Ivy wrote:

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  That's not good... need to stop it now while still a pup. The Puppy has to see you as the pack leader- always.  /  When mine where little ... I would run my hands all over them, paws, ears, mouth, along the teeth.. the whole 9. Getting them use to being touched all over. [vet visits are a breeze =) ]  The food was given by hand at first and then by bowl. At first food was given and I would ask for it back.. I did have to *take* it back in the beginning….I was firm, calm and persistent….  Now when all 3 are eating ( and they  all eat out of the same food bowl or off the same plate at the same time.)  I can put my hands on them or in the food.. no growling, no nothing.  And if I put my hand flat palm up they will drop what’s in their mouths.

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 Ivy i didnt get Harvey my doberman till he was 4 months old..so as soon as he came home is started touching him allover asap to prevent any negative behavoiur later on.

He doesnt care about where i touch him now and reccomend it to every one when they get a pup it helps alot when vet visits etc come up. I can stick my hands in his mouth..an fingers whilst he is eating, he doesn't care when i mess around with his ears or eyes and feets..hes 100% o.k with it.. i can take whatever i want away from him and he respects it...I heard that males can be act alitte irritated and sometimes snappy when you touch their bits 'n' bobs so i got harvey used to that also..sounds alittle weird like im a pervert lol..but you never know when the need arises for you to look at these places on his body

..Harvey was a challenge aswell even at 4 months old..he was abused and scared of absolutely everthing..abit about his background and what happened is on his dogster site:

http://www.dogster.com/?136512

twinkletoes wrote:

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..Harvey was a challenge aswell even at 4 months old..he was abused and scared of absolutely everthing..abit about his background and what happened is on his dogster site: http://www.dogster.com/?136512

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He’s adorable !  Great pic of the two of you…. awww~  

http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?j=t&i=169296 "Bruces"

Sandy thats great you are making progress. I had numerous problems with Harvey but we got there in the end

Pretty Dobie~ yeah Harvey had a huge amount of issues when we got him..but we both felt it was worth it to give Harvey the work and time needed. He was absolutely terrified when we got him of me and michael and anyone else and dogs(one of his many probs lol). When we put him down on the floor he made a dash to hide where ever possible..sending stuff flying. He never looked us in the eyes, showed no emotions, never wagged his tail, didnt know how to eat from a bowl (he was used to eating scraps of the floor), Had his fair share of emotional and physical scarring, didnt know how to even walk, and was terrified of us touching him and even talking to him in a soft voice and he had zero confidence, and very  scared of any loud noise

well we took him to a fantastic man who worked really hard with us and Harvey making him the dog he is today...we shed huge amounts of tears, spent lots of £ on him, and the patience of a saint lol..but we got there and he is the most amazing dog now with not a hint of the problems he had when we got him and it was defiantely all worth it.. i wouldn't change him for the world.

we often take him to see the man who helped us with harveys issues and he cant believe the further progress he has made and loves to see Harvey

yeah it is really sad..and it makes me upset to think how Harvey was and what could of happened to him if me and michael never took him home. I think that most people would not have given Harvey the help he had needed and he would have been bounced around homes

I hope he is just loving his life now which he seems to be and doesn't remeber any of the hardship he had. Its a sad fact thought that there are many dogs like H who had to deal with even worse conditions. If i was a multi-millionaire then i would devote my time and money to helping re-habilitate pets....humans can be so cruel and theres will always be dogs and other animals in need and suffering