I hope to get advice from the more experienced dog folks.
Last Saturday I did get another GSD rescue - which was described as getting along with all dogs, gentle, etc. He is a nice dog alright, about 2 years old, and a rather handsome, solid fellow. He apparently had been dumped at a farm where he never bothered anyone, but when he did not leave he found himself at the shelter. Got neutered and of course every vaccine under the sun...oh well
My previous male was dog aggressive and I prefer not to go through this again, although he turned into a great dog in any other way and he was good with dogs he knew.
So, this brings me back to the new boy, first he scared my female with his growly approach, but by now she has him in place (partially due to how I interact with them/pack leadership). I got two of Ed's videos (wish I would have known about them years ago...) and am following exactly by the book, step by step. after only 1 day of Ed's method and no more charging to the crate or outside door and he responds quite well to my voice already. Smart dog.... But he has a couple of "warts" that are beginning to rise:
1) he does some mouthing - more like puppy mouthing
2) when he meets other dogs (I walk him for 45 minutes 3 x day) he get growly and noisy, but he has switched to play mode immediately after with my friends very sweet Golden, and walked really well next to him
3) when I walked him yesterday he barked at a person walking on the other side of the road
4) when the vet came from micro-chipping he was scared of her black hard case and then of the hand held monitor (which checks if micro-chipping was successful), he backed up and growled (he met her before as she ownes the sweet Golden..)

As a note, he was reprimanded each time for his misdemeanors.

To me none of these behaviors are acceptable, and in essence I agree with Ed that no matter where he comes from and what his background is, this is a new page in life and he needs to learn the rules.

Would you consider this dogs behavior to be or dominant/aggressive? or just too new to have a reasonable feel for him?

So far I haved Ed's: Basic Obedience, Pack Leader and just ordered the Marker Traing DVD - will I need to Dominent Dog one too?

Thanks All!

Without seeing the behaviour in question, he sounds like an unsettled dog.

From what you are saying he has been in at least four different homes/locations (original owner, farm, shelter, and now you) in a short period of time.

He has no idea what is expected of him, no idea if his home will change again, no idea where he fits in the pack (yet), no idea what will happen tomorrow.

You are essentially a stranger to this dog, and he doesn't know if he can trust you to be a strong pack leader for him.

I have long-term foster dogs and they are usually not their true selves for the first several months. I had one who was growly with me, for example he would growl when I would put his coat on, but once he figured out I wasnt going to hurt him and he could trust me he now can't wait to have his coat on because it means he gets to go outside!

You need to give this boy plenty of chances to be right. Try and keep him away from other dogs until he is more secure in his new pack, and trusts you that you will keep him safe. The timing varies for each dog but I would say at least a month.

For our adult rescue dogs we notice that it takes 8 months to a year for the dogs to FULLY and COMPLETELY settle in and their true personality shows. (This is for unsettled, nervy dogs who take change of ownership very hard.) Anxious behaviours like jumpiness, nervous chewing and destructive behaviours, barking, normally disappear once they are fully settled. I fostered a dog who was a terrible chewer. I thought that was just the way she was but after 10 months in her adoptive home her owners report she is totally trustworthy and never tries to chew their things anymore!

Of course, the behaviours you are reporting COULD be his personality, but at this point I suggest managing it by: no overstimulating him with dog parks, meetings with strange dogs, harsh corrections or situations that require harsh corrections. Introduce marker training, pack structure, praise, upbeat obedience work, interactive exercise such as fetching a ball. Implement the things in Ed's Pack Structure video as you have been doing. You will find that as he learns to trust you over the coming months he will realize he does not have to be the one in control, and he will relax.

Good luck. And thanks for rescuing.

P.S. We like pictures, so post in the Introductions section!

 Quote: Angela Burrell

You need to give this boy plenty of chances to be right.

I like what Angela said in her post, but the above statement is so right on. Set this boy up for success. You only need to work on exercise and bonding with him. Give him time. I volunteer with a GSD rescue too and it takes time. You are right in that who knows where he came from, rules are rules. But for now, set him up for success. Firm, fair, consistant leadership.

Well... I agree with the observations of the other responders and would add...

You have had the dog not quite a week. It has been to the vets, introduced to your dog, your friend's dog, people on walks - 3X a day, a new environment, probably a new and more restrictive or bounded schedule, etc. Um, it could be a bit early on in the integration of the dog to your home to be overly concerned about some of the questions you have asked.

Just a dog leaving a kennel environment, say from a rescue, can leave the creature a bit confused. Even dogs need comfort levels, confidence in their owners or handlers, a sense of belonging, time to adapt to rules - among lots of other stuff - to settle in.

If the dog only manifested what you enumerated I think you are well into the plus column for this dog.

In terms of reprimands... I trust you mean corrections in the context of training, and appropriate in intensity to train the dog and not, well, reprimand.

There is nothing in what you have written that suggests to me a dominant dog but it is always a good idea to be prepared.

If you continue on the path you are apparently on, I think the dog will work out just fine. I have found that time and consistency, and fairness, and... will work out the unfamiliar and create a balanced atmosphere.

Just two cents.

Thank you for your responses - you are all confirming my gut feel - great to have this forum!!!

I have never been without a dog in my life (GSD, Terriers, Labs) and Khan is my third GSD rescue and each one is teaching me something else.

I like this dog quite a bit already and actually do believe he is a very good dog and he needs time to settle in. Yes, he has undergone whole lot of transitons and which makes me doing everything just and right even more important. Benevolent leadership and focus is on teaching, corrections for growling where at about level two - no more. He seems really smart, learns fast and I could tell how proud he was on one of our walks today when I praised him for his great response to the command "over" (he has a tendency to go in circles around me - and I am in process of teaching him to stay to me left - not healing, just not in front of me).

I too agree with the stimulation limitations for now. After reviewing Ed's CD's I have decided to work with him and teach him the basics at home rather then taking him to obedience class at our weekly GSD Club, this too makes a lot of sense to me and again you are confirming as well. There will be plenty of time for that later. All those wanting to come and see him have been asked to wait as well.

I know some of you will crinch (I do too) but very, very unfortunate is however, that I have to leave town for 4 days and he needed to go to the boarding kennel, (just dropped him off) -it was either that or I would not have been able to get him as there was such a long list of potential applicants for him, the foster familiy went on vacation too and he had to be adopted out before....I hate to do this to this dog, he did not want me to leave............I did not want to leave him. It will be back to square one when I return..

I will have to work on adding the picture thing after I return.

Even though have to leave for a few days you will be able to start fresh when you get back.

I think that marker training would be perfect for him, its such a clear and precise yet neutral way to teach them what it is you want.

 Quote: waltraud brogren

he backed up and growled

He's uncertain, and with some dogs that's how they voice their concern, by growling. Especially if be backed up and growled. To me that's him saying "hey now, hang on a minute... What the heck is that?!?!" Him getting growly around other dogs might be something thats a habit to him now. He might've learned that sometimes it's a better outcome if he act's "tough" first to try and ward off the possibility of being attacked. Did he hackle at all or lunge towards the other dogs?

I agree that you might be introuducing too much at once to this guy. Take it down a notch or two and let him get used to you, your dog and his new surroundings before doing more introductions or interactions.

But, I have to ask, What did you do during these episodes? Ignore him & continue on? Correct him? Did you speak to him or touch him at all?

Well I am back and tomorrow I get to bring Khan home again and I am really looking forward to it.... and we will start again.

Several of you expressed concern that I might have introduced too many things to Khan in a short time. Actually, I don’t think I can dial it down to lower key then what we do – if I did less it would be at the expense of the much needed exercise. I live in the country on 3 acres and so does everyone else around me. It’s a quiet neighborhood, no sidewalks, no streetlights….. as I have to exercise/ walk him we are bound to run into people and dogs here and there, but generally it is very low key. I also walk on the lake behind my house and have only run into the loose dogs once. He also did not have to go to the vet, she comes to my house; as she is a close friend he will see her often. Since he is so new, I follow Ed’s pack structure he is still on leash at all times.

Wendy to answer your questions, yes, I talk to him to reassure, but also tell him “nooooo” when he growls along with a very, very slight correction – more like closing my hand (to use dressage verbiage) I used to own and ride very touchy Thoroughbred horses that taught me a lot about delicate nuances of corrections and to always use the least amount –incremental adjustments start by not “giving” with your hands, to gently playing with your fingers and continue to increases very subtle, etc – to communicate with your horse, let him know what he needs to do, work together as partners ….. so I am applying similar theory regarding the degrees of correction and adjust to the different situations: ie – car driving by – Khan stiffens- I adjust leash length, talk to him and we continue to walk as if nothing is happening, he sticks with me and I praise…..;

I am sure this is mostly about time to adjust to new home, learn to understand how things work here and develop some sense of trust and stability…… It is really helpful to read all the responses and to get this support !! Stay tune, as I will no doubt have more questions soon….