I've got a foster who's around 11 months old, neutered male Malinois mix, and he's lacking in socialization and manners. His previous owners babied him and created a 'monster' that would lunge, bark, and threaten anyone within a 30 foot radius of his body. The woman's reaction was to baby talk her butthead dog and feed into his insecurities and the man ended up afraid of him.

We've been working on the place command and it's worked a lot with having people over and having him be quiet and remain in one place and just observe. However, he refuses to lure and he refuses to think. I'm completely confused as to what I'm doing wrong. Even bacon can't get this dog to engage with enthusiasm and follow my hand 2 inches to receive the reward. Work to eat toys bore him and he'd rather go hungry than move them around to get the food out. He's not allowed to have peanut butter because he gets the runs.

Any suggestions to get him to engage? It's been difficult to reward him calmly because he just won't accept the rewards. He's not into toys. He does enjoy jumping up on me and getting wound up, so when it's appropriate I use that as a reward but he doesn't calm down immediately so it's rare.

Sam;

Have you tried withholding meals? 24 hrs is not too long for an 11mo. Don't feel sorry for him and give in; wait him out. I'd seriously work hard on making that food more valuable and then, once you've got his attention, work on building drive for a ball or toy. When you do bring out some food drive, the Dogzilla ball should help a lot. Also, when he will work for food, handfeed him his meals during training.

I'd definitely stop "rewarding" him by no longer allowing the jumping and overexcited behavior.

How about a ton of exercise. It sounds to me like he's so full of beans that he is not thinking, just moving.
I'd take him for a drive in the country. Put a good lead on him and a pole to hold him away from the car and long trot him for 4 miles. A dirt road would be best, no traffic. Slow trotting pace. Until his tongue is hanging out. You'll need a helper to drive.
Then I'd take him home and give him a bufferin and put him in his crate. Let him sleep for 2 hrs in a quiet place.
Then I'd take him out and see if he's a different dog.
This could be a "large animal" fix for a pet problem, but it is something I might do.

How long have you had him? I have better results when the dog engages me which generally requires some kind of bond. I'm a huge fan of tethering to get a dog comfortable, help build a bond and keep them out of trouble. I'd lower my expectations until he shows more interest and trust in you. And most importantly wants to interact.

I think its telling that what he is doing well with is a behavior which requires him to not have anything to do with anyone and taking something as tasty and pleasurable as bacon holds no appeal. My guess is that your boy is mourning the loss of his family as inadequate as they may have been.

I've had him for 3 weeks Friday. It took him about four days to settle in and get used to the routine here. He's tethered 100% of the time that he's out of his crate. Days I'm not working that's about 2 hours rotation all day to give one on one/play time to the other dogs. Days I am working it's an hour in the morning and then he's either in a place command or tethered to me all evening.

The car idea would work for River but not for Max at this point. He's terrified of cars and vomits and pees himself when he's in them. Cars that move around him cause him to go into a panic. I am getting him used to the bike and plan on taking him out to quiet roads to exercise him that way. Once he's out of the car it takes him about 5 minutes to recover, shake it off, and his tail goes up and he's trotting along happily again.

Thanks for the ideas though!

i like duanes' advice but i'd go a lot farther than 24 hours to wait him out .

the dog has to want what you have and if that takes him a couple or three days to figure out that you are god in that department , the relationship will only be strengthened because of it .

and definitely end the jumping up as a reward behavior, that is going to be a real nuisance down the road . . . after you are able to " charge a mark " , you could incorporate that as a rewardable behaviour, but not as a reward in and of itself.

I thought that my car jogging suggestion was extreme even as I was typing it.

But it does seem that a serious amount of exercise can clear a dogs head and allow a nervous dog to begin to think. I hope you can do something with the bike in time. I'd be afraid to let him off leash to run, but from you description, it sounds like a ton of free exercise would really be helpful.

I get that some people don't want a dog to jump up, but it can't become a nuisance unless you don't teach them the difference between an invitation and bad manners.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

I've had him for 3 weeks Friday. It took him about four days to settle in and get used to the routine here. He's tethered 100% of the time that he's out of his crate. Days I'm not working that's about 2 hours rotation all day to give one on one/play time to the other dogs. Days I am working it's an hour in the morning and then he's either in a place command or tethered to me all evening.

The car idea would work for River but not for Max at this point. He's terrified of cars and vomits and pees himself when he's in them. Cars that move around him cause him to go into a panic. I am getting him used to the bike and plan on taking him out to quiet roads to exercise him that way. Once he's out of the car it takes him about 5 minutes to recover, shake it off, and his tail goes up and he's trotting along happily again.

Thanks for the ideas though!

Why even use a car? Just take him for a jog. Do you live near MA? I have free time for a one on one jog this week. PM me?

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

I get that some people don't want a dog to jump up, but it can't become a nuisance unless you don't teach them the difference between an invitation and bad manners.

Mind blown people?
Just like every other "privilege" in our dogs lives.

Though every dog is unique.Some dogs should never be encouraged or allowed to jumpup.ECT.