YAY! I’m so glad you’ve decided to give Buford a chance to adapt to your pack. Much of what you’ve posted is very encouraging about his ability to do so. I see you’ve already received excellent advise that should be extremely helpful.
One thing I haven’t read in the replies is the issue of Buford’s recent neutering. If I recall correctly, he was only neutered about a week, or maybe two weeks ago. When an older dog is neutered, it takes 2-3 months for their testosterone levels to gradually drop. It’s entirely possible that you will continue to notice him becoming calmer and perhaps less inclined to mark as the weeks progress and he’s less influenced by testosterone.
Good luck, and I’ll enjoy reading your updates!
Oh, adding on to previous post...until his testosterone levels have dropped sufficiently, he will still be responsive to the scent of any neighborhood bitches in estrus. That would be something to keep an eye on if he’s left outside, as he might be quite determined to fence climb to meet a new girlfriend. Boys...LOL.
“If I recall correctly, he was only neutered about a week”
You have a mind like a steel trap, which is no surprise for a fellow FReeper. I did get some warning from the foster that his hormones will be out of balance for a couple of months and I have to admit, that if his current behaviour is the worst case scenario, then we will be OK in the long run.
Many on here have helped me level set my expectations and at this time my only concern will be the “house training” related to marking, control, etc. I’ve been taking him outside regularly and praising him for using the great outdoors. As a result, we have not had any issues today, so I am hopeful that we can get it resolved in the long term. I am not expecting perfection for awhile, but this morning has been encouraging. Especially as bad as it was last night. It is literally like “night and day.” ;-)
The other thing is that I will be getting a crate tomorrow, so I think he will be much happier. Luckily, I am here all week and don’t return to work until next Monday. That will give me time to see how he reacts to the crate and that will hopefully give me some good confidence while working.