GSD help needed!

Oh boy, see what we bite off when we try to help? 
 
Sorry I wasn't here sooner...Thursday was Howl at the Moon and yesterday was another busy day.....
 
It sounds like the two main issues right now are the leash and eating.  Don't put him back on crap....just continue to offer whatever you want him to eat.  I'd also not "spice it up" and I sure wouldn't use those gravy toppings.  I'm guessing that the diahera is a combination of stress, change in environment, change in food AND the worming meds.  A good dollop of pumpkin will help firm things up.  You can fast him for 24 hours, then put him on chicken/turkey/ground beef and rice for the first 48 hours, with pumpkin mixed in...if he won't eat the pumpkin, try adding a bit of yogart.  Not many can resist THAT.
 
Now, I've been told that gsds are picky eaters with sensitive stomachs.  Couldn't prove that by my crew......I don't often get adult shepherds to foster, but when I do, they eat the same way my crew eats.  Regular scheduled mealtimes in their crates and then the bowls, full or empty get taken away.  And nothing until the NEXT scheduled mealtime if they don't eat.  It's a matter of expectations with me.  I EXPECT them to eat what I give them and since I refuse to be a short order cook, they get what they get and they LIKE it.  And I have that attitude even with the fosters.
 
I think I would treat this boy like he's a pup as far as leash work, crating and meals go.  If he loves the ball, use that to get him into his crate.  I don't see anything wrong with letting him follow you into the kennel, but when you want him to do that, tell him that he's a lucky boy and gets special time in the SAFE place.  And leave the ball with him.  Make it a big deal that he GETS to go in there, not a sneaky trap.  And since the other dogs still scare him a bit, he'll likely be grateful for his safe place.  One of my youngsters finally LOVES playing with the others outside and he gives as good as he gets, but INSIDE he would rather be in another room away from them or at the very least up on the sofa where he feels safer.  Not sure what the difference is inside or out, but it matters to HIM.  And he WILL seek out his crate when he feels overwhelmed by them.
 
On leash walking, just pretend that he's a puppy being exposed to it for the first time. Continue doing what you are doing by letting him drag the lead and pick it up now and then.  BUT, when you pick it up, suddenly become the most fascinating creature on earth AND let him pick where you are going to walk.  Let HIM be the leader and gradually you can encourage him to come with you "HEY!  WHAT'S THIS?????  LET'S CHECK OUT THE FLOWERS" or whatever so that he begans to see that the lead isn't the enemy and that following you is fun.  When I'm working with pups I never stop talking and since they are soooo used to hearing my voice, I'm thinking it reassures them in a "scarey, and new" situation.  But, don't PULL him on the leash.  If he tries to back out of it, plop right down on the ground with him and he'll likely come FORWARD to you and then you can praise the daylights out of him for coming forward like you wanted him to in the first place.  A harness would be easier to work with since you're dealing with a large "puppy"
 
You might want to try making some liver treats to get him into treats.  I'd use BEEF liver since it stinks worse to start.  Typically, the worse something smells the more they like it.  I literally cut these to the size of my pinkie fingernail and they are soft treats, quick and easy to scrarf down.  And being tiny helps them know that it's really something special, I think.
 
The crate needs to be a special place for him, he needs to see it as his haven and then he'll likely NOT want to toilet in there and will be far more likely to really let you know in advance that he's GOT to go, diaherra or not.  He should be vet checked just to be safe, but I'm going to bet that most of the odor comes from the garbage he was eating and he's kind of detoxing his body.  When Tyler came back from his "home" after two months of eating P[:'(]digr[:'(][:'(], it was the dead of winter and I could smell his poop the second I opened the door to let him out.  It was a horrible, vile smell and it took a few weeks eating Innova for it NOT to smell to high heaven.  HE only ate crap for a couple months, this poor guy has been eating it for THREE YEARS so it's gonna take some time for all that nastiness to get out of his system.  I'm far from an expert, but my vet told me that the reason Tyler's poop was so horrific was that he was detoxing and that really makes sense to me.
 
I'm going to guess that yes, he is missing his old home and his mean playmate...which might be why he's so afraid of your dogs....the older GSD was agressive you said so he probably doesn't have a clue how to play with dogs who AREN'T going to beat him up and constantly put him in his place.
 
The best thing you can do is give him some time to settle in, to feel like a part of your family and then start really working with him.  I know its tough when they don't instantly fit it, but honestly, that doesn't happen often, and the best thing to do is understand his history and try to make it work FOR you.
 
I'm not an expert at anything, but I'll be happy to help in anyway that I can.  If you choose the email option rather than pm, I'm likely to see your mail sooner.
 
Thank you for taking this boy, and SHAME ON THE ORIGINAL owner for giving up animals he's had for so many years.

Thank you all for your help.
He is doing a lot better with the other dogs but is still not eating.I think i have a harness that will fit him.I will try that.He seems to have a problem with anything pulling on him neck,including holding his collar to be brushed.He preferrs to be by my SO when in the house.He will venture a few feet out but not for long.My hubby has a velcro dog! I wish he was here more to help with the training as he seems to trust him more.
He has stopped trying to escape but it may be because his energy level is lower due to the illness.
His nails are horribly overgrown but i wanted to give him a little time to get comfortable before cutting them.He needs a bath too.

sounds like the poor thing is STRESSED OUT!  the shedding & food can be an allergy, can be lack of nutrition, try Nutro for large breeds food (see farting dog for full story)
My 2 rescue dogs have done extremely well on it
behavior, try to not let your husband baby him when he's home, let him know that you are also his pack leader, and please be patient, he's stressed with previous owner leaving him, change of environment, food, etc.

Ooops - forgot, my dogs take their meds no problem when I stuff the pill into a Vienna sausage or a piece of a hot dog, one likes peanut butter rubbed on it (the other's allergic to peanuts) 
the hot dogs were good for training (sliced thin)
remember one thingk a GSD is a working dog, they need to work or they become bored easily, then the problems begin.  I walk mine 3 miles a day, or I ride my bike or rollerblade, they follow.  When they're tired/relaxed (released energy) they're great to be with - good luck & thank you for not letting him wind up in a shelter! []

You have to remember that shepherds DO tend to be pretty velcro.  They are very VERY loyal dogs and this guy is having to shift his allegiance FAST, so he's looking for a new master to latch on to.
 
ladiebug?  Do you work for Nutro?  You're brand new here and both posts you've made have been really pushing that product.  This dog is NOT eating anything at the moment, so feeding him Nutro isn't likely to help.  Nutro is really grain heavy and often it is those grains and grain fragments that cause issues.  If she said he's shedding, I missed that, but, German Shepherds (gsds by the way gs=german shorthair) are epic shedders who require DAILY brushing.  I believe that the main concern is the diaherra, and that's likely the dog detoxing from the crap he ate for 3 years.  Dogs NEED meat and I doubt Gravy Train contains any.  Changing to a food that has meat is of course going to cause some gastric upset.
 

This was a great thread but can you tell me, what is Nutro and Gravy Train? and is kibble dry food?

Yes, kibble is dry food.
 
Gravy train is a kibble that you add warm water to and it makes "gravy"...thus the name.  It's really a bottom of the barrel garbage food with a ton of not good for dogs ingredients, and some that may actually be quite harmful.
 
Nutro is a few pegs above the garbage grocery store foods but still not a very good one.

Thanks, It is quite bewildering the amount of food you can buy for your dog now, sometimes I think you need a science degree to read the labels, for every article i've read that says tinned food is rubbish, there is another saying they only use the best meat! I thought I was doing well buying my spaniel an expensive dry food but it gave him a dry and itchy skin, but luckily I found another good one with not so much protein and he is thriving on that.  

Update! I did get him to eat some ground beef and rice with pumpkin.I made extra so he can have some more tomorrow.He is still runny but isnt pooping much anymore since ha hasnt eaten.
We finally got that bath done! His coat is terrible! Very thin on top.I could see way more skin than i should be able to while i was rinsing.I will start him on a skin and coat supplement once him system is up to it.
He is shedding but i dont think he was brushed much at his former home.We brushed him out really good but hair still came out in clumps in my hands when i gave him the bath.Need more draino!! After he dries i will trim him up a bit,i had to cut some mats out and he looks a bit butchered.Then we will tackle thoes nails.but one thing at a time.Baby steps!
Excersise right now is a non issue.He has very little energy and pretty much wants to sleep all day.After he is feeling better we can better evaluate his needs.Tomorrow morning i am collecting a stool sample and running it over to the vets.(fun)! to rule out any parasites.
As far as the Nutro goes i have never tried it but any food that contains corn or soy ingredients is not allowed in my home.We have an allergy dog.

Just be sure he isn't blowing coat.  When Ranger is out of coat, I can see his skin from certain angles

He *might* be blowing his coat.  Stress can cause that.  Or, we had about 4 cool days and really chilly nites, and my crew started blowing their coats REALLY early....and they are dropping fur so bad you'd think at a glance that they have some dreadful disease. They look like moulting birds.....

he doesnt look like he is blowing his coat but he might have before we got him.He doesnt seem to have a lot left!We had a week of really hot weather and them it got pretty cold for a week (40F at night) so its possible he did just before he came here and what we brushed out was the end of it.His fur is pretty even all over just very thin on the top.His belly and chest are very thick.His tail looks kinda like a very large racoons tail!Without knowing how much undercoat he normally has its hard to know but time will tell.I heard SO whispering on the phone to someone that he wants to keep him.When is he planning on telling me??

It wouldn't hurt to have a thyroid panal run.....

He ate good this morning.I was able to sneak some kibble in with the rice and ground beef.He ate about 2 cups.He is getting a little energy back and wanted to play! Too bad its raining hard today! Hes really getting tired of me brushing him.I brushed him on and off for 3 hours.Got enough hair to weave a nice blanket! Nice christmas gift! He is looking and feeling so much better! He hasnt pooped yet today,he tried but nothing came out.He slept on the floor at the foot of my bed last night and only got up when i did at 2 am,3am,4:30 am,to let somebody else out to go potty.Boy i dont sleep much do i.Like having a house full of newborns.

It is still hot here in Kentucky and my GSD is blowing her coat, im thinking early winter! My poor bagless vaccum is running overtime! My yard is littered with clumps of hair.....sometimes I think if I brush enough i will see china.
 
Good Luck!
Tru