Well he is home...... not much of a surprise there. Picked him up monday after our agility trial was over for the weekend. No one else looked at him, time was up, and he just seemed like too nice of a dog not to try. They did hip xrays, lyme and heartworm test, and neutered him. He is a beast, I may as well have a bull moose in the house, because there isn't much he hasn't knocked over. Very social and friendly, playful, energetic. He knows absolutely nothing but sit. He sits before I pet him. I've been crating him and walking him on a prong, which worked really well compared to the flat collar when I went to visit him. The crating has gone well, gets a little wild when a cat walks by, pretty strong drive to chase, but otherwise lays in there calmly.
I am not sure what to do with the mouthiness. He is very gentle and loves to play wrestle. Which is great, I love a dog that loves to wrestle. But at the same time he gets mouthy with a correction. Can I have both? do I correct for mouthing a correction? I don't think he ever had a correction for anything.
If I were to guess he lived in a kennel(which he did, it's all I know) and they let him out once in a while to play and that was it. No was not in his vocabulary, and he in no way seems like he had an abusive life. I don't think he was ever in a house, the garbage, counter, furniture....it's been a challenge, but the leashing has helped tremendously and crating. I'm glad with what I have learned about crating, 10 yrs ago I would have been pulling out my hair trying to have him loose in the house.

I think he could be a very fun dog. He reminds me a bit of my 14 yr old that never grew up, a giant puppy at heart. I don't want to over correct him, but I don't want an out of control 90# puppy either, but I do enjoy his exuberant playfulness.
He's going to be a handful so hopefully everything will work out fine and hopefully people here can point me in the right direction with this beautiful boy.

Have you decided to foster him or keep him?

Good for you for saving him, and we want pics.

I decided to keep him if all goes well. Came up with a name, Hogan. It was Harley, and it just didn't fit. We stayed with an H, I had 5 names, and that one he responded to over and over, so that was that. I have an option to return, and they would give him 30 days. It would have to go terribly wrong with no hope for that to happen. Aggression would probably be a reason, but I really, really don't see that in him.
I'll try and post some decent pics later.

Sue, that is wonderful news. I will be looking forward to meeting him in April when I am over there at Camp Ripley......

Oh yeah, Chuck said if you are still interested in learning about SAR to contact him. Let me know if you want his contact info.

Thanks Carol, maybe by April he will have some manners!
Not sure if it was the right decision yet or not, I already had my hands full with what I had. It will be a difficult time for a while, he is really a handful. I hope I wasn't wrong in bringing him home and it all works out in the end. Looking forward to seeing you in April also. I will keep the SAR work in mind, I've always been interested, maybe after seeing you in April will be enough of a push to give it a try.

I am also in over my head with big active dogs (3) and a former foster that was just returned. Now I have 4, including a 5 month puppy. If you are feeling overwhelmed any time you can PM me, I know what you are going through!