quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

First, until you are sure that all of these dogs have the proper social manners or have learned basic commands, it is irresponsible for you to have more than one out at a time. Shelter dogs are all clamoring for people love, and yest this is an attention getting maneuver in this case.

Instead of trying to give your attention to many dogs at once. Take 5-10 minutes with each dog individually. Work with that one dog on proper behavior, i.e. no jumping, no nipping, easy on the barking. Like a child, a dog needs discipline and structure in their lives. You having all of that out at once provides none of that.

Until recently I lived in a house with NINE dogs, all who roamed free. When their owner was around they had NO manners at all. One, a poodle mix who was a rescue that had been horribly abused was nasty and bit everyone. And I mean broke the skin bit. He isn't happy as a member of a large pack. When I started working with him, and putting him first, his behavior improved (although the owner doesn't want to admit it). He nipped me once when I went to move him and pinched under his arm by accident, but the nip was putting his mouth on my hand and releasing, not even a read mark.

Yes, larger dogs mature more slowly, but a year and a half is by no means a puppy, nor should it be treated as such for anything except chewing issues (which should be broken).

Your paying attention to another dog with him standing there is not going to improve his behavior. Take each out of their crate one at a time. If he makes a stink while in the crate ignore him. Your time should be for the out of crate dog only. As littlewonder said, shelter dogs can be hyper, they are locked up more often than not. So remember, one dog at a time. However many dogs there are, figure out how much time you can give to each one. Also if there are some that are already well socialized, then take them out together. They might like attention from you and for you to play with them, but the like to play with each other as well.

As a shelter volunteer, it is your job to socialize these dogs enough for adoption. You must be firm with them and let them know YOU are the alpha and they take orders from you. If you don't, they will be harder to adopt. When they become unadoptable, they are moved to another shelter that will put them down, or apparently my friend takes every problem dog on the planet and please, she doesn't need any more!

quote:

ORIGINAL: NocturnalStalker

This is actually how canines communicate with humans to say, "Get a cat instead."

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ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

Dogs are a good judge of character (prob better than I am LOL). If My dog doesn't like someone.......................

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ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Maybe because that's as high as they can reach?
That's why I have a cat. Dogs are "high maintainence".
I watch the people around here picking up crap from their dogs and think; "Boy, what an asshole!" "Picking up crap after a dog four or five times a day!"
I just don't like dogs.
They're ok if you own a farm or something but I don't understand why someone would want one in a house or condo.
In this condo assoc. and most others I reckon by far the most complaints are because of dogs.

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ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom

WHen you go into the sanctuary, they're not kept in cages, it's family style. They're free to roam loose in a yard and Theresa a building they go inside to get out of the elements, with a couch and two beds. These dogs are kept sep from general pop. In general pop you can only have 1 out at a time, unless they're cage mates. Runs to much risk of a fight breaking out and ppl and dogs being hurt.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom


We have a half acre property, we never picked up our dogs poop they pooped and we just let it decay naturally, and nope there was never problems of stepping in poop all the time. Nor a poop smell, nor flies. I wanted our dogs in the house cause they were my companions, They kept me company and offered me a lot of joy and , I considered them a part of the family, it was their home too.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady




Then that particular dog is not well enough socialized to be in the sanctuary, and you aren't letting them know you are the alpha strongly enough.

Why are these dogs kept separately? How are they being prepared for adoption? From what you have said, it is nothing more than a place where unwanted dogs can go and be whatever they want with no hope of a forever home.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom

I think it's called mouthing, but what ever it's called it's damned painful and rude. The first time they did it, I was walking into the sanctuary for the first time and they were all excited, and this second time, I was sitting down directly in front of the dog, and another dog was next to me and I was paying it attention. Then the dog that did it latched right onto me, I shouted ow, and no, which is what I was told to do because some dogs have done it before, and it let go then a few second later it did it again and this time wouldn't let go until I applied pressure to the sides of its jaw.