My new monster mutt, Mack.

[orumpoultry]

Not sure who owns who just yet. He's not allowed to make a move without me knowing. Currently he's laying on the dog bed next to my bed, knowing the cats are in the kitchen. He had a fit over it but I made John go get him and bring him to the bedroom. After some distractive training he calmed down. Mack challenged John again earlier and I think John won. No more challenging his authority... But its only been four hours since then and I can't get excited yet.

He's a good boy at heart. Really, really smart and wants to please me. My only problem is his prey drive.

I can't tell if its doberman or shepherd I see in him. I think shepherd based on the shape of his skull and the splits he does when he's laying down. I'm sure other breeds do it, but I've only seen a shepherd do the splits like that. I'll try to get a picture of it.

I'll get a side profile of him tomorrow. Had to much to train this evening after he charged my crippled horse again. We walked the fence by the horses for an hour and walked away every time he showed interest in a bad way.

He's a challenge. I'm worried what will happen when I go back to work next week and he's home without human companionship.

 

[srosales1996]

Not sure who owns who just yet. He's not allowed to make a move without me knowing. Currently he's laying on the dog bed next to my bed, knowing the cats are in the kitchen. He had a fit over it but I made John go get him and bring him to the bedroom. After some distractive training he calmed down. Mack challenged John again earlier and I think John won. No more challenging his authority... But its only been four hours since then and I can't get excited yet.

He's a good boy at heart. Really, really smart and wants to please me. My only problem is his prey drive.

I can't tell if its doberman or shepherd I see in him. I think shepherd based on the shape of his skull and the splits he does when he's laying down. I'm sure other breeds do it, but I've only seen a shepherd do the splits like that. I'll try to get a picture of it.

I'll get a side profile of him tomorrow. Had to much to train this evening after he charged my crippled horse again. We walked the fence by the horses for an hour and walked away every time he showed interest in a bad way.

He's a challenge. I'm worried what will happen when I go back to work next week and he's home without human companionship.

yikes! TBH so am I. I have never been able to train a high preditory instinct out of a dog where they could be trusted around my livestock. Not this kind of high functioning instinct to run somthing down. In the ranch world that is an immediate concern.... Not everyone in the country living business would agree with this, but I firmly believe that these things do not mean "bad dog" just not necissairly a good environment for the dog. I really hope you can get it worked out. I can tell you already really love him .

 

[srosales1996]

Not sure who owns who just yet. He's not allowed to make a move without me knowing. Currently he's laying on the dog bed next to my bed, knowing the cats are in the kitchen. He had a fit over it but I made John go get him and bring him to the bedroom. After some distractive training he calmed down. Mack challenged John again earlier and I think John won. No more challenging his authority... But its only been four hours since then and I can't get excited yet.

He's a good boy at heart. Really, really smart and wants to please me. My only problem is his prey drive.

I can't tell if its doberman or shepherd I see in him. I think shepherd based on the shape of his skull and the splits he does when he's laying down. I'm sure other breeds do it, but I've only seen a shepherd do the splits like that. I'll try to get a picture of it.

I'll get a side profile of him tomorrow. Had to much to train this evening after he charged my crippled horse again. We walked the fence by the horses for an hour and walked away every time he showed interest in a bad way.

He's a challenge. I'm worried what will happen when I go back to work next week and he's home without human companionship.

Oh and BTW I really meant I think he is a Doby/Shep mix looks like both to me. Which would explain his high intelligence as well as the aggressiveness and "gotta eat the cat" energy.

 

[orumpoultry]

I could see that. I really could. I just wonder about the reverse Mohawk he has going on means there's ridgeback in there? His previous owner thought do by/ridgeback. Possibly. I dunno. Don't care in the long run, he's just a good dog.

I agree with you though. What some ranchers call bad isn't always a bad dog, its just a bad situation. Macks former owner and I have been emailing about the situation. I told him not to worry, his boy wouldn't end up in a shelter if I had the final word.

I don't know if I said this but the former owner cried when he said goodbye to Mack. He even kept Macks favorite play toy. I felt bad for him.

Haha, yes. Yes I do already love the big goof. He's working in mending the hole in my heart that she left when she died. I still cry over my Trixie dog. I still cryover Chance. Trixie is more recent and was Chance's replacement, she hurt the most. Died in my arms with my fiance holding me.

Macks got big shoes to fill. I just KNOW I can't give up in him. Not this quickly at least.

Here's Trixie, the dog whose shoes he has to fill...

 

[srosales1996]

I could see that. I really could. I just wonder about the reverse Mohawk he has going on means there's ridgeback in there? His previous owner thought do by/ridgeback. Possibly. I dunno. Don't care in the long run, he's just a good dog.

I agree with you though. What some ranchers call bad isn't always a bad dog, its just a bad situation. Macks former owner and I have been emailing about the situation. I told him not to worry, his boy wouldn't end up in a shelter if I had the final word.

I don't know if I said this but the former owner cried when he said goodbye to Mack. He even kept Macks favorite play toy. I felt bad for him.

Haha, yes. Yes I do already love the big goof. He's working in mending the hole in my heart that she left when she died. I still cry over my Trixie dog. I still cryover Chance. Trixie is more recent and was Chance's replacement, she hurt the most. Died in my arms with my fiance holding me.

Macks got big shoes to fill. I just KNOW I can't give up in him. Not this quickly at least.

Here's Trixie, the dog whose shoes he has to fill...

a healer.... Mix? Red & Blue? They are great dogs. My husband had one named Blue.... Lol yes he was blue, and yes I know. So creative. My husbands other dog was a male Shepherd named Boy...

...
.....
........
Yes I know. Lol but that's my husband. He also eats his hamburgers plain and dry with cheese. Not a cheeseburger, a hamburger -_-

Lol anyway, Trixie is has a sweet face. I bet she was a loyal companion. Hang in there with Mack. If anyone can make it work I think you can. Your determined to find what makes him tick, and it sounds like to me that maybe it might be you. Where are you located again? Do you have a large crate? I know you said bed time is free time but are you going to crate train him? I think that will be the thing to keep him out of trouble while your at work. If your anywhere near the San Angelo Area I might could help you with a large crate.

 

[orumpoultry]

I'm in Trinity. A few hours out. Trying to talk John into letting me get Mack a crate this weekend but all bills are due and its not in budget.

I have hope for him. I really do. He's an awesome dog who was very well trained for his old lifestyle and just has to learn mine.

Actually Trixie wasn't your standard heeler.. She was a Queensland heeler. Not an Australian Cattle Dog or any a stump tail which most people are used to seeing. Smartest dog I've ever had the chance to know. I swear she spoke English....

 

[srosales1996]

I'm in Trinity. A few hours out. Trying to talk John into letting me get Mack a crate this weekend but all bills are due and its not in budget.

I have hope for him. I really do. He's an awesome dog who was very well trained for his old lifestyle and just has to learn mine.

Actually Trixie wasn't your standard heeler.. She was a Queensland heeler. Not an Australian Cattle Dog or any a stump tail which most people are used to seeing. Smartest dog I've ever had the chance to know. I swear she spoke English....

way east. Look on Craig's list! Or blast FB and ask friends if someone has one they are not using anymore. Lol

 

[Starfire669]

I'm in Trinity. A few hours out. Trying to talk John into letting me get Mack a crate this weekend but all bills are due and its not in budget.

I have hope for him. I really do. He's an awesome dog who was very well trained for his old lifestyle and just has to learn mine.

Actually Trixie wasn't your standard heeler.. She was a Queensland heeler. Not an Australian Cattle Dog or any a stump tail which most people are used to seeing. Smartest dog I've ever had the chance to know. I swear she spoke English....

Crate training works very well with high prey dogs, I have my Rott and 3 of the huskies crated when I leave the house. The Rott is crated because she can't stop chewing, her current chew toy is my entertainment center. I found all my crates by going to local flea markets, yard sales, or posted adds online. I spend about $30 each for good crates with the plastic inserts. They hold my 50 pound Siberians comfortably, and I purchased a larger 1 same price but no plastic insert that holds my 80 pound Rott. Juts bleach them down after you buy a used one and all set. The plastic bottom insert are fairly cheap at petco if you absolutely need 1.
Mack sounds like my dog Rascal. I found him on the side of the road, abused, starving, and he had wounds on his body. He had major fear aggression towards darkly tanned men or Hispanic men, but was ok with white or black men, go figure huh? Took a year to get him to wear he would greet any man of any color, but he does now. He also could not stand ANYTHING around his neck for 9 months, he would throw himself on the ground screaming and convulsing. He wore a harness until he trusted me enough to put a collar on. He now wear a martingale collar because he can slip his head out of regular collars.. And he was cat aggressive. One night, only a couple months after I brought him home, he chased off a would be break in late one evening when it was just myself and my children at home. After that, there was no way i was giving up on him, he deserved every help and chance i could give him. He is also very intelligent, with a high need to please me. He doesn't respond to my hubby or kids like he responds to me. For a year I worked with Rascal, socialization training, dog parks, all kinds of stuff, and he has responded very well. I believe him to be a Belgian Malinois Chow, Chow mix. After we worked with him he ended up being the best dog I have ever had the pleasure of owning. All those pretty huskies in the house and Rascal is my boy. And he is my dog, he likes my hubby, but he loves me. He is a big ham, and his favorite time is movie time because he crawls in my lap and snuggles. Lol.

My Siberian huskies are all high prey drive. But 1 is on a whole different level than the others. She was a rescued stray, which may have something to do with it. She has busted my screen door to chase and kill some chicks of my neighbors that were in my yard. I did not know they were in my yard till too late, I saved the hen and 6 chicks, but Sasha got 2. What's really strange is she is the lowest ranked dog of our pack, just too indifferent to assert herself, we never have problems with her when play gets rough with the other 5. She ignores my inside cats like they dont exists, never chases or acknoledges that they are there. But put a feathered creature in front of her and she becomes a ranging demon. This is my enemy to all things feathered.

She has gotten to were she won't scream and tear at the fence or windows when the flock is out. But she does have the very focused stare that we all know means trouble if she ever gets out again.

 

[orumpoultry]

He's still at the scream and lunge with the cats. Gator was in the hallway when we came in from our morning potty break and he did the back up and whine thing. Straight to my room he went and gator got extra attention after.

He's going to be a worth it handful. Taking the pack to the creek later. Hope he does okay.

 

[Starfire669]

He's still at the scream and lunge with the cats. Gator was in the hallway when we came in from our morning potty break and he did the back up and whine thing. Straight to my room he went and gator got extra attention after.

He's going to be a worth it handful. Taking the pack to the creek later. Hope he does okay.

I hope so too. The ones that take the most work usually end up being the best.