There are a few dogs at the shelter who have been there their entire life. Being there for about 2 months now I fully understand why.

There are two boys who constantly are biting. You go in there area and they jump and bite your face, hair, kneee, leg, feet, etc. They have left some nasty cuts on my face and back... It is just playing, but its to rough. What could the shelter do to stop this? Everyone has tried different methods and now the shelter is looking for one method that everyone there must do (so were all to bring in suggestions to try for a 2-week trial and see if any start to work).

There is also another male who likes shoes. If your walking by him he will grab your shoe, trip you, and then run off with the shoe, runners, flip flops, flats, crocks, you name it he wants it! It is almost impossible to stop him since he does it so fast and before you know it your on the ground and he's outside already.. any suggestions?

There is also a rottweiller there (who has been there 2 years), who has had 3 people look at adopting her in those 2 years. She is BEAUTIFUL! I instantly fell in love with her.. she is smart, gentle, playful, everything anyone would want in a dog! If I didn't have 3 living with me I would take her in a heart beat! Is it that she's a rotti no one will take her home? She is the only shelter dog there that doesn't have some sort of issue (Housebreaking, timidness,aggression, super hyper), she is great in all aspects of being a dog!! --Sorry this one was just to vent :(, I love her and would love for her to find a great home.

Chances are with the Rottie, it's because he is an adult dog, not the breed. Pure breds usually go fast, regardless of the breed.

As for the other training, have you ever considered pooling some money and having a behaviorist or a trainer to come in and give you some tips? When we had a bunch of young pups, our trainer came in twice a month for an hour and half for $150 total, and gave us training tips and techniques for each of the dogs. They usually will work out a deal as they want the dogs to go to good homes as well.

Wow. I have 4 dogs and I love them so much. My Black Lab knows many tricks but it has taken me many years to teach her. It may depend on the type of dog that the two males are. If they're Labs, for example, they're still puppies at heart for most of their lives. Maybe if they had a previous home they were abused? For the dog who likes shoes, maybe the next time that he tries to steal shoes scold him and tell him "NO!". Or, set a pair of shoes on the ground next to you (but don't wear any shoes!) in a small fenced in area and bring a water gun or a spray bottle with water in it. Then, if he goes for the shoes, spray him with the bottle or water gun. And finally, for the dog you love, most people don't like certain dog breeds for things they have heard one dog of that breed did so now they don't like the breed at all because of that one dog. For example, some people don't like Pit Bulls because they're afraid they will fight with other dogs. That's not entirely true because Pit Bulls are normally encouraged to fight. So this may be a reason why no one will adopt her. (Another thing about the biting dogs, if they try to jump on you to bite, put your knee out. It will normally hit them in the chest but don't worry, it won't hurt them unless you put your knee out REALLY abruptly. If they try to bite your knee, then try wearing knee pads or just another pair of pants!)

Hope I answered your question!
P.S. I hope the Rottweiler finds a good home too! She sounds really sweet!

-D :)

Thank you guys for the suggestions. Ill bring up the idea of a trainer at the next councel meeting and see what they say.

We've tried everything for the shoe chewer, bitter spray, squirt bottles, just simply saying "no", changing the shoes (we thought he might just like runners), but so far nothing...

For the two boys who jump up, there a complete mutt, so we can't go on there breed for training tips (They have a lab body shape, but smaller, and one has brindle coloring and one is tan). We've tried kneeing them (well putting our knees up), squirt bottles, getting down to there level so they don't need to jump, but then they just bite you...