following on from my rescue dog lunging at someone thread

yes nipping is unacceptable, but that needs to be explained to him surely? and trust built up? At seven you don't know what sort of boundaries (or not) he has been given in the past. Sounds like some onsite help and support would be a good thing if you are happy to give him a bit more time/like him enough for that :).
 
I've contacted the trainer BB recommended.
I'm going to order a crate tomorrow and see if I can find someone to help me take the kitchen door off so I can put the baby gate up.
 
My dogs are rescues and my bitch has had some particularly hard treatment, and I've worked blumming hard to get them where they are now. I wouldn't have been able to cope with what you describe. All it takes is some one to make a complaint and your looking at PTS. With my 2 at times its been a labour of love, but its always been worth it as they are completely trustworthy with people. However, I dont think I will rescue again :( Its very selfish of me, but its such hard work repairing the damage other bloody idiots have done and I put such a lot into my dogs. The next one will be a puppy from a good breeder who is a blank canvas. Its taken more than 12 months for my rescue bitch to settle and be happy and I am still aware she has issues. It was soul destroying in the beginning and while its been very rewarding its also been exhausting at points! Mine were also young dogs, not middle aged so a bit easier in some respects. Theres no shame in sending him back if you havent got the time/setup/inclination to give up vast amounts of time trying to rehab him which might just end up in you learning to manage him
 
You don't need to remove a door to fit a baby gate :(
If you really feel out of your depth then please return this poor dog to the rescue - there are other dogs that need homes but I think, as said above, that you are expecting too much too soon from an insecure dog.
 
CaveCanem has talked total sense on this thread OP - please take the time to go back and re-read what she has said, she has hit the nail on the head with every one of her posts. Unfortunately for me it does sound like you are not prepared to put the time into this dog that he needs, so returning him sounds like the best option IMHO.

I have totally the opposite view to FrankieCob about rescues - I am not saying I am right and she (or he?) is wrong, I am not saying I am some kind of heroine for dealing with difficult dogs, but I do know that the rescue with the most issues that I have had over the years was my dog of a lifetime. I lost him 5 years ago on 4th December, and I still miss him so much it hurts; the reward of overcoming his fears and insecurities was the total love and trust he gave me for the 5 years I had him, it was amazing. But I fully appreciate that it is not for everyone, and I am unusual in my willingness to take on pretty much any dog.
 
blood_magik said:
carpet man takes a step back into the hall and the dog lunges at him. He got the hem of the guy's jacket.
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Sounds like a nervous threatened reaction. Only when the man stepped back did your dog make a move. I would also suggest your dog chose to get the hem of the mans jacket - if he'd wanted to bite him he would off. Not that it is to be taken lightly, it was a warning to the man and you, he's trying to communicate the only way he knows how - he's threatened, back off give me space. But it sounds like he's not instinctively aggressive.

OP this is something that will take months if not years - with no guarantee it'll ever be fully resolved. I chose to stick with my dog and to understand him but its an equally brave thing to admit that it's not something you're prepared to work with. Best thing for both of you to be honest! Good luck!
 
Alec Swan said:
Would you ride a horse which was a confirmed bolter?

Alec.
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Alec in this analogy is the horse the dog, the bolting the biting, and OP riding OP keeping the dog?

A confirmed bolster could mean that the horse has bolted once - it may never bolt again. All horses have the capacity to bolt given the correct stimulus.

Sorry if this makes no sense.....works Xmas meal and free wine!....
 
Personally, I wouldn't want to take on a dog with this baggage unless I was someone who for example did flyball/agility/some sort of dog sport which would channel his energies. I hate dogs that sneak on people/lunge. I would have much less issue with a dog who bit someone who approached them in their bed etc. as that's got a reason. Dogs that watch and wait for an opportunity-I would not enjoy having. He is probably always going to have some tendancy towards this so either you are happy to manage him or not.
 
I think the whole situation must be very confusing for the dog. He's with you, he's with your parents, he's back with you....

Would he simply be better off full time with your parents who have the time to work with him?
 
You dont sound very confident in your posts, this dog could be picking up on this and reacting, in another home he might not show this behaviour at all because they will have rules and bounderies. Any dog that comes into my house has an unknown history so I lay down the rules, my dogs obey my rules so any other dog coming in has to adhere to them as well.

I would ask Cayla for a crate guide, this will help contain him when needed and used properly will be his den and sanctuary.

He sounds like a very unsettled dog to me and going to your parents will not be helping him as he is never long enough in one place to settle.

None of his problems are insurmountable, you need to go back to basics and control everything you do with him, if you feel this is beyond you then hand him back, there is no shame in that.
 
I thought about your situation a lot overnight. I would send him back and get something young, a puppy or close to it. They don't come with a history, and will settle in much easier between two homes because it is normal for them. I am sorry about your boy but I don't think I could cope with a dog like him, if he barked or growled first it would feel safer, just lautnching would be very worrying. All the best whatever you decide.
 
blood_magik said:
Eta - I never said he was a bad dog. I just said that I don't really want a dog that can't be trusted around guests.
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but he hasn't lunged at your parents, who are guests in your home, he has lunged at work men. have you seen what he is like with a friend coming around, saying hi and relaxing with you on the sofa? a work man is different. my friends dog will yap, growl and occasionally threaten to nip at builders ankles, so has to be put away. but the first time i met him, went to say high and then sat of the sofa and he relaxed quickly. there is a difference. also he is more like that with men, and men in florescent jackets actually, mostly fine with women: this could be part of the issue?
 
I've had workmen in and out of the house before with no issues so it's something that's relatively new.
I have to say that the guy yesterday was relaxed around him - he let the dog have a good sniff, patted him and then ignored him, which is what a friend did when he came round the night before.

Part of me wants to keep him and work through the issue, and part of me says give him back now before he gets even more attached.
I think the next step is to get someone independent to assess the situation. The rescue isn't going to want to take him back and I don't blame them.

Hopefully dogs trust call me back.
 
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It's definitely a fear issue then rather than an aggression issue - he's not dominant aggressive, but fearful. Dominant ones don't wait for a turned back and it's harder to resolve imho. He might feel threatened, and think there is a power vacuum which he has to fill.

The fact that he has taken to your dad made me think a bit. I have a GSD who lacked confidence even from when he was a pup. He doesn't like other dogs. He never used to give a warning for this but would lunge and snap. He was always 'my dog' as my OH had an older GSD who was his baby; I did all his training/walking etc. He was very obedient but always had that fearful edge. When the older GSD died, we got a new pup and my OH had him to walk etc but he had no patience, and pup didn't like it. We swapped. My big lad LOVES my OH's confidence (nothing frightens OH!) and is now a much braver dog; the fear has completely gone and he's very relaxed. Pup prefers me because I'm very calm.

Would you say your dad gives off a confident vibe? If so, you might want to try echoing that if you do decide to keep him. Or it may be that he would fit better with someone who has that superconfidence already!

Please let us know what you decide; it's a tricky one for sure.
 
When a rescue dog lunges, unexpectedly at somebody, it is trying to pre-empt a situation that has frightened it in its previous life. Sometimes you can see one, literally quaking with fear, at particular stimuli, even as it sits beside you in the safety of a closed car.

The best way to cure this - and it will take time - is to identify the source of the fear. This may be a smell, a sight, a heard language, clothing, or even a particular way of moving. Examples are the smell of cocaine or alcohol, sight of a spade, ladder or stick, a hood, black clothes, German spoken or a particular gait, or raised arm.

Once you can identify the issue, which is not easy - it can be resolved by getting people who have the frightening trait to feed the dog, in a controlled manner. Anyone entering the house should do the same. Controlled means held on a lead by a trusted owner and permitted to advance slowly towards the intruder. Food can be placed on the floor, or if it seems safe fed from a flat hand. As a dog is being fed, the word friend should be repeated. Eventually, the word alone may suffice.
 
Not an easy situation for you op :(

I have a rescue dog and fwiw I don't think you're expecting too much too soon, maybe too much from this dog iykwim, but many dogs would have slotted in no problem. I didn't make that many concessions for my dog when I got him, bar a few settling in ones.
 
And who knows how many people he'd had a go at before you had him?? I'm with CaveCanem here- its an issue that will have to be managed, otherwise you will think you have cured it and when you're off guard he will do it again- and someone could get hurt. If you want a dog that's friendly to all guests/visitors he's not the dog for you! But he could be perfect for someone who wants more of a guard dog, and is prepared to put him away when visitors come. IMO, you should return him and get a friendlier fellow.......he will be the perfect dog for someone else.
 
just back from dogs trust - to go back with him for half two. phone call was never returned so ended up driving down.
Have spoken to the supervisor there and told her that I may have to give him back so that she has fair warning. She seemed to understand.

will see what they say this time.
 
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It sounds as though your rescue dog has been abused by a workman in his previous life. Any dog can distinguish the smell of your relative and sense your reaction to your father. Such people will never be at risk. But workmen smell different to a dog. Biting a jacket is a mild warning to back off from the dog to pre-empt what it sees as a threat. An easy solution, which is needed with any natural guard dog is to shut it into a room, whenever a workman visits the house.

It is probable that this reaction is quite specific to a small number of people, who are in too close proximity in its safe haven. It can be cured, as I suggest above, but the simplest thing is to prevent contact inside the home.
 
just back from dogs trust.
I think I've made my decision.

There's going to be workmen and strange people in and out of the house for the next 7-8 months due to the house being put up for sale and I don't think that it would be fair to put him in that situation given that he finds it stressful.

The way the trainer was talking, i would essentially be locking him in the kitchen every time someone came to the door and I don't think that's fair.

In light of that, I think the best thing would be for him to go back.
At least this way he'll have a chance at finding a loving home.
 
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