Rescue dog dominance

Question
Hi there, about a month ago, my partner and I adopted a dog from a rescue centre, a Border Collie cross, about 8 months old who had just been neutered on the day we brought him home. He was a very quiet and loving dog, and bonded very closely with my husband, Sam, jumping into his lap and constantly wanting to be near him and jumping up for his attention. He was also fine with me.

We brought him home, and tried giving him a gentle brush as we thought he might enjoy it after having so long without one, but he seemed very touchy about his back end, and legs and feet. He very quickly closed his mouth around my hand as a warning, to which I reacted in surprise and gave him a quick tap on the nose (I know this is the wrong thing to do, but it was a reflex action as it is the way I responded to my previous dog on the rare occasion she went to nip or snap at me) We decided to give up the brushing and let him discover the yard.

Afterwards, I went out to see him, this time without teh company of my husband, and I was speaking to the dog, and reached out to pat his head, when he bared his teeth at me, I pointed at him and said "no", and he snapped at me again, without growling or breaking skin or leaving a mark. I told my husband about it.

He and I went out to see the dog later, together. While sitting in front of my husband, he was wagging his tail and looking up hopefully, and I approached him with an outstretched back of my hand to sniff, and said "here, Scraps", even though I felt a bit frightened which he probably sensed. His tail immediately stopped wagging and went stiff, and his teeth again bared back, wrinkling up his nose. We tried it several times with the same result, and I became more and more frightened. Sam told him to behave, and encouraged me to pat him, which he allowed with little more than disinterest.

Then my husband went inside, and then peeked out the window to see what would happen. Scraps attitude turn around was instant. It was bared teeth and staring when I even got close, without outstretched hand or attempting to pat him. I was afraid to turn my back on him, and did not want to approach him alone.

The following morning, I went outside to see him, and he was excited and jumping up and wanting a pat, so I thought this is different. I had given him his dinner the previous night, and was attempting to show that I was no threat to him.

Later, my husband went out, and Scraps was again excited to see him, I went out and he was disinterested in me. When my husband went inside, I sat on the bench with Scraps about three feet away from me, talking to him in a friendly voice. I picked a biscuit out of his dish and fed it to him which he ate.

I then reached out to pat him, and he bark/growled, and snapped, this time leaving an impression and a bruise. I went inside, and my husband made up his mind that Scraps was not the dog for us, and we returned him to the shelter. I would have liked to give Scraps a bit more of a chance, but he seemed to be already trying to give a more serious bite in the space of 24 hours, and I was beginning to feel afraid of him (he was also quite a big boy for his age - more of a German Shepherd size than a Border Collie)

The question I wanted to ask, is why did Scraps act the way he did? And what did I do wrong? I feel bad that we tried our best to give him a good home and without knowing it I failed him. I am now a little wary of getting another rescue dog, and we are planning to get a Labrador puppy from a breeder. Is there anything I can do to make sure our Lab puppy wont grow up to act in the same way?

Thankyou for your help : )
From Kellie.

Answer
Hi Kellie,

It is likely that there is something about Scrap's previous owner that is similar to you, causing him to act in this aggressive manner. Another possibility is that Scraps was just poorly socialized. You will probably never know the cause of Scraps aggression, but I seriously doubt that you've done anything wrong. It isn't you... it's Scraps!

Part of Scrap's problem is that Border Collies are very much "one person dogs". They will develop an intense relationship with one individual, often to the exclusion of others. This characteristic makes them a poor choice for some families. At 8 months old, Scraps had already been socialized (or not socialized in his case).

It's not very pleasant NOT being that "one person", but Scraps came by it honestly.

I couldn't tell from your message if you are keeping Scraps, or if you gave him back to the rescue group that you got him from.

The good thing about most rescue groups is they take their dogs back if the adoption isn't working out.

I would say that this is one of those times. Scraps would be a better match with a single person, rather than a couple.
Frankly, as time goes on, Scraps might become down-right dangerous, not just to you, but to visitors in your home.  After all, you want a loving relationship with a pet dog, not an animal to fear that happens to live in your home.

If you are keeping Scraps, do not delay in enrolling in an obedience class. You should be the person to work with the dog during the class, not your husband because the dog needs to see you as an "Alpha" in the pack. Right now, because he's aggressive to you, Scraps is telling you that HE is superior to you, and that must change.

Please do not fear adopting from a rescue group in the future. This  adoption really the fault of the rescue group. Part of their job is know their dog's personalities, and to screen potential adopters so that the right dog goes to the right home.

A Lab is a much more sociable dog than a Border Collie, so much so, they're like polar opposites. Getting a puppy is an opportunity in socializing him properly.
Take the puppy with you to different places, let him meet different people (especially children- but keep him on a leash to control him). The more social interactions a puppy has, the less fearful he'll be as an adult of new people and situations.

A breeder should be able to tell you something of a puppy's temperament (and that of it's parent's) so you will be sure to get a good "fit" with the kind of dog you'd like to own.

As good-natured as most Labs are, some may be reserved with strangers unless very well socialized as puppies.  
Enrolling in a "Puppy Kindergarten" class is a wonderful way of starting a young pup off to a good start with basic obedience commands, while it bonds with you as the pack "Alpha", and also helps the pup get socialized!

I hope I've been a hlep.

Best of luck,
Patti