OK ... data dump coming.
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/7837361-post12.html
And some insight??? I can't say that I have ever been afraid of my own dogs?? But I do get the feeling panicked bit. But you still have to remain calm despite that. For me it happens on the very rare occasions that I take Rocky to a "Dog Park! Our Dog Parks are pretty low on "Dogage" as it were. Usually one or two (Dogs) when I go. I prefer that any dogs be in the other fenced in area. But on this occasion, there were two dogs a Female GSD and a Basset Hound ... Park worked dogs. Well they are on the other side of the Park so yeah we'er good.
Everybody off leash and as soon as they spot Rocky ... they GSD leading the way, casualy stroll over to Rocky to check him out!!! I'm sweating bullets (they dogs have done nothing) but this is uncomfortable ground for me. The GSD, comes in to check Rocky out, I made a half hearted attempt to block her and she deftly side steps me to check out my dog?? The dogs meet, Rocky passes muster and off she goes.
So Rocky and I continue to walk the grounds, that's when I notice the Basset Hound is still there, following us??? We walk he follows, I go this way and that way still walking and he being all Basset Houndy is not gonna get shaken of the trail!! Finally I relent and stop .Rocky stops they meet and once again ...nothing happens!! So yeah well trained dog and all, Rocky had never actually been in contact with another dog for years! I don't do other dogs but he was taught to ignore other, dogs and knows how to behave around them. And that is exactly how he behaved, my quiet panic notwithstanding ... he did as he had been trained.
My point of all this?? I know how to train dogs I'm good at but if I step out of my comfort zone engaging with non pack members ... I do kinda sorta quietly freak out .. I just don't let the dog know. I'm also a great actor apparently.
So ... what does all of this mean for you ... well here:
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/7837361-post12.html
And I'm going to pull stuff out starting here:
https://stickydogblog.com/2012/10/11/i-just-got-a-rescued-dog-what-do-i-do/
That would be how you "start over."
And I'll add, as others have stated "this" dog needs to be off the couch. And I would add ... sigh in ... a Crate (more on that in a bit.) And when he is indoors "NO Free Roaming in the House." Indoors he should be in a Crate or in Place. And once trained the only words you need to say to him are "Crate and Place."
Details on that are in the thread. I know you said you don't use a Crate ... but maybe it's time to start?? The Crate is also an exercise on setting rules and boundaries. "Kennel up" watch the clips, I would absolutely have "this" dog sleeping in his Crate but maybe possibly you could settle for training the process, feeding him in the Crate and settle for "Place or Outside" and No free roaming in the house?? Not what a "Pro would do but I think that could work ...wiggle room as it were.
And next in order and absolutely mandatory is the "Place Command" and 'Sit on the Dog" :
Fearful, Anxious or Flat Crazy "The Place CommanD - Boxer Forum : Boxer Breed Dog Forums
I think by and large it's all explained in that thread.
And I know you said "your property" don't need a leash. I kinda sorta thing that is a mistake. Your dog does not need you to walk on his own, he does you need to go on a structured walk. You set the condition and the pace not him. Walking your dog on structured walks is how you can help to build a bond between you and your dog!
I can say been there done that with that one, because I had "No Bond" with my GSD ...he had seriously ticked me off ...( another story) at the time. So I settled on rules structure and discipline. Which ... had I been doing in the first place "we'd" have not had "issues."
There is a clip in there on loose leash walking. And of course I have more. The strict discipline does not need to be forever but 30 to 90 days would most likely be idea?? And the goal for a solid "Place Command" would be two hours. Also you'll want to keep a Drag Leash on the dog for use indoors and while training "Place." You don't want to be laying hands on the dog as it were. And ideally no collars and certainly no leashes in the Crate.
So if you do want to "start over with this dog" this is pretty much what it would like. And see the very last link for details I may have missed. Dogercise and Bethany, they changed there name but the link still works.
If you sent the dog away for a board and train these are all things trainers would do with him and they don't know him. And yes ...when you see it all in one place it looks like a lot, but it's all simple. I think you can do this but of course it's your call. In any case ask questions and Welcome Aboard ... sorry it's a bumpy ride.