training a rescued dog

Question
QUESTION: The person I bought my lab from called and asked if I could foster/find a home for a rescued dog. History: 2 yr. old male that spent the first 1 1/2 years chained in a yard with no interaction, socialization, and apparently, no food. He was emasiated when she got him and has put some weight on him and recently got him neutered. thats where I come in. He is now 26 months old and I have introduced him to my dogs and home. He seems like a 90lb. blank slate. (doesn't respond to any name, never seen stairs or even a toilet) Its as if he is 8 weeks old. everything is new and he reacts just like a puppy. Problem: My intention was to place him in the home of a dog-loving friend of mine, however, thirty minutes into it, one of the dogs kept showing aggression towards him and he eventually responded. so I went and picked him up and returned him to my house. (the scene was very chaotic over there and am hoping and assuming it was a case of sensory overload). But when I brought him back with my dogs, he was displaying "resource guarding" over a toy, to the point of growling. He would run away with it, but whenever my lab tried to approach him for what he thought would be playing, (as it was before he left the house to try the other house) he would growl and hairs would raise. I took the toy away and seperated the two until all was calm in the house and he had a chance to calm down from the other house. When I put them all back together again, they seem to be doing fine.(i have not brought the "toy" back into play yet, but they swap bones back and forth with no incident) Finally-My Question(s): What is the best approach for training a 2 yr old with the mentality/experience of an 8 week old? I don't want to scare him, but I don't want him to assume Alpha role in the house either.  Given his past, how soon do I start training? My dog is well trained, however, I can't get the rescue to stop long enough to get his attention to try to give a command. I have gotten him to turn his head (briefly)on a few occasions to the name "Toby", so that what I'm sticking with. My intention was not to keep him, but to find him a forever hom, however, he seems most at ease at my house, so it looks like I got another dog, at least for now (assuming I can resist the bonding urge). I can't send him to another home like this. Its not fair to him or the would-be owners. Where/when/how do I begin the training process.

ANSWER: It's nearly impossible to train one dog with another dog roaming around. You need to put your other dog away when you want to spend some training time with 'Toby,' as you are calling him. You can start right away teaching him the basics, and I have some videos on YouTube that should help you get started. They're at: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=465B2A6868C739BD

I would also recommend keeping Toby separated from your other dog whenever you are not at home; otherwise, he may become too 'doggy' (meaning he's more interested in other dogs than people) which will make training more difficult. You can allow them supervised playtime, and take them for walks and such together, but their interactions should always be under your control.

Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF), once he knows some basic commands, is something else I'd start with him right away. You can find lots of information about NILIF online.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One more thing, if you don't mind. The "squeeky toy" in question from yesterday seems to be a little more than just a toy.  I stood in front of him with treat in hand and he would not stop long enough to give the treat a second look, so I physically took the squeeky from him (he didn't growl or anything, so "yeah" to that) and hid it in another room for five minutes, and he just paced around the house frantically looking for it. Eventually I made him sit in front of the door where i had placed it on the other side, once he sat, I opened the door and all was well again. Given all he has been through, knowing that he enjoys that squeeky so much and it brings him great comfort, I ask you if I should let him continue that behavior for a few days until he gets more comfortable at my house, or stop the behavior asap, because it really looked like obsessive-compulsive-type behavior. I couldn't really get his attention with any other toy, or me for that matter, for the time the squeeky was behind closed doors.

Answer
If I were in your situation, as far as the squeaky toy is concerned, I would try to stop the obsession with it ASAP. Remove the toy from the house completely, so that he will not be able to sniff it out. If it were me, I'd try to wait until he was asleep, or preoccupied, to take the toy. You don't want him to see you take it and put it away, because that will make him want to find it. Make sense? He needs to think it just magically disappeared. If you don't think you can sneak it from him while he's asleep, then get rid of it when you let him outside to potty, as long as you can do it where he can't see you pick it up.


He may be a little more restless for a few days after the toy disappears, but to take the edge off a bit, try to walk him a little more, or play with him with a ball or something, or work on some simple obedience for food. In other words, try to keep his mind occupied.

Good luck!