Goldsboro, NC. YM needs out of boarding facility

[ShannonT]

Wow! He's gorgeous!!

[gr8flcat]

He is beautiful! Are they sure, he has just started? Was it a slow build up over time? Our rescue we adopted from VGSDR started this about 3-4 months after we adopted him. It took us a while but we figured out how to change his behavior, but he was and still is very dominant. Does Onyx do this just when someone gets there and then he will settle? .

[ded37]

His behavior appears to be completely different with us. No signs for the two months he was with us before adoption and no signs, other than the extreme focus. I wouldn't even really say he is dominant, at least not in our home.

[Fluffypants]

My first dog - Stormy was similar. He was given to me by a "shady" type of girl (let's just say that) and she was the 2nd owner. He was a year old and I just fell in love with him... I also knew she wouldn't take that great care of him.

I did spoil him and probably somewhat babied him... which was wrong (as I learned later), because he was a dominant boy! Stormy was great for the first few months and he did the exact same thing... he would let no one in the house or car - just a few select people. If anyone had the slightest bit of fear... he knew and took full advantage of that. He was a biter too and nipped several of my soon to be ex-husband's friends. My ex was WAY too passive for Stormy's personality... I was the disciplinary. We had many arguments over this and if I had to choose... it would have been Stormy!

I brought Stormy to a couple of trainers...one recommended by my vet and this guy was afraid of him... he had his masters in psychology too. Then I was referred to a Schutzhund trainer and he basically told me that Stormy had somewhat weak nerves and I had to toughen up with him. So, all the reading I did and the 2nd trainers advice helped... but it never corrected him completely. I had to be very careful with him at all times and I still had major problems in the house. This was primarily around any entrance (mostly the front door). He was very good when he was away from the house... territorial thing.

I take quite a bit of the blame for some of his issues, because he was my first German Shepherd and I did many things wrong with him as I later learned, but also my ex wasn't consistent with what I was doing/training. I think it was also Stormy's temperament/personality too... it was a mix of us and a him. To me, he was the best dog and I still miss him terribly.

That's a pretty good sign that he hasn't changed in the 2 months you have had him. I think he's doing fine with you because you are experienced and taking the "leader/alpha" role. He probably just needs a strong leader and I'm sure there is a new family for him out there.

Tanja

[ded37]

Here is a picture of Onyx today, with his BDBH foster brother, Jed:

[kathyb]

What beautiful boys!

[ded37]

Aren't they? Jed went to his forever home tonight!

Last weekend we felt a lump in Onyx's throat. He had surgery on Wednesday to remove it. We are awaiting the biopsy results. Positive thoughts.

He bounced back quickly from the surgery!

[kathyb]

Maybe Onyx knew he needed a good nurse so he came back to you. Praying everything turns out good for Onyx.

[shadow mum]

How in Onyx doing?

[ded37]

Onyx is doing well!! In fact, I just sent an update to our webmaster today.

We have had zero issues with any stranger aggression/protectiveness and he has been back with us for 2 months now.

He has been evaluated by our trusted trainer and she sees nothing but lots of energy, desire to please and work. We are thinking tracking may be a great job for him. He does have some OCD issues with cars/lights, oddly not when on leash, but while in the car with us and in the yard. We have been able to break his focus on such verbally, but we are hoping to work on this more.

We did find a lump on his throat recently, which we removed and was sent to Cornell. Thankfully, it was benign!!!

Thank you for checking back on him.