Quote: Jennifer Marshal

Denise, I would not be so sure he was abused. A lot of dogs that people think have been abused really have not. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 20 such dogs, 3 of which are owned by family members who've had them since 8 weeks of age.

Yup, me too. And I wanted to add that even if you knew 100% that he was abused, it doesn't change the way you handle this. It makes you feel sorry for him and that's going to get you nowhere. In fact, it may even hinder your ability to help him.

This dog needs absolute groundrules in place. Don't pick him up all the time, don't let him sleep on furniture, don't let him have ANY control over his life. Be good and fair to him, but don't coddle him in any way (if you are). Be firm and really, really, really consistant.

This dog is plenty old enough for a DD collar. The size doesn't matter.

The suggestions everyone has given you are good ones, IMO. Extra exercise will do nothing but help.

If it were my dog, I would tether him to me when out of the crate...put a muzzle on him if you feel he might bite you. This is an example of a dog that needs a serious amount of consistant behavior from you. The tethering thing reinforces that you're in charge and it gives you A LOT more opportunities to correct negative behavior and reinforce good behavior. And he quickly learns that he has to follow YOU, not the other way around.

The more time you spend working on this dog, the quicker you'll see results.

I would consider looking at this dog as having training EVERY time he's out of the crate. And if you tether him to you, for example when you're making dinner, doing dishes, on the computer, watching TV (times he might otherwise be crated)...it allows you to get things done while still working on the dog AND it socializes him to your environment pretty quickly.

I just can't say enough about tethering for so many issues. I'm constantly surprised by how quickly it works, given the handlers are consistant and have good timing.

I agree with tethering, I did that when I first got Bindi and Cody and it really helped. I had Bindi with me at all times, she was a little over a year when I got her and I didn't know her temperment well yet, and I wanted the message to get to her loud and clear. And when they act up, back to tethering...
I recommend it too.
God bless you

Excuse me, what is an OCD?

obsessive compulsive disorder

Ok, thx

Thanks to everyone on the imput you gave. Here is the update.
He has pinch collar, didnt seem to work at first, but now does.
For the whining, I believed it to be dominant behaviour to get me to pay attention. That too has now stopped. I spoke to a trainer and he told me to take crate and dump over real quick and I thought kinda lame answer at the time, well I did it, and it took only 3 times, he has now stopped. amazing how simple that trick was. He also is on meds and is doing great!!!
His mouthyness has stopped, for the most part, he forgets sometimes and trys to play with me like he would another dog, but I do correction and he goes down to a little nibble like thing, like he is holding himself back, but kinda like grooming me.
As far as the abuse, the first time I took my shoes off and he saw white socks, he went for my feet, so to me, that shows that somewhere down the line, he probably was kicked or taught to play that way, well that has stopped too.
I did feel sorry for him at first, but of course if I am going to correct issues, I never let him know I did.
Anyway he is doing much much better and I have separated him from my room, so now he sleeps in a kennel in the dog room and i s doing much much better. THANKS again for all the great advice.

 Quote: Denise Rinker

For the whining, I believed it to be dominant behaviour to get me to pay attention. That too has now stopped. I spoke to a trainer and he told me to take crate and dump over real quick and I thought kinda lame answer at the time, well I did it, and it took only 3 times, he has now stopped. amazing how simple that trick was. He also is on meds and is doing great!!!

WOW, you dumped the crate over with him in it to teach him to stop whining? Glad it worked but I've never heard that one before.

 Quote: Denise Rinker

I spoke to a trainer and he told me to take crate and dump over real quick

I want to make sure I read this correctly. You were advised to dump the crate over with the dog in it? :shocked:

Not arguing with you but I've never heard of this before. Yikes!

I thought it was the LAMEST thing I had ever heard. I was thinking to myself, thats the best you got to give me??? I had called a trainer in Blum tx who was referred to me by a rescue organization and when he told me that, I thought you have got to be kidding me, thats the best you got??? SUre enough,,,,,,3 times, no more whining ...I was and still am, amazed. I would have never thought that would work. I ran down the list with him, of all the things I had done.....he said, yep, sounds like you have done everything except this,,,,,try this. I actually did it with him while he was on the phone with me, dog was in car, in crate, we had just left vets office and did it twice in car, and once, when we got home. NO MORE WHINING ??? Can you believe, that something soooo simple worked??/

I know all dogs learn differntly and some dogs, you have to run at several different ways, to see what works. especially with rescues. I would have never dreamed it would be such a simple thing.

I guesss, he had never had anyone do that, I am not sure what they did or didnt do to try and stop the whining. Everything I had tried to that point never worked, but when I did that, I guess it shocked him, of course he didnt get hurt, it was not like I hurled the crate, it was just a simple grab it, and turn it on its side and like i said, added one more trick to my repitore