1 1/2 -2 year old cocker spaniel estimated

I am always a little cautious of a Shelter dog and this is why before everyone attacks! You don’t know what truly has happened to this dog. I also do not think that many Shelters actually do much to prepare you or the dog for what may come or what could happen. Most Rescues do, but most Shelters in this country don’t.

I have worked with many Kennel dogs, that have never been handled much and are almost wild and will fear bite. Here is what I do.

They must have a strict schedule a schedule means everything to a dog. I know you are thinking this doesn’t relate but it does, it helps make the dog feel more secure.

Your dog needs to be crate trained so that it has a secure place for it to go and for you to put it when people come to visit. Until the dog becomes secure and you are secure with the dog. Always put your dog up when people come to visit until it is adjusted.

No playing rough or anything that uses the mouth. Go slow around the dog. If it has always been an out door dog it is going to be afraid of indoor noises. Loud noises and busy happenings are going to make this dog nervous until it adjust. It may be best to kennel your dog more at first in rooms with load noises and busy activity until it adjust.

Do not let him use his mouth. When he does, make a load OCH! noise or NO! or ATT! SHHH whatever word works for you so that he knows that it hurts. Just like you would to train a puppy when it is learning not to use it’s mouth or chew.

If my dog uses his teeth I would go ATTT and not play any more and ignore my dog for awhile. Long enough to let him know that I am not happy about what happened and we will not play that way.

I would say to put your dog in Obedience Class AFTER he is adjusted but not until! A lady that adopted one of my puppies told me that in their Obedience class a Rescue Dog that had been adopted the day before the class started, viciously turned on the new owner and the trainer and it was a terrible thing to see. That the dog was returned to the Rescue to be re-evaluated which I am afraid may mean it will be put down. My thoughts were it was all too much too soon for the pooch.

Some things may not apply but I wanted to cover all bases in case some of my information may help.

Make sure to give your dog regular exercise but don’t let people reach out to pet him. I am sorry but I tell people I would rather they do not pet one of my dogs I have in training. When you are sure of your dog, than you can, this is for your dog’s safety as well as other people. If he bites someone because he is afraid, he is the one that is going to suffer the most!