[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Sunnydayz

I was going to also suggest the ignoring phase of introduction, but a little differently. Dogs by nature are very protective of their own house, because they are protecting you from invaders of the space he is protecting, it's his job. I might actually go to a neutral territory, such as a park with a friend he does not know, and again the suggestion of sitting and making no eye contact, as some dogs will interpret eye contact as a challenge. Have your friend sit at the park, quietly and make many passes back and forth past them. Then you can sit a short distance away once he stops barking at them and talk to your friend while ignoring the dog completely. I would only do that much on the first trip, and repeat this several times. Once you see your pup getting used to the interaction between you and your friend and gets to a calm point about it, you can then have your friend toss a treat his way, while still not making contact, like maybe just in the middle of conversation without stop. I'm not sure i would do this in your home though as he sees his home as his territory and something he will protect. A neutral setting will be more calming as long as its a quiet park, or place you meet. He should after a while start to see how other dogs act with their people and pick up queues from their behavior.

As far as the potty goes, I would start putting potty pads down in a potty pad holder, maybe a couple in his favorite places he has accidents, and use a spray on the pads that encourages them to go there. Also I would never reprimand n accident and just ignore it, but give praise and treats for when he gets where e is supposed to. Gizmo too was abused, and we are working out the kinks still but he has amazed us at how far he has come in just a few short months :-) regaining trust is the first thing that needs to be established. Gizmo was very afraid of us at first, he would yelp anytime my husband would pet him. It was like he associated a mans touch with being hurt, thankfully he fully loves and trusts him now :-) we have also trained Gizmo to potty outside on walks, but he is also allowed to use potty pads inside. We use have a large richell xpen for him, that fits his bed, potty pads, and food and water. He sleeps in there at night, and also naps during the day in it. I also put on soft music for him at night while we are sleeping so e doesn't feel lone by silence. I will take the signs I get from him on how he acts, and build my training around what he needs to make him feel safe :-)

I will definitely keep you and your pup in my thoughts, ad I'm sure itch the love you have for him, he will learn to trust and know not ll people are bad XOXO

I'm going to disagree a little bit in this particular case because the dog is a new rescue, previously abused and untrusting of people in general. I kind of agree on the neutral territory for some level of desensitization training of a biting dog but with a new rescue, they are usually fearful, anxious and unsure to their very last pore from all they have been through and now trying to settle into a new home and adjusting to new owners/pack leaders. It is so stressful to a troubled, unsure, young dog to change homes and change everything about her whole life and I doubt at this stage this dog is feeling that proprietary of you or the home yet. Still, the security of the home she is just growing comfortable in, getting to know and beginning to accept is probably far more reassuring for this new, anxious rescue doggie to learn how to relax and engender trust in while meeting strangers rather than all of the excitement, scents, noises and unknowns at a public park or outside yard for this type of desensitization training. It is typically very hard to interact meaningfully with an abused dog you are just getting to know while the energies of the outside world are competing with the relaxation and guaranty of security you are wanting the dog to feel when a stranger comes around. Early on, I would want this dog to feel settled, secure and calm when a stranger comes into the home and I just fear all the excitement most dogs feel when outside would counteract all of that in this particular case.