Just curious-one of the new dogs at the shelter displayed some "interesting" behaviors today and I am wondering how to maybe correct him so he has a shot to be adopted.
No idea what breed it is-colored like a red heeler but collie-like ears and bigger and broader than a heeler-built like a rott kind of.
anyhow, thought he was a big baby when I went into the kennel to get him, he kind of wiggeld and scooted like a pit will do but was sitting, not laying down, and the tail was going.
Got him out the door and he was very confident and began jumping on me-right in my face, and I'm pushing him down and using a big mean voice and he just got more wild. I even resorted to giving him my knee in his chest, and he was unfazed. Finally he is pressed on me in an upright position, sort of like maybe he wanted to hump me, and then he pisses all over me.
Got him moving around on all fours using a ball and he will not stop jumping on me. I have worked with working bred dogs before, and just could not calm this animal. But friendly, good ball drive for a mutt.
Anyhow, I finally grabbed and held his paws and just talked all happy and excited and began backing him up-and that dog stayed on his hinds for a good three minutes, and then began biting my arms (a nice full bite too!). Tore up my leather bomber jacket.
he wasn't growling or anything-he just wanted me to let go and wasn't going to get down. A power struggle of sorts.
This is a decent sociable dog but maybe a little dominant I think-anything more drastic I can do to inhibit the jumping? We don't get people through here looking for sport dogs-if I can't improve this stuff, he'll be deemed unadoptable.

Alex, can you get this dog outside away from the kennel for a bit? Sometimes you can get a better picture of the personality away from the chaos of the shelter, If he's fairly new to the environment it could make whatever insecurities he has come out even stronger, and from the description you gave, it almost sounded like he couldn't get close enough to you (got a husky right now like that, hell, gets so close, he wants to be behind you :rolleyes: !) Between that and the urinating he almost sounds submissive. Maybe try talking to him in the most low, neutral tone of voice you've got, sometimes the happier you sound, the more they get worked up, and when he starts jumping, back up and ignore him until he starts to calm down. Better to have him on leash, too, you'll have better control and he'll be hard pressed to jump up if you hold the leash down low.

Back tie the dog and stand sideways to him, just of his reach, and ignore him while he jumps and acts stupid. When he get tired of this and calms down and probably sits, praise, if he gets stupid again start ignoring again. When he gets to the point that when you praise he doesnt flip out then reward him. Whe the dog gets good at this then you can started standing farther away from the dog and when you see the dog sit go to the dog and reward. If the dog spazzes because you are coming in,start ignoring and walk away. The point is for the dog to learn how to stay calm and that is the only way to get your attention and also the only way to get rewarded.

My ex-stray dog also jumped like crazy and nipped hands. As he has a very strong food drive, I taught him sit for biscuits. He always sits now instead of jumping.
Both my dogs sit together before any walk, while I put their collars on. Then when we come back, they sit to take their collars off and wait to get their biscuits. Really comfortable.