diesel came from a couple in tn, when i got him at 12 wks old, they told me that he had never been off their property, not once, and lived in an outside dog pen, with his mom, when his dad lived inside (they didn't tell me that part, but i saw pics of his dad and he was an inside dog and they told me his mom raised them outside). he had no shots, was really skinny. when i went to drive home from picking him up (town by Chattanooga, tn, to my home right outside atlanta) he was so scared he pooped and peed in my truck, clawed up my dashboard, etc. i stopped about 20 minutes out to let him potty and he was so malnourished he would squat to poop but had nothing in his system to poop, when he peed it was neon yellow/orange and you could smell it 10 foot away and made me gag and almost puke, also had sores on every joint in his body. i couldn't get him to get back into my truck, he was so scared. i finally put him in the back of the explorer with axle (in my pic)but i was very hesitant b/c axle had never cared for big dogs, but i figured since he was a puppy it might work, because he wouldn't be so intimidated if the puppy started out small, and it did. axle babied him a lot, which really helped, i guess him cleaning diesel reminded diesel of his mommy. when i got him home my pack rushed him, and he went all over my floors, and after a while he got used to them checking on him and just laid down, we went to the store and came back and thought he was dead b/c how still he was and so skinny he looked like that one dog off of animal precinct that had been starved to death (think it was a pit). it was really apparent to every one he hadn't been taken care of. all my neighbors were so shocked when i brought him home! i can't even walk him yet (2 months later), because he looks so awful still i'm worried someone will call animal control on me (just in case, i told them about his situation when they came out on a false complaint that my dogs were vicious and running the streets going after little school kids getting of the school buses). honestly, every one has told me it seems like someone hurt him b/c he reacts the same to every guy, and isn't bad with women. i know some dogs are like this because they just aren't socialized, but there was some serious neglect in diesel's past. the past few days we have really been making lead way, thank god! all your luck must be working! instead of doing like we have been doing, i have just tried not giving him the option to freak. i put his leash over his nose so he can't get up on his back legs, and have hubby or my son do something that freaks him out. aiden has gotten really good at turning the vacuum on! this seems to work out best, because he is most comfortable with me, and afterwards whoever does the "scary" part gives him treats or loving. this is working best, compared to just holding his leash and me doing it, or putting it in another room. now, though, i can't get him to walk away from me, he's never more than 10 foot away, but from the sounds, it's really common for danes to do this. still working on not destroying the house when i leave the room or go to the store though, i gave him another chance when i went to the grocery store, and he tried to eat my pot that i had in the sink...
p.s.- i wanna make the satin balls (posted a question about them) for my other dogs, do you guys think he is going to be able to handle them, or if it is a good idea? i don't want him to gain weight too fast, and make his joints get swelled up, etc. vet doesn't have a lot of experience (but dr kay is so awesome with diesel!) with skinny danes, and he told me just to go at it slow, and give him nutrical, but i'm scared this will put weight on too fast!