Wow! Great advice! I am taking that to heart. It's makes sense the way you explain it. I will just S L O W down and look at things from his perspective. Thanks for taking the time to reply! ~Cindy
In addition to @snowbunny suggestion of a book "control unleashed", their are two others you might want to consider, The Other End of the Leash, by Patricia Cornell, and Bones Would Rain from the Sky. Not training books as such, although another Feisty Fido I have found helpful in that respect.
I don't have much to offer, but wanted to say hi and welcome. I have fostered a few dogs and they really do show you unconditional love and they really do build a positive bond. Good luck and please do let us know how you are both getting on
I had a rescue dog who we all adored and she lived a full and very loved life until last year when she was pts at 15. However she was never, ever good around small dogs, cats etc and we had to manage that her entire life. It meant lead walking unless I was on a walk that I knew we wouldn't meet anyone and never putting her in a situation that we couldn't control. We did get another dog when she was 5, a lab. We worked with a behaviourist on how to introduce him. He also suggested a boy less threatening to her. He was behind a baby gate in the kitchen for the first two months while she got used to the smell of him, and him generally, and when we introduced them all was fine although she definitely ruled the roost! He adored her and in fact, when she died he never quite recovered and died 6 months later at 12. All very sad. She was an amazing dog in so many ways, highly intelligent, completely unmotivated by food. Impossible to train! Adored children, we got her when my son was 6 months and she was subjected to toddlers climbing all over her. But I would not have trusted her an inch with a small dog or cat. She caught a cat that came into our garden and it was extremely traumatic for all involved. The cat was ok but it was a very scary moment. I miss her every day. She was my best buddy and unflinchingly loyal to her little family. Will definitely rescue again as it is so rewarding and next time I will be more experienced. Good luck, I am sure time and love and training, training, training will make things easier but I would be wary of letting children pet him at this point. All the things you talk about don't mean he won't be a wonderful dog, just aware all the time that his previous life will have had a big effect and he will need time and love which it sounds like you have in spades here's a photo of my gorgeous twosome. Miss them so much! Sam
