It does sound like this dog has been mistreated. Sometimes people let their kids tote a little dog around like it is a toy. The poor thing. I would be really careful about approaching this dog. Move very slowly and speak in a friendly calm voice. He is not ready to trust people and is apparently still very distressed about the way he has been treated in the past. He is also confused about his new situation. It is going to take time to get him to trust. Your sister might want to have the kids stay clear of him until these issues can be overcome. He needs a quiet and calm setting to set him at ease.
If they want to crate train he does need a bigger crate. I would never leave a dog in a crate that size for any length of time. If he is taken outside on a regular basis and rewarded for going when he is out there he will pick up the training. Being in a new home can be very confusing for any dog but this guy has got some other issues to overcome as well. |