I have had Bent for about two weeks now I guess (have to check when I posted that I got him, lol). He has come a long way in a short amnt of time! Background for those not familiar...surrendered to ARF by family w/ five children. When brought in he was so scared that owners had to hold him down for vax. He bit when people attempted to touch him in his kennel and would avoid you at all costs. He was most certainly abused to some extent, was petrified of the man that brought him in. He urinates when he meets someone new still but will at least approach people willingly and without growling. He hates to be outside by himself and he hates when I take him to the shelter while I volunteer. He 'kneads, nurses', and cries while chewing/sucking on a pillow.
The problem I am having is when he has been separated from me for any length of time be it outside alone for a minute or after being in the kennel at the shelter he attacks my legs/butt and hands while barking/growling at me. I am trying not to use any form of physical redirection during this time as my hands are really beat up from him already. He is not able to be redirected into a command (he knows sit/down pretty well) and using a loud uhuhuh sound does not phase him from this biting/growling.
Since he is usually on leash when he comes out of the kennel at the shelter I usually hold the leash out and away where he can't reach me while saying NO! but it just escalates him. After a few minutes of him biting/growling he will finally get distracted by a leaf or something else and will settle into a normal walk.
Give me some tools here so he can be put up for adoption, as is I don't feel comfortable telling shelter manager that he is ready.
The problem I am having is when he has been separated from me for any length of time be it outside alone for a minute or after being in the kennel at the shelter he attacks my legs/butt and hands while barking/growling at me. I am trying not to use any form of physical redirection during this time as my hands are really beat up from him already. He is not able to be redirected into a command (he knows sit/down pretty well) and using a loud uhuhuh sound does not phase him from this biting/growling.
Since he is usually on leash when he comes out of the kennel at the shelter I usually hold the leash out and away where he can't reach me while saying NO! but it just escalates him. After a few minutes of him biting/growling he will finally get distracted by a leaf or something else and will settle into a normal walk.
Give me some tools here so he can be put up for adoption, as is I don't feel comfortable telling shelter manager that he is ready.