My friend was adopted by a cream colored german shepherd that showed up at her hobby farm. He had been beaten and starved. He was very submissive to her other dog, my friend and myself but fearfully aggressive toward men. The first vet reccommended he be put down as a lawsuit waiting to happen (though she was an idiot at dealing with a scared dog.) Group obedience training did not work but the trainer gave us some good ideas.

Work with him for short periods every day around the issues he has problems with. Also teach him pleasureable games commands that he can be rewarded for and feel competent about.

Eventually he came to live with me fulltime when my friend moved into the city. My dad worked with him to get rid og the fear triggers over baseball caps (he work freak at the sight of a baseball cap).

Once he was completely sure he was a valued subordanent member of the "pack" he was a great and a gentle dog. He would not let anyone touch him who had not been introduced. (Which meant my father or me taking that person to him, having him sit and telling him their name and being asked to sniff their fingers.) But, hey, I don't let strangers touch me either. He would elude them, not bite at them.

He never did have issues sharing his food... or his nest.

By the time he was re-socialized (it took time) my vet could draw blood and clip nails without muzzling him.

Hang in there. Your poor baby wants the security of knowing you will be in charge and protect him so he can relax and be a dog. It is not unlike abused kids who lash out but want very much to have someone they can trust to teach them the real rules....

See a dog trainer/behaviorist as soon as you can. My Link was a great dog who was loved and loving for the 11 years or so he had with us.

Sorry to be so long winded, but it just brings it all back....