Rescue dogs are sometimes a hard nut to crack because we have limited information on what their life was, especially dogs that were physically beaten.

I don't see a problem with using your dad in the training as Duane suggested.

But, go very very slow with it. And no pressure to move closer until the dog is ready.

make sure your dad is on board with what you are trying to achieve...he has to understand that being loud, fast, lots of movement, eye contact are triggers for this dog. So he's going to have to also be trained to modify his behaviour around the dog.

Why does he go up to other people? Because he goes in front of you to check it out. You maybe think this time he might be nice, or he might like this person. It's not about "like". Think of a runty adolescent who whenever he goes into a bar is thinking about who he could beat up and who would beat him up should there be a fight. Carlin is thinking about "moving" people.
If a calf leaned her head over him, he would nip her. It's the same with a persons hand. He controls thru nipping.

Strangers are bodies to be moved "off". He likes you and maybe your girlfriend and probably no one else if he's a real cow-bred ACD or a throw back to one. You and your girlfriend are boss and he thinks he runs the rest of the world for you. If he's barking at people on the street he's thinking he needs to "do something" about these people. He's likely been beaten for biting,maybe by multiple owners. This will do nothing, affect 0 change.

He needs to learn people are John's job. I do my jobs. John's Dad is not my job. Strangers on the street are not my job. Squirrels are my job, they need to be up in trees. etc.

In time he will not be this way, he will be sweet. You'll be amazed. He will be the best dog ever, likely safe with everyone, even children. Just like the runty adolescent learns that there aren't going to BE any fights, and becomes a calm young man who can sit and have a drink and relax.
For the moment just tell everyone not to pet him, that he bites. ANd don't let him approach anyone. Specifically, do not let anyone lean over him.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

.... He needs to learn people are John's job. .... Strangers on the street are not my job. Squirrels are my job, they need to be up in trees. etc. .... For the moment just tell everyone not to pet him, that he bites. ANd don't let him approach anyone. Specifically, do not let anyone lean over him.

You said it WAY better than I could.

This is the crux of everything we say about standing between the reactive dog (any breed) and his triggers, about never allowing the dog to be accosted, about telling pushy people to back off (while standing between the dog and the person).

"ANd don't let him approach anyone." That means he is NOT in front of you, deciding and weighing and worrying and sizing up.


This goes for dog-reactive dogs, too, and for people-reactive dogs who have no known abuse history (and to tell you the truth, most of the fearful dogs I've worked with don't have abuse in their past).

Nice post, Betty!

And the "particularly cattle dog" part ..... great points!

"Why does he go up to other people? Because he goes in front of you to check it out. "

"He likes you and maybe your girlfriend and probably no one else if he's a real cow-bred ACD or a throw back to one. You and your girlfriend are boss and he thinks he runs the rest of the world for you. If he's barking at people on the street he's thinking he needs to "do something" about these people."

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

Why does he go up to other people? Because he goes in front of you to check it out. You maybe think this time he might be nice, or he might like this person. It's not about "like". Think of a runty adolescent who whenever he goes into a bar is thinking about who he could beat up and who would beat him up should there be a fight. Carlin is thinking about "moving" people.
If a calf leaned her head over him, he would nip her. It's the same with a persons hand. He controls thru nipping.

Strangers are bodies to be moved "off". He likes you and maybe your girlfriend and probably no one else if he's a real cow-bred ACD or a throw back to one. You and your girlfriend are boss and he thinks he runs the rest of the world for you. If he's barking at people on the street he's thinking he needs to "do something" about these people. He's likely been beaten for biting,maybe by multiple owners. This will do nothing, affect 0 change.

He needs to learn people are John's job. I do my jobs. John's Dad is not my job. Strangers on the street are not my job. Squirrels are my job, they need to be up in trees. etc.

In time he will not be this way, he will be sweet. You'll be amazed. He will be the best dog ever, likely safe with everyone, even children. Just like the runty adolescent learns that there aren't going to BE any fights, and becomes a calm young man who can sit and have a drink and relax.
For the moment just tell everyone not to pet him, that he bites. ANd don't let him approach anyone. Specifically, do not let anyone lean over him.

bump

Thank you everyone, and Betty thank you for your insights into cattle dog behavior.

I will certainly be keeping him on leash more, and will be more strict with my NILF approach (which he is great at).

Hypothetically, in case I have a handler error (ie he isn't leashed when he should be) and he gets into a bout of people herding, what is the best way to deal with that? A correction? Right now I've been re-directing, but I feel that (as my GF astutely noticed and pointed out to me) he now attempts to herd people in order to access attention from me.

Wise thoughts?