Last year we adopted Ben, our American Eskimo, as a 4 month old puppy from the humane society. He had been found in a parking lot.
After a few weeks we realized that our puppy had a lot of behavioral issues. In desperation, I called a trainer and he turned out to be Ben's best friend. Over the past six months, the trainer has worked with both of us (behavior modification is as much about the owner as the dog!) on strategies to help Ben overcome his fears, manage his excitement, and learn doggy manners. Slowly but surely his efforts are helping to overcome Ben's trauma from his first month. The trainer has taught us how to use the dog training collar and how to manage his aggressive behavior with people.
Now, Ben is a docile, friendly but above all obedient dog.