and for the time of this guy. That he is shifting his behaviour is good. Certainly a six month period is realistic. The example of a happy, relaxed and playful dog may be helpful too.

Sonya: The problem is that while he's gotten used to his new owner (and the vet) he hasn't really warmed up to anyone else. Currently he's living with one other dog, a well adjusted pit bull (female) who's done a great job introducing him to the good life. They've hit it off perfectly, he'll cuddle with her on the couch, will eat if she's in the same room (and surprisingly no one tries to steal food), if she bites on a toy he'll show minimal interest in it. She's the ideal roll model, happy, very comfortable around people, very playful, well trained. She was in a similar situation he was actually though she got out at 5 months old and holds no emotional trauma from it, just a few physical issues that need daily treatment. We're hoping there's hope for him too.

Ana: I mentioned the mumbling thing. Apparently my friend talks a lot to his dogs anyway so mumbling a little more won't be an issue XD The dog also has been copying his other doggy roommate and sleeping on my friend's dirty laundry so we're hoping that's a good thing (he sleeps soundly now, which is a really good thing)

After reading most of her book Reaching the Animal Mind, Karen Pryor really makes some fairly compelling claims for the use of a clicker over voice in the initial training/relationship with any animal. A damaged mind is more readily engaged with a clicker. The human voice can trigger bad associations. She points out fear is more easily overcome with clicker training. The only negative involved in the training is the human factor. For 99 cents at Petsmart, and a basic knowledge of how to use it, it’s worth a try. (Positive reinforcement only, no corrections or negatively charged clicker). Even Ed gives instruction of its use in one of the puppy DVDs. So does Cindy. Maybe worth some consideration to make it less stressful on all concerned.