Wow, Thanks for all the responses!

I read them to my boyfriend and alot of the ideas make good sense. I know shelter dogs must have such a rough time, in ways it's even rough for the owners. Sometimes I wonder: do they miss their old homes, owners, etc. My collie took to me the very first time I met her and she is intensely loyal but I know that part of that is her fear that I will leave her like her other owner did. Odin was in the shelter THREE MONTHS before he was adopted by my boyfriend, and I agree with the person who said since he doesn't know what to expect he is just safer to keep to himself. I like the ideas about just letting him come to us in the yard and so on.

On a really good note the puppy is adapting really well to her new home and BOTH dogs are adapting to her. At first Odin was kind off put out by Dharma's presence but he has been playing with her lately. That's another thing about Odin, when he meets a dog he goes straight to play, no circle and sniff, and because of that he intimidates alot of dogs and owners, as it seems like agression. So he is learning as being part of a pack.

Dharma is GROWING LIKE CRAZY and learning so fast. For the person who wanted to know what she looks like, she has a short sleek tan/lightbrown coat, long soft floppy ears and chocolate brown eyes. She has these incredibly long legs and giant dobey paws and a very sleek body shape and a long tapered (always wagging) tail! She is about 17 lbs and the vet says she is going to be a very BIG girl - so I have started her on a strict diet of coffee and cigarettes to stunt her growth a bit (JUST KIDDING!!!!) She is having fewer accidents in the house as I am becoming very aware of her pre-elimination behaviour and I whisk her outside where she does her thing. She knows how to sit and sometimes down. Knew her name after the first day I began using it. I am so happy with her! When people ask her breed I call her a "Dobrador" and they say "Really, what's that?" and I tell them she's a lab dobey X they get a kick out of it.

As far as the clicker goes I used it with Odin tonight on the walk and he was VERY responsive to it. He was well behaved and eager to please us with the treats and clicker as a positive reinforcer. I think Dharma may not need it, although she does respond to treats (what dog doesn't?) but I think it may be great for him. One thing that I really like about it - it's loud and it's a neutral sound unlike a voice which always expresses emotion. Who knows how much Odin has been hollered at in his past? Maybe the firm NO is too much. He was definately intrigued with the clicker. So we will see.

Once again thanks for all the great posts and advice! Will keep you posted!

PS: what is a GSD?????????