I would say that yes, he should be corrected. I think the general attitude should be that you are the alpha so although its nice that hes eager to do his part, he has to wait for your signal on things like that. It does sound like young inexperience a little, since he isnt very consistent unless there was an unknown factor in both cases that triggered it. (I mean, I know there was but something that gave him genuine reason to suspect them of foulplay)
Im not sure if I make myself clear. Im really not all that good at expressing my ideas as clearly as alot people here And I tend to give analogies I know =)

To get him to pay attention to me I've been walking with a bag of roasted chicken and he loves little dogs...maybe b/c he is currently living with my dog(Jack Russell Terrier)?? When he sees a small dog I sense he gets excited and I'll say his name "Truman, look" and when he looks at me I'll give him food....it's actually working as he is VERY food motivated as I could count every rib when I first got him and he has filled out nicely....the pic was just taken 3 days ago and he looks so much better.

I have fostered two other dogs before.....both were shepherd mixes and I know every dog is very different, but although affectionate, he is a bit aloof at times....my other foster dogs I could take offfleash and they would not run, but I know if I took him offleash he would be G O N E. I guess what I feel different is that "eye contact" that I usually get/feel when you know a dog is connected to you...this is hard for me to describe adequately....

I know it is very early, but I am trying to get him to pay more attention to me on walks....but I also want to be fair to him as he was picked up in a more residential area out in Brooklyn where I'm assuming he isn't used to all this city chaos and I don't want to be correcting him everytime his ears perk up b/c he sees something...but I also don't want him to be lunging at people either...it's a fine line I guess and I just suck at reading him to understand when he is about to go over the edge.

Edited by Gloria Hong (02/23/2008 10:38 PM)
Edit reason: spelling

I know exactly what you mean! this time I really do.
I have a dog that has taken me months to develop any bond with. He PREFERs me but it has taken a huge effort of combined NILIF, training, defending and building trust for him to start to bond with me. On the other hand I had one (foster) who bonded within days, it was disconcerting because I wanted to help him but he was bonding too fast and I wanted him to save that for his new owners.

Since he is so food motivated play around with spitting treats to him. Back up with him coming in in front of you stopping and spitting bits to him every couple of steps, read the article here about marker training and mark every time he looks to your face. I think the best thing for you to do before you start correcting a 100Lb rott before you have bonded with him is to control the distance between him and these things and people that he may react to. It may be difficult but I wouldnt want to take a chance.You can learn more about how he reacts to a correction without having to try and stop something as quick and scary as lunging at someone. I would start teaching him to "Leave it" Its a command that can be used to stop him from doing anything. You can use it to make him divert his attention from the bum with a shopping cart before he's close to him.

Yeah Steve, I like the leave it command. One never knows what may set a dog off or what they may get into. Leave it brings the dogs attention right back to you.
All things consided I think the dog sounds pretty balanced myself, and given the right direction will make someone a fine dog. Just speculating; the two guys the dog went after, other than black gabage bags full of cans, did they have anything else in common? Long coats, hats, glasses, dark hair, beards, anything like that? Where I'm going with this is; in his stray days he could have easily had some trouble with someone that in some way resembled the two men he met in the street. That being said, keep working the ob in the street, don't be afraid of losing control the dog will pick up on that in an instant, assert calm leadership...Don't freak. Don't tighten up when going into hectic situations, show him the way. He sounds like a sweet heart. He just needs leadership and boundries.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

On his tiggers Gloria, it is imperative you figure those out. It doesn't sound like it's as simple as plastic bags of cans. See if you can think of any other common denominators. Heck if I were you I just might take the dog to someplace we likely would meet the right combination, just so I could know where to start desensitizing him. If I thought I would need help to hold him or control him, I take a friend to hold a second lead, but I would figure out the tiggers one way or another. It may be scarey, but should be safe if handled properly. Once the combo is figured out you can then start working on his problem and help him through them.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

Yeah, he really is a great, great dog. I'm amazed that he is doing as well as he is from the horrible shape he was in when I got him. It's just confusing as we seemed to be doing fantastic and then "boom" he suddenly exhibits aggression. Maybe he is just testing his boundries?? Will work on trying to figure out what the trigger is and the "leave it" command.

I read the article on marker training...thanks everyone.

Fostering is both incredibly rewarding, but also at the same time frustrating.

Gloria, I say the testing boundries manifests as mouthing, jumping, and general pushiness described around the house and with friends.
Agression is agression..... Besides bags is there anything else you can think of that the two men had in common?

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

Don't put him in a position that's uncomfortable for him yet, work up to it and take your time, he doesn't even know you yet, why should he respect you? He sounds like a young dog that's learning. Guide him in his behaviours and meet people on your terms. Having a dog a few weeks doesn't give you time to build a bond, that's the most important thing with a dog. Once you have that training is easy and fun. Good luck with him,
AL

No, they both had on winter caps and were of different races and height/build. The only thing they had in common I guess was they had bags that were loud....cans and things jostling inside of them walking face on towards us.