Allllrighty then.
Here's a little update on Quins. I took him for a walk today by myself (with permission). I took him in the play yard, and he sniffed and peed and pooped and ran around a little. Then he came over to me, and I had a slice of kraft cheese in my pocket, so I took out two pieces and asked him to sit (because the coworker that walks him said he sat for her), and he just stared at me, so I said "Quins, sit!" again, in a firm voice. He stared at me with that intense stare he does (that can be very intimidating to some) and started to jump up, and I turned away. Quins jumped on my back, held on briefly with his paws, and growled in my ear. So I leashed him and said "Fine, no more yard privileges for you!" and we went on a walk. And I kept my cheese put away.
In the forest on a trail, we came upon a bench. I sat on the bench, and Quins jumped up on the bench next to me and had his face near my face, which made me uncomfortable, so I attempted to guide him off the bench by the leash while saying "Quins, off the bench!" and he stared at me and growled. I promptly stood up and said "Fine, lets walk!" and we continued our walk, and then I put him back in his kennel (I had no issues with this).
Quins is a very insecure dog, and when we weren't walking, and I'd look at him and he'd look at me, he always had a hard look in his eye, and he always seems nervous. I also learned today that his previous owner used to hit him when giving commands, so I think part of Quins' behavior is due to his staying on the defensive. I admit I probably jumped the gun a bit when I tried to see if he'd obey any commands, but I have seriously never handled a dog who got that freaking upset and defiant over a simple "sit" command (and a lot of the time, insecure dogs respond well to simple training, it helps to build trust and they calm down because they learn aha, THIS is what you want from me!). I was a bit shook up after both experiences, but I'm sure I handled them better than a lot of people. Quins, you are one muddled up dog.
One pic of the King of Bratness in the play yard:
It sounds like small improvements are being made, but he still concerns me in what you describe. You're doing super and hopefully, he's coming to develop a little more trust. Here are a few ideas, not proof or evidence that this will help. These are just my impressions and ideas, I guess from my own experience and so forth and from what I am interrpeting from your post. I could be perceiving your description incorrectly, of course.
Maybe rather than using that firm tone to ask him to sit, you might try capturing a sit that he does on his own accord, then give a treat...maybe a piece of kibble or like it was mentioned, Cheerios (something not as smelly, but still tasty) for now that you keep in a plastic baggie. (not that he still can't smell it, but it might help a bit) It's really important not to show him the treat first. Leave it in your pocket until he sits or displays behavior you like. Or when applicable, in random places that you can go to quickly, but unpredictable places, to him. If he's showing you relaxed body language and behavior, pull a treat out and give it to him fairly frequently. If he acts pushy, DO NOT give him anything. Ignore him, as you've been doing. But give him another try in a minute or two. Anytime he displays behavior or a state of mind (Gawd, I sound like Ceasar Milan
) that you feel is relaxed and happy, associate or pair more good things with that.
Is there anything else you can notice he might like besides food? His likes might be different than most dogs' likes. A few sits here and there that are rewarded will build up and eventually, he'll start offering that more, where you can then put your cue to it, but in a sweet tone that perhaps he didn't hear in his past. A different word might help, except in this case, other people aren't going to know what word he has learned and will likely use "sit." So, change your tone a little, I guess. Use a hand signal with it
IF that doesn't intimidate him.
You know him best. Some dogs I've worked with can be startled or over-whelmed by a normal, cheerful voice. I have to remain very quiet and calm...monotone...level, not face head on, some of them. Certain hand or body gestures or positions can worry them. To some dogs, the most basic things we do, that we don't even think about can make them nervous or on the defensive. You just have to get a feel for the dog. So, you'd be the best one to know what kinds of things you can do to put him most at ease.
From what you describe, I'd avoid eye contact unless you reward it every time and really consciously work on establishing a
very positive outcome for him for eye contact. He may be construing that as a threat from humans, especially if that's been associated with mistreatment in the past.
I'd also avoid sitting or placing yourself so that your face is at his level, right in front of his face or leaning toward or over him. When you're walking him, you might be "all business" for now. I
don't mean unfriendly, but keep things pretty low key and matter of fact. (I get the feeling you already are. I'm just tossing ideas out just in case, that I think might help) Just walk and stop and stand still once in a while, but keep facing straight ahead....see if he'll sit on his own, but don't command him (for a while until you develop trust between you two) and then you can reward him. If he doesn't sit, that training can wait for a bit. It's more important to develop more trust and a feeling in him that you are a safe and strong leader. And reward his good behavior with what he likes and consistently ignore his growly, pushy stuff. (everyone who interacts with him should be advised to do the same...they should never challenge him when he does that.)
I sat on the bench, and Quins jumped up on the bench next to me and had his face near my face, which made me uncomfortable, so I attempted to guide him off the bench by the leash while saying "Quins, off the bench!" and he stared at me and growled. I promptly stood up and said "Fine, lets walk!"
He apparently does have issues with firm or stern commands and any physical manipulation. So, if it were me, I'd keep more quiet and not talk too much. Dogs aren't naturally very verbal learners anyhow and it appears to be making him nervous. I'd avoid reacting too much to him at all. Using a leash to guide him off the bench, in this case, may also be too physical for him right now. So, simply getting up slowly, smoothly, quietly (but
NOT apprehensively or tentatively) and walking out ahead of him a little, with as little leash pressure as possible, would have been enough to get him and you out of that position. Or if you wanted to sit back down with him remaining on the ground, you could get up and walk off a few steps, reward him for following you, then sitting back down on the bench. If he jumped up again, repeat. (If he were to start making a behavior chain out of this, (where he thinks the behavior is: getting on the bench, getting off, getting a treat, getting back on the bench, getting off, getting a treat over and over) you'd have to increase the duration that he stayed off the bench little by little before he'd get the treat and keep the treats coming as he stayed off the bench...just tossing them around on the ground.) No talking, very little leash action and reinforcing for his getting off. But like I said, at
this stage, I'd avoid sitting and having my face at his level at all....for the time being.
If you want to teach him what words mean, that can come later...when he starts offering say... a sit often. After being rewarded for sitting a lot of times. That goes for anything. I doubt he knows what "get off the bench" means. So, wait until the behavior you're looking for has been rewarded enough times that he starts offering it a lot...like he's made the connection between the behavior and reward...
THEN start adding in your cue.
I find that with these nervous, distrusting and defensive type dogs, the less talk, the less you react, the better, other than a little low, soothing, friendly voice now and again. I don't know if this helps or if you already are doing most of this...I just thought I'd toss out some tips that I find help with certain kinds of dogs. I can only estimate what this dog is like from your posts and my interrpetation of them...which might be off. Keep up the great work. I hope that with this continued good handling, he may come around a little better. I hope that others will follow your lead, as you're doing such a good job with him. Good luck. Be safe and take things slowly.