Question:
My girlfriend and I have been talking about getting a dog for a long time, and today we finally did it. On the way up from manhattan to boston, we stopped at Adoption Day at the SPCA in Monroe CT. We got ourselves an adorable 12 year old, 15 lb beagle/rottweiler mix. It's just what we want: a dog who is small, but not prissy, and old as hell, so no one else would want him and it could be a true "rescue" and we can spoil him and let him die in a loving home rather than some cage in a kennel (also, being apartment-dwellers in our mid-twenties, we're not really ready for a 15 year commitment to an animal).
He was great at the pound; great, though shaking with fear in the car (eventually fell asleep on my GF's lap); great when we got home (eating gently from the hand, cool on the leash, playing ball and fetching, letting us rub his belly and kissing us, letting us put vaseline on a tick we found, falling asleep on the couch, etc.) but then he snapped.
As he was dozing and we were doting over him, he jumped up and snarled and bared his teeth and, when I went to grab his collar and hold him from my GF, who is a dog noob, he nipped my finger. He drew a little blood, looks like a splinter, but right after he looked so apologetic and scared as I read him the riot act. His rage flared and then subsided immediately. He'd snarled before, while playing ball, but we figured that was just him getting into it and being possesisve of the tennis ball, now we're not so sure.
So what do you all think: is this sudden, unprovoked outburst indicative of some underlying behavior problem, or just jitters from being in a new home?

Answer:
I don't have a dog, but I have a rabbit and three kids, so I figure I am qualified to throw my two cents in here.
My first thought is, if I were the dog who was just brought across state lines albeight by a couple of loving and attentive seemingly kind but complete strangers, I might need a bit of transition time. This rule applies across the board with both kids and rabbits, maybe it does with dogs, too. When we got our rabbit, we visited him several times at the pet store before bringing him home, held him, spent time with him and then took the plunge. Too late for that with your dog, but I would be mindful of the need for him to get used to you and the new and alien surroundings. You mentioned he was napping when the incident occurred suddenly. Is it possible he was startled?
Also with my rabbit, initially he nipped. I followed advice from the internet - I squashed him firmly but gently, asserting myself as the Alpha Rabbit in the house. After several squashing events (firm but gentle, administer with a stern NO) the nipping ceased. My thought would be to establish yourself as the Alpha Dog.
I also made sure to be a source of food and once a day treats. Established myself as the Source of All Good Things Needed for Survival and Well Being.
This said, my rabbit was a baby when he came to live with us and probably a good deal more malleable than your older pooch.
Which was my second thought. That is a dog with a lot of history. Did the pound give you any background on the fellow? Was he abused or mistreated in any way? Knowledge like this would be helpful.
I know there are others here with lots of good advice and more dog experience.
I wish you all the best with your new family member.
You probably know this already, but having a dog is like having a baby, imo.
That's why I have a rabbit.... less demanding, but great company.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
R

Answer:
If he was a mean dog, he'd be mean all the time. He's just scared and jittery, which seems quite understandable. I had a rescue dog once. It took time for him to really be ours--after he settled (three months, maybe) he was very loyal and protective. He never did snap, but he went from scared, withdrawn, and half dead, to bursting with life and happy energy. He was a male, but he treated my boys like precious puppies--barked his head off if they tried to leave the yard. He once fought off something in the woods (the kids said it was a bear--I doubt it) nearly to the death as the kids came screaming and running back home. He limped back three days later, very torn up. The children to this day say the thing was growling and running at them when Hercules ran up from behind them to fight it. I miss him very much.

Answer:
I strongly suggest obedience lessons for the dog, and you (that is, you go to them together).
Dogs like to know exactly what you want and expect of them, and where the boundaries are. Strict, consistent, reasonable, and fairly enforced rules will make him much more secure and happy.
That said, a dog who has been homeless will think of his territory as wherever he happens to be. So it will take him a bit to learn that the house is your (and his) territory, in the meantime he might be a bit territorial as well as scared, stressed, jittery, etc.
Grabbing at the collar of a dog who is upset and doesn't know you well, especially given that you aren't particularly used to dog psychology and behaviour, is very risky - I'm not surprised that you got nipped. That you didn't get hurt worse is a very good sign - s/he clearly wasn't trying to harm you.
Obedience classes will teach you how to communicate with the new dog, and help you to establish a good pack hierarchy (you as the alpha, the new dog happily knowing its place in the pack). You can also talk to local vets and rescue societies for suggestions and advice.
Good luck.

Answer:
i think everyone here has given very good advice already so i won't say much, i just want to add that the matter is also complicated by the fact that he's 12 years old.it's possible his hearing isn't as good as most dogs, or there might be other ageing issues taking place that cause him to startle more easily than he would normally. so maybe from now on you should make a conscious effort to make yourself known to him before approaching him in any way, for example by making some extra noise while approaching, or what have you.

Answer:
what is the dog's story. was it given up to the pound because of aggressive behavior? how is it at feeding time. can you easily remove his bowl as he is eating, or does he growl when you approach?

Answer:
HUGE animal lover here...Former dog breeder, though now a one dog(and multicat) owner, so I feel that I can speak with a bit of authority on this. situation.

First, thank you for doing such a noble deed. Adopting an elderly dog who would most likely end up overlooked, unwanted and euthenized is incredibly honorable. Phil, this is a big commitment, as I'm sure you know. But you've got to be prepared to be commited to the process of integrating this old frightened little soul into your home and heart. It's going to take some time. The dog will be going through a major adjustment period... At least a couple of months. Be patient...he is under an extreme amount of stress. I would imagine this is a huge trauma for him to be suddenly uprooted in such a drastic manner. Elderly dogs(like people) simply do not adjust to change as readily as young pups. It makes me feel sad that he has been abandoned in his golden years....poor thing must be awfully confused, and perhaps heartbroken. Dogs(especially elderly ones) are creatures of habit. They thrive on regimentation. It makes them feel safe. When their orderly lives are suddenly disrupted(and boy, has this dogs life been disrupted), they can become quite insecure and act out in strange ways. Who knows what the last few months of his life have been like? Shelter life is often highly stressful and traumatic for a dog, and that goes doubly for elderly dogs. They tend to exist in a constant state of high anxiety. That takes it's toll. It will be very important to establish a regular routine and stick to it in order to make him feel secure again. Only once he begins to feel safe and confident of his surroundings and has established a trusting bond with you will his true nature emerge. Please give him some time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that old dogs can get ornery, they don't tend to like a lot of poking and prodding. And they take their sleep time very seriously! LOL I really think your dog was just confused. He is in this strange environment, was probably drifting off, forgot where he was for a moment and his first reaction was to protect himself. I know my dog Molly(10 year old pekingese - her pic is in my profile) is easily startled when she is sleeping. And will snap at the cats if they sniff at her when she is dozing. She hasn't snapped at me but she does jump if I approach her while sleeping.

You've done a good thing, Phil. Please don't give up on him. His spirit is wounded and needs some time to heal. These old guys need our love most of all.

-Kim