Three days ago I got a seven month old previously abused black lab male. He seemed to like everybody at first. Last night we noticed he is very possessive of me. His last owner was always with him, as well. He follows me everywhere (If he can), will NOT listen when another person calls for him, he even growled at my mom last night when she tried coming into bed. This is scary and sad for me. Hes been in and out of homes and I can tell he loves the environment. (Big back and front yard, woods, dog friend, spacey house) My mom says if this behavior doesn't stop we will have to move the scared, poor puppy to ANOTHER home. I spoiled him at first, not doing my research, he was rewarded when he didn't needed to be. I want to retrain him, I want his separation anxiety to go away. It breaks my heart that he is like this, hiding behind me when others call his name. So please help.. How do I get him to listen to others when called? What do I reward him for, how too and what to do? What do I do when he growls at somebody? How do I make him less possessive and realize that the family are the pack leaders? Unrelatable, but impossible to find online too; How do I teach him to come on and off furniture? Please help for I am desperate, sad, scared, and empathetic for this dog.

Do a Google search in your area for a dog training facility. The answer you are looking for will require retraining this dog. You may consider having your mom actually be the person who works with him during his retraining.

"I spoiled him at first, not doing my research, he was rewarded when he didn't needed to be". You have only had him 3 days, dogs aren't that smart. Is he neutered?

Huh? He is seven months old.

Agreed - 3 days is nothing. You need months of patient training.
Agreed - he needs to be neutered, now.
Watch Lucky Dog training on TV. Where I am it's on Saturday mornings.
Read books, scour the net. People like Cesar Milan.

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Originally Posted by abusedpup

Huh? He is seven months old.

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Huh, yes. Seven months old.. have him neutered now !

How can you expect an abused dog to be compatible with a busy household in three days ! You expect him to like the environment, big yard, etc. get a grip lady this is a dog and you have bit off more then you can chew if you haven't done your research ! Sit down and think this through. Your post is really off the wall !

Coming from a rescue and veterinary background, I highly doubt that dog was abused That's the issue with ill mannered dogs.. everyone thinks the freaky, super submissive dogs are abused, when the huge issue is, the dog was not properly socialized.

You need to work with this dog SLOWLY. Slow down.. don't expect him to be OK with everything when he's never been exposed to it. Teach him to trust you, but don't allow him to control the situation by acting like a brat and throwing tantrums. The growling will go away the more you build his confidence. Just because your dog is acting like a turd, doesn't mean he was abused. He is undersocialized and very submissive. He may have been neglected, which would explain his shy behavior.

Once you get over the fact that the dog had a crappy past, than you'll learn to treat him like a dog. Get him over his fears by understanding he was never exposed, not because he was "abused". That is the biggest battle... the owners. Dogs do not live in the past. They can remember things, but they do not live in the past. They do not hold grudges and they do not think they cannot do something because something bad happened 5 years ago with another person.

Petsmart/Petco always has dog training classes. Some of the dog trainers train on the side as well. Humane societies and vets may also know of trainers. But honestly, you just need to work slow and work on basic, basic things... like house manners, accepting a strangers touch, etc. Oh.. and get him neutered pronto!