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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Ev lives the Lower Mainland of Beautiful British Columbia, Canada where she has been training dogs since 1969. She is experienced in many methods including clicker and motivational training. Ev is an original Superdog Performance Team member and her own dogs have travelled and performed with the Canadian SuperDogs since 1984. She has also served as an A.A.C. judge ans is an original Member/Trainer with the Dogwood Pacesetters Agility Club.
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[Edit]
2/8/2006
I have recently adopted a beautiful white German Shepherd that goes by the name of Jeff. He had sores that indicated that he always slept on concrete, he never barks, whines or makes a peep, which indicated to me also that someone might have kept him in an apartment. But the most disturbing thing of all is that he is NEVER aggressive! I think that the previous owners may have broken this beautiful animals spirit. Is there anything that I can start doing to regain it back?
When I brought him home, I showed him his bed (I bought him a doggie bed, food & water dish, toys, collar, snacks & leash) showed him his toys (tennis ball) and took him into the backyard and told him to get the ball, and I threw the ball, and he looked at me, looked at the direction that the ball went, and then went inside the house and laid down on his bed.......since then I have finally gotten him to get his ball, and I take him on walks, and run with him in the park, but I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions would be so helpful. Thank you (rochell3, California)
When you say "... have recently adopted ... ", how recent?? You also didn't state how 'old' Jeff might be. Both these factors can make a huge difference in assessing a course of action to your inqui
ry.
Firstly, I'd say stay with the things you have been doing - they seem to be working and both you and him just need more time;
Second, don't be so quick to 'want' aggression in any dog, let alone a larger breed - he will, in time, undoubtedly defend you when the time is needed. Other than that, you need not push towards 'wanting' any signs of aggression.
It is also possible that he is depressed and confused and that too, will take time to improve. Love him, pamper him, teach him things and let him know that he is loved and life is worth living - the rest will follow.
If your adoption was within the last 6 months and Jeff is over a year, then you have another 18 months before you actually get close to having the dog you thought you were adopting. Time to forget, time to learn new things, time to adjust to new environment and rules ... time!
I have some tips to training Dog Tricks, on my site. That might be something you could consider with Jeff. It will stimulate his brain and keep him focused on something other than giving up or feeling insecure.
Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help but otherwise ... Be Patient! And enjoy a Non-aggressive dog (there are too many of the other kind in this world) :)
Canine Caretaker Training/Consulting
http://www.k9care.ca
"United We Stand."
http://www.standunited.ca
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