[serastor]

I Rescued Diesel, a german shepherd/lab mix, from the pound two months ago and have been working dilligently on his training... I have discovered that he is a verrry sensitive dog with very little confidence in himself, or trust in people. I have two other dogs (chihuahuas) whose company he prefers over ours(he thinks he is a tiny chihuahua too), and since bringing him home I have realized that he dosen't like women (he shys away with his tail between his legs as if he has been scolded by them just looking at him).

Our days together go as follows:
He comes in the house with me and my family every morning while I cook breakfast and get ready for work. Before I let him in, he has to sit and wait instead of barging through the door. Upon sitting he is rewarded with a treat, and given a scratch or hug. After spending time in the house he gose back outside with the other two dogs to play while I go to work. I come home frome work, and he gets let in useing the same method described above. We play tug, sit on the couch and watch a TVshow, then he eats dinner while I cook mine. After I eat we practice sitting, laying down, shake, and stay. We always end the training on a good note with him doing something good. Treats and plenty of affection are his rewards. When he is not sitting, or laying down, he is not told "NO"...I apply pressure on his rear to help him remind him to sit, and I point (using a visual command) to re-enforce what I am asking. He always dose really well, and seems to be eager and willing to learn. And he makes me feel we are making progress. A step forward.. Then we ( I usually take one of the other dogs with us) go for a walk.

When he dose something bad (like he did today, chewing the bark off my newly planted trees that cost me over a grand to buy from the nursery and have planted to shade our yard...) I point to the no-no, look at the guilty party and tell him NO. He pees himself, shakes, runs and hides under a lawn chair. And as I continue to clean up the yard (not looking at him, or paying any attention to him) he runs from cover to cover around the yard as if I am chasing him. When I call him over to me, to show him I am no longer angry, he walks in circles, and runs off again. He will avoid me for hours like this. Unless I chase him down and force him to be pet-- which I am not keen on doing. and from this point he makes me feel like we have taken six steps back...

I think he may have been abused?? And this is the biggest problem he has. You literaly cannot scold him for anything or else he runs and hides, wets himself, and shakes. I have never spanked him, not even layed a finger to his nose, and yet when I firmly say "NO, bad dog." he acts as if I have beaten him, and then he hides for hours from me. It's very frustrating and I am tempted to take him back to the pound.

Am I doing something wrong??? What can I do to help him grow a spine??

[CD Miller]

Stories like this just break my heart! I urge you to not give up on Diesel. It definitely sounds like he's been abused. Unfortunately, millions of animals are put down by shelters in the USA every year because of behavior issues. It sounds like you are doing all of the right things. Just understand that it's going to take time and patience to see a difference in Diesel. You don't say how old he is. Unfortunately, the older they are, the longer it can take to win their trust. I rescued a Bassett Hound, probably 6 or 7, that I have to keep in a crate while I'm not around and can't let outside off leash, or she will run away. I have had her for 2 years now, and she is finally, finally coming around. She is still terrified of pretty much everyone else (especially males), but will walk on a loose leash with me, is better about not soiling her crate, and will talk to me now. I'm not saying it's going to take 2 years for your to win Diesel's trust. It's likely he's much younger and was abused for a shorter period of time. Right now, you are this dog's hope for survival. If you don't think you can hang in there for the long haul, I would ask that you try to find another home for him, or a rescue (there are German Shepherd rescues around) that can take him in. But, if you can deal with it, you will be rewarded by knowing you have saved a life and made a new friend. Hang in there -- it is so worth it in the long run!

[german sheep]

Hi serastor,

as long as you leave him outside during the night, you will have no success.
He can not break down the barricades of fear when left alone in the night where all accuring situation must be solved with selfedependent decicions.
There is no human he can lean on and so the garden is his own with everything in it --> new plants. He had to check out what this is in HIS garden and then:

...you came and restricted him for a behaviour which, from his point of view, is correct and of course for him you seemed to act unlogical and therefore dangerous in his eyes.

The next reason is the other two dogs. When he can escape in the communication to the other two dogs he always has 2 alternative ways than to come to the owner in stressfull situations. And he will do so because he has made the experience that humans are dangerous (where he was before)!

LG
gs