Hi Everyone! A few months ago, I rescued a 3 yr old Australian Shepherd named Buddy from a dairy farm who was going to euthanize him just because they didn't want him anymore. I was told that he didn't like men very much but loved children when I picked him up. I was also told that Buddy had been hit by a car a year earlier and had a front leg that had been mangled and had open sores on it. The previous owners paid for the leg to be amputated a few days after I got Buddy. Since having Buddy, he is AWFUL around men. He growls and tries to run up to them and attack them. I've never seen a dog act like that before. He especially hates my dad who we only see every so often and my dad has never done anything to Buddy. After about a month of daily interaction with my husband, he finally is good around him. But when my husband speaks or looks too harshly at him, Buddy will pee a little or even roll over on his back and shoot pee out. Buddy is afraid when he sees me take out the fly-swatter or broom which leads me to believe that he was abused. I also believe that there were things that went on at his previous owner's house that they didn't tell me.
Other things to consider:
1. I know I need to try and replace negative situations with positive ones, but we just moved to a new area out in the country where we do not have neighbors. We honestly don't know anyone near us in the area yet to socialize Buddy with men.
2. I was told to have Buddy neutered and it would help with his agression. He was neutered the same day he had his leg amputated and his agression is the same.
3. He will growl at some other dogs and is fine around others. There is no real pattern I can see as to why he would like or dislike a specific dog.
4. He is an amazing nice and wonderful dog at home. He is very protective of me if a man enters the room where I am and Buddy is also there and will growl and try to bite. If a man enters a room where Buddy is alone, Buddy growls but runs away and hides from him (like under the bed). If Buddy is taken into a room/house where a man already is, Buddy doesn't even seem like it bothers him. He will go up to the man and befriend him. But he will growl and try to bite the SAME man who walks in on Buddy if I'm there.
5. We have been working on training...he has pretty much mastered sit, stay, come, lay down commands. He's a very intelligent dog. I would like to not have to find a dog trainer since I really don't have all the money for that but I can't afford to have a dog who I feel could potentially threaten men who come near me in public or into my home.
6. I was told by my vet that Buddy would respond well to me becoming the "Alpha Dog" and Buddy seems to respond to me being the Alpha Dog except when there is a man around.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME? I CAN'T FIGURE THIS DOG OUT BUT I LOVE HIM AND WANT TO KEEP HIM! THANKS IN ADVANCE!
