HELP PLEASE

Question
Hi,
I just rescued an Akita and he is currently at a dog trainers home... She is going to attempt to work with him but I fear that he may be out of her expertise...
Not sure that he is savable...but wanted to try!
He was abused from the time he was a puppy to around 1 year old...I am told everything second hand so details aren't clear.  Owner told the person who had him her boyfriend at the time did it.  She left him with a friend when she moved up north...was supposed to get him when she got settled in but has now said she cant' take him.
Here is the write up I recieved...

 
My name is Kenny Lagasse and I'm dog-sitting an Akita in trouble.  Koi is a 3-year-old, one owner, non-neutered male that I have been taking care of since May 3rd of this year in Jacksonville, NC.  Unfortunately I have neither the time, nor the patience to do it any longer.  The owner is not able to take care of him either, so I made mention that I would try my best to find alternatives to just taking him to an animal shelter.


Koi has been an inside dog since he was a puppy, and is completely house broken.  He is kept in a large kennel when no one is home, and has been well trained to do so when a treat is involved.  He's very intelligent, and knows basic commands with the ability to learn more.  He's also good when on a lead, although sometimes he will try to drag you around when you first take him outside.  A firm grip is usually all that is needed to keep him in check.  He likes to play and is pretty chill for the most part.  According to the owner he is up to date on all shots, and has had no previous health issues.  His is also CKC registered, but I have no paperwork for proof.


Now for the bad part.  After only 5 days he attacked me when I was cleaning up the soggy remains of a bone that I had given him for being good.  He bit and released me at the hip while I was kneeling, and both wrists as I was defending myself.  Afterwards he went to his kennel (he has also been trained to go there when punished) where he stayed for 2 hours until he came out very submissively.  After calling the owner after the incident, I was told that her previous roommates had apparently abused Koi when she was not home.  A lot.  Also that he is very possessive of bones.  Obviously I found out the hard way and was willing to give the dog the benefit of the doubt, but in hindsight I should've taken this as an omen.  This hasn't occurred to this degree since, but                the aggressive behavior resurfaced again within the last month-and-a-half.  He has taken a habit to going into the trash while I'm in the shower, and is very protective over it when busted.  Last week he bared his teeth and tried to snap at me when I tried to clean it up, but I was prepared and muscled him into the kennel where he calmed down the next day.   Koi cannot stand being left alone and follows me wherever I go.  He DOES NOT like strangers at first.  He's large and looks very imposing, so most people don't want anything to do with him.  Needless to say, he isn't socialized much.  Partly because he scares people, but mostly because I don't trust him.  He has had only one contact with another neighborhood dog (also aggressive), so I don't know how well he acts in that department.


Although I am at wit's end with Koi, I do believe that he is genuinely a good dog.  He just needs training (rehab?) and lots of attention.  If you can help in anyway please let me know.  I'll also be donating all of his stuff such as the kennel, toys, food/water dishes, and grooming accessories to your organization.  Considering his behavior as of late he needs to be gone yesterday, so he may be in a shelter soon.  Please call me at  if you have any other questions.

As far as the abuse goes I have little detail.  Koi's owner's boyfriend and roommates apparently provoked him while he was in his kennel.  Shaking and banging on the cage.  They would also drag him out of the cage to show dominance over "the ferocious animal".  It apparently escalated to beating him out of the kennel.  Information from a second-hand source was that Koi attacked one of the abusers followed by one of the others breaking a chair over Koi's body.  

He is extra aggressive over his Kennel and tonight when we picked him up...Chris got to close while I was setting up his kennel in the back of the truck and he bit him on the hand...  Just looking for help... We are a rescue and can not afford to pay for training... the trainer he is with has offered to help for free but if you could help or know of someone that could I am begging!!!!  

PLEASE, I want him to get a chance to rehab...or he will have to be put down...

Best Regards,

Tonya & Chris
Weil Coyote Siberian Husky & Large Breed Rescue
www.myspace.com/siberianhuskiesrus

Answer
I think my best suggestion is to find an Akita rescue group.  You can modify the behavior but it will take a considerable effort.  While it may be house broken for potty, it is not socilized and does not seem to have been obedience trained. It is acting on basic instincts of food protection and an alpha dog. The person with the dog now is not expressing professional training techniques or analytic responses.  Reference [The Dog that Loved Too Much and follow on books by the same author]

This is an outside dog, needs lots of physical and mental exercise and I don't read in your comments that it is getting that find of home. That it is being crated for punishment is counter to all modern dog training techniques. The crate is supposed to be its safe haven, where it can be unmolested, sleep and play with a toy, not punishment.  That the dog comes out submissive after two hours says it has significant fear issues [reference White Fang, movie or book] that it has little trust in the owner/handler. In short, the dog is continuing to be abused and not recovering from former abuse. You need a trainer with behavioral credentials and abused dog experience.

The proper care needs to be done in your home if you are going to take the dog. It sounds as though the dog was teased with food by the original owner among other possible abuses. You can use nothing in life is free and no means no approach to training the dog, but in a very caring way and what some would call "tough love."  That means no pampering, but lots of comfort and approval (praise) when it does good. The opposite of reward is no reward, not punishment. Get the trash out so the dog has no opportunity to get into the trash. Dog proof the house, put up baby gates to keep it out of forbidden areas until it is invited to enter those areas of the house. Get a large crate so the dog has security room, with a blanket and toy and do not use it for a punishment.

Obedience training from a professional, not a pet store. Ask for experience and recommendations.
You may need to use a humane muzzel if the dog still wants to bite during training periods. Be prepared to spend 2-3 hours per day with the dog in socialization, play and obedience periods.

There are a number of video and printed resources from 4pawsu.com that address this issue. Expect to spend around $200 for books and videos to get an in depth understanding of the dog's issues.

Our book and DVD (dogkennel.org) covers how dogs think and learn with several related topics oon behavior, personality and a complete obedience training program.

Regards,
Henry Ruhwiedel
Westwind Kennels LLC