Since I now have a Shepard/Hound, along with two other large mutts, and have previously had a Shepard/Lab, I know what you are talking about.

You don't mention if the dog/dogs are male or female. If they are working out the dominance issue, you as the ultimate alpha dog need to be a part of this.

Watch carefully how they play and act with each other. When one goes submissive, that is probably the start of the pack authority. Whoever is on top, start to treat that one like the top dog (feed first, attention first, out the door first, everything first).

Shepherds are known for the type of behavior you describe. They are one person dogs, and latch on to you. You have only had Frank for a short while. He is confused. Do you know his background? It sounds to me like he is suffering from some sort of trauma. If he was bounced around between rescue leagues or temporary homes, he is frightened.

I had this experience with my 4 month old Shepard/Hound last January. She was completely traumatized by events that took place since she was born. I am still dealing with her shyness and am told that she may never get over it.

Try making going out fun. I discovered boiled chicken liver is best when trying to get the dogs attention for training or other things. Dogs crave it, and to me it's well worth it. You really have their attention when you use it. Just offer little pieces to Frank. If he goes for it to fast like he is going to take off you fingers, toss it on the ground and make a trail out the door.

You really must assert your alpha dog status with Frank. He is looking at you as another dog in his pack for guidance. He is trying to find his place, get used to new things like sounds, sights, everything might be new to him, It could take a couple of months before he is secure knowing that he is in a permanent good home.

There are numerous books out there that can also help you. I have "The Monks of New Skete" for pups and older dogs.

Finally, something I discovered the hard way. If you are doing something to correct behavior, and you have done it for a while and it isn't working, you must try something else. Not all dogs respond to the same correction techniques.

Good luck! You sound like you have a wonderful addition to you family!

SG

Could Frank possibly be afraid of walking through the door? My last two litters of foster puppies were both totally unsocialized and one of their fears was walking through the door when it was held open.

Of course they were much smaller than Frank and what I did was talk to them and pretty much push them thru the door. It only took a few times till they realized nothing was going to harm them going in or out of the door.

I'd try treats to lure Frank in and out a few times and see if that might be his problem.

Good luck! I hope you figure it out soon so you can tire him out with those long walks. Congrats on your new boy!

Sher

I would put him on a long leash and walk out the front door first then squat down and turn in the other direction. See if that does anything. I have a dog that won't go anywhere near the car but If I turn around and kneel down he walks right over.

Another thing you can try is to use a short leash and adjust it so that the leash is high up on the neck, right behind th e years pretty much and your arm is hovering over the dog. This usually makes the dog walk forward and keeps the head up.

Don't force or drag the dog, let him come to you or walk out on his own.

If that doesn't work, I've found that there isn't much you can't accomplish with jar of peanut butter. Just be sure not to reward the stubbornness.

Try that a few times before you go anywhere. He may be afraid he's going to be taken away again. Treats might help.

Because this is a rescue, I assume you don't know much, if anything, about the dog's history. I wonder if his previous owners might not have wanted a big german shepherd greeting guests at the front door, plopping muddy paws on their white skirts, and scaring away the postman. In other words, perhaps he was trained to NOT go through the front door.

Can you take him out a different door to go for a walk? Even if it means you have to walk around the house? If you can, then I would suspect he has been taught not to go through the front door. Or is it that he will not go through ANY door with a leash on? If so, can you take him out to a (presumably) secure back yard, then put a leash on and go for a walk from there?

If this was my dog, I would try all sorts of combinations to figure out exactly which part is scaring him - the door, the leash, the big front yard, the pot of flowers by the front door, the umbrella stand, etc. Then go from there. In the meantime, if there is another way to get him out, do that so he can get his exercise.

Yeah but if he was trained not to go out the front door then why would he (I presume) plop down and turn into concrete (so to speak when the OP goes to take him out on leash?

I train mine not to go running out or cross certain thresholds but they'll do it if they're on leash and following me.

Because it depends on how the dog was trained (if this is the problem). You have trained yours that its okay to go out the door on a leash, this dog may have been trained that it is NOT okay to go out the door, period. When jooly tries to take him out on a leash, he feels he is being forced to do something that he is conditioned not to do.

Our dogs react the exact same way if someone tries to take them across the invisible fence line on a leash.

Food rewards.

I have the same question as "prairie love", will he not go through any door with the leash on or just the front door? If he'll go out the back door with a leash on then lead him around to the front door and see if he'll go into the house through that door.
If he won't go outside at all, through any door with a leash on then he obviously has issues with leashes and "outside". I assume you have a backyard. Is it posible to open both the front door and back door and walk a "loop", first one direction and then the other?
You've gotten a lot of good advice about using treats. Something is bound to work eventually. Let us know how he's doing.

And what is happening with this? It's been 4 days. Surely you've tried some of this by now.

I would give your dog a drop of rescue remedy before trying again, it might calm him enough to get him out the door. Otherwise, be firm, walking him around the living room for awhile with the front door open might help. Then after you pass by a coulpe of times try and go out. You also might try hooking up your older dog, and having the newer one on a leash in the other hand, and trying to take them both out at the same time. Be patient, try and make it fun, use treats, use praise, use every creative thing you can. You'll make it.