My condolences to you and your family, CJ, on the passing of your father-in-law. You've done a good thing by giving a home to his little dog. So many dogs end up sent to the pound or just PTS after their elderly owners pass away or have to go into a nursing home. I'm sure your FIL is resting a little more peacefully knowing his dog is being looked after by family who will make sure he has a good life.

It does sound like it is going to be challenging, but I have no doubt you'll be able to make a big improvement in his health and his manners. I wish I had some helpful advice, but I don't have any experience in this particular type of situation. Good luck to you!

"It does sound like it is going to be challenging, but I have no doubt you'll be able to make a big improvement in his health and his manners."

Ditto. For one thing, I imagine he is in pretty much constant low-grade (or worse) joint and spine pain from the weight.

It's always a great thing when a dog who has had no pack leader and who has perceived that he was in charge, like it or not, and had no layer of protection as well as no pack-structure security, starts to realize that now he has a dependable and consistent leader, rules, and structure. Even knowing for sure what his position is (number two, along with the rest of the dogs) will eventually be a relief to him.

And when he loses some flab and starts to get some exercise, a whole lot of pent-up anxiety and frustration is going to dissipate.

And marker training! Imagine a guy of this age when he fully realizes how THAT works! I can't wait for the day that he starts to offer up his repertoire when he sees the bait bag!

There's huge satisfaction in changing the life of a guy like this.

PS
I've never used a belly band, but it seems like this is the dog they are made for.

Sorry guys, meant to get back a lot quicker but there's still relatives in town and well, things just got really busy.

I did manage to get a few pictures. And to our credit, the younger brother said today that he "knows" the dog has lost weight since he first saw him about a week ago. We've had him since the Wednesday before last. Bob said he thinks he's down about a pound, which is a big chunk on this little guy.

I’m working pretty closely with him every day so I guess I don't notice it as much. In any case, here he is.

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/042_zps22762254.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/047_zps17561685.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/048_zps080c63d7.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/056_zps5867ce68.jpg

Warning: Probably didn't need to add this one but it is the issue we’re tossing around here. If there's anything medical anyone can spot, please let me know. And look at the belly hang.

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/054_zps9e155545.jpg

And I just gotta toss in a couple of real dogs cause, well... just cause I have too.

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/RealDogs004_zps9460668e.jpg

And yeah Connie, it's pretty cool. Mark is charged. We're working on eye contact (not looking to bite the hand that's about to feed you) and stay the heck off of me. So he's marked when the leg scratching stops and all four are on the floor. The sit and down are being free shaped and I'll name them soon.

Melissa, I had the little prong in my hand but thought no, you haven’t dealt with something this small in forever and you just need something that he's not going to slip out of right now. He keeps pissing on me and a prong will be in his future. What's a belly band?

And if we've really done a pound in a little over a week, I figure a month should have him in pretty good shape. I can actually see wrinkles in these pictures, which he did not have when we got him. Stretched tight like a rubber band.

And yes Connie, Kibbles and Bits and packages of little Ceasar dog containers were all the dog type food I found. The first night, when we were making a plan, he got a chicken wing. You'd think this dog had died and gone to heaven. He was actually pretty cute munching away on it.

So at this rate, maybe a month to get him in better shape, both physically and mentally, get him fixed seems to be the general consensus and send him on his way. I agree Mara, I think his chances of getting a good would be better as well. We'll see how the temperament thing goes with the NILIF and some leadership.

If all fails, he desperately wants to get in with the big boys. I just might let him. Just kidding of course. He's actually doing pretty good.

Wow, that dog is one fat sausage. The biggest problem little dogs face is tooth and gum diseases - so you might want to get a full dental when he's getting neutered. Also, if he were my dog, I'd get full bloods prior to any sedation.

You might want to check if both his testicles have dropped. I don't know if it's because he's fat or what, but I would've thought his balls would be hanging a bit lower than that (maybe it's because I have a big dog, with big balls). Having surgery on a cryptorchid isn't fun.

You've got some good Karma coming your way, not many people would've taken on a dog like him. Kudos

He can trim down from there, it's not critical yet. Some have no neck as well as no waist.

Remember as you are exercising him that he is a little dog, and he has to walk about 40 steps for every one step of your big dogs.

Perhaps with rules and activity you can get by without neutering him. I think he's really cute!

I'm amused when you talk about him biting. It reminds me of the adolescent Pinker, who could bite so hard, so fast----leash correction, he attacked my leg.
So GLAD we are over that!

 Quote: CJ Barrett

Melissa, I had the little prong in my hand but thought no, you haven�t dealt with something this small in forever and you just need something that he's not going to slip out of right now. He keeps pissing on me and a prong will be in his future. What's a belly band?

A belly band is a "diaper" of sorts. It's a piece of fabric that wraps around the dog and catches any urine. I've included the link below for reference...you can find lots of options via Google.

http://www.bellybands.net/

He's a cute little guy...not as fat as I thought he would be, but then again my reference point is my grandpa's 15# yorkie (should be 8-9#).

Hee hee. I don't know about good karma Jackie, I think it's more like payback. For all the derogatory crap I've muttered under my breath about little dogs and people with little dog syndrome.

And here my father in law, who I loved deeply and respected beyond measure, was one of those people. Rough, tough exterior and let this little dog rule his world. Spoiled him to the point of this.

And I don't mind the biting so much, I get that and this little guy can’t really hurt me. I sat with him a few nights ago, cowboy boots and welding gloves, and a hand full of Orijen. High value to him. Put a piece on the floor, gave him a "No" and proceeded to blocked him.

He gave it his all for a good five minutes, snarling and snorting and attacking the crap out of my hands. But he finally gave up and was handsomely rewarded a few inches over.

He went back a few times trying to get that one piece but he gave up and was rewarded each time. We left the room with it still there.

So he's teachable in the respect department, it's just this pissing/marking that's got me a little stumped. Working on actually potty training, which is going well, and then this.

One of our first walks I brought Echo, he's great with all creatures. Probably one of the worst walks I've ever had. Echo's sheath was so clean and his legs were so pissed on. This thing was a nightmare.

He can walk on three legs with his nose in the air or on the ground. And then to provide a little direction was like fighting a rainbow trout. He'd flip and snarl and jump and snap.

Needless to say, that was far too much distraction and we walk alone right now. In the middle of the road where possible, marching right along, not a lot to be sniffing and peeing on.

Thinking about it, he’s actually come quite a ways in a week.

And yeah, that sack did look a little small in that picture. It was evening when I got the pictures and it's still pretty cold. Those balls usually stand right out but they are high and snug to his body. I'm sure I've seen two lumps there.

I'll try and get an indoor picture. It's just that me, a distracting camera and the back end of this dog, I can see more piss in my future.

Good stuff to know about the teeth. He's done really well with the few pieces of chicken he's got and doesn't seem to be in any pain, mouth or otherwise.

All his teeth are intact, that I can account for and don’t look too bad from what I’ve been able to see. We'll get the vet to do a good check though.

And yeah Betty, it almost does look like he's getting a bit of a waist. I really should have got pictures the first day but nothing, not one thing possessed me to take pictures until yesterday. He's more like a dirty little secret but I'm working on that attitude. I'm sure that's why he's here.

Like Tracey, my worst nightmare, staring me in the face and not a darn thing I can do about it. We're both learning.

And hey Melissa, that looks exactly like what he needs. He can run around in his own piss. I'm gonna look into those.