To the O.P.:

I'm glad you are having success and that nothing bad resulted from the trainer's suggestion.

But I'm going to say to new dog-owners reading the thread that I think it's questionable advice. Amber and Sharon gave what I think are far better suggestions. I do think the dog could've been hurt (at least the way I am picturing this). And I want my dog's crate to be his safe "den."

Denise, please do not take this as being criticism of you, who followed a trainer's advice; it's criticism of the trainer.

P.S. I'm glad the prong is working out for you.

Connie, it was only a tip over on the side, nothing violent,,,,I do not believe in crank and yank. Funny how as a last resort, it was the very thing that worked. I would never harm a dog, just throw him off balance, and when you have done EVERYTHING that Amber and Sharon had told me, I had done every trick in the book, all to no avail. SO it has worked out and as always I appreciate the info I get here.

 Quote: Denise Rinker

Connie, it was only a tip over on the side, nothing violent,,,,I do not believe in crank and yank. Funny how as a last resort, it was the very thing that worked. I would never harm a dog, just throw him off balance, and when you have done EVERYTHING that Amber and Sharon had told me, I had done every trick in the book, all to no avail. SO it has worked out and as always I appreciate the info I get here.

I'm glad it worked....

Again, though, I'm not recommending it.

Also, Denise, I understand that you are trying to work with a dog who is at "last resort" stage, who others thought had to be euthanized, and who is on his 6th placement.

So readers should not consider this thread to be about the usual dog trying whining to get his way. It's not.

I do want to put somewhat of a disclaimer on this. This is not to be done, to your new puppy, because he whines. I take dogs that are about to be euthenized because people cannot handle them.This was done on a dog that fit that profile. No one could handle this dog, he bites, he is aggressive to everyone and everything, except other dogs. He is handler aggressive and people aggressive. They were about to put this dog down, he is on his 6th placement and I took in, because, he CAN be rehabilitated and that is very evident, because every day, he makes new strides in his rehabilitation, but most pet people, would take dog and have him PTS, or just like they did, dump him in the pound.
So with that being said, please, please do not take your new puppy and dump his crate to the side, this was done, ONLY as a LAST resort. I will post a photo, of the little 10lb dog that no one wanted or knew how to handle, then you will see, why I HAD to step up and get this baby. He is precious, to the right person, and doing well, with his rehabilitation.

This is Topper, the rescue from Dallas ...all 10lbs of him.

Even the vet asked me where I got him. I knew it was a way of saying take him back, she wont even touch him. I take all precautions and he is muzzled when he goes in, she still wont touch him

I have a 110lb white (echo) gsd that they were going to put down also. and he is only protective aggressive, maybe a little intermale aggressive, It just amazes me that not many people bother to figure out how to correct the problems, they just dump the dog. I guess me being from the country I believe that animals are used for food, service, and companions. They have feelings and a lot of people dont bother to really understand dogs, they just dump them when they mess them up. It is really really sad. BTW I also work with a gsd rescue, and none of those dogs are agressive, they just get dumped. Well at least the ones they bail out of the pound are not people agressive.

The large white one I have, is just a big ol puppy dog, in my hands. But in the wrong hands he is dangerous. JMHO

Dear Denise: Topper is so cute! He looks just like my rescue Bindi. But now she has filled out and looks much healthier.
Its good to see you trying to help the little guy and I am hoping for great stories of your success with him. Please let me know how it goes. My Bindi wasn't agressive, but shy, not any longer! She is a little fireball. Sometimes sounds (loud) scare her but she has made great strides.
God bless you
I hope you can help this little dog

He is so nervous and anxious I cannot keep weight on him yet. I feed him 4 times a day and still, burns it all off. I am hoping his new medicine will help calm him down and let him gain some weight. He is already doing so much better than he was when I first got him. He tried to bite me when they took him out of the kennel at the boarding facility....now I get toppie kisses with little nibbles sometimes...he he,,, he has to hold himself back and remember I am not to be bitten on like his playmate.

Denise,

My Mal bitch is hard to keep weight on as well. I had tried EVERYTHING and she would just run it off. What I noticed was that her stool did not look all that well digested even though I was giving live cultured yogurt daily.

I got some digestive enzymes from Leerburg here and already since Wednesday night, she seems to be doing better at digesting and her stools are considerably smaller than what they were being on raw.

Just a suggestion of course.

On the dominance issue:
One thing my trainer had me do - my dog was SWEETLY (pushy) dominant and not aggressive...
Take the dog's daily ration of food and put it in a treat pouch. Throughout the day have the dog EARN it's meals from your hand by performing obedience or what-have-you.
Worked well for my dog. Should also mention I have a friend who rescued a dog with similar biting issues as yours and it worked for them as well, in conjunction with some quality private training sessions with a local dog trainer.
Supposedly it raises your status as pack leader - you have more control over resources, and 'nothing in life is free.'