We've not asked for the information, it's just been volunteered when people have recognised the dog. The whole not treating him well explains a few things. I don't know just how badly he's been treated but we have found that having his collar held scares him, my husband putting his harness on scares him, being told to move scares him and being told to lie down results in a panic and a ton of appeasement gestures including going belly up and turning into a fountain 
I think I may have to find a new word for down because of his extreme reaction to that one.However, Spencer is doing absolutely fantastic in general. He is quickly learning not to jump on me or mouth me. He still does both of these things to hubby who sometimes encourages him and sometimes doesn't
Is the use of an ecollar on our partners acceptable? He's learned to wait at the top of the stairs when going for a walk rather than darting out and trying to drag me down them as soon as I open our door. He's learning that the kitchen is off limits, I just remove him when he does come in and reward him for lying quietly in the dining room. He's doing very well with it and is mostly choosing to lie in the doorway which is fine. The door is kept shut when nobody is in there and always will be. He can sit and wait for his dinner now instead of diving in before I've even put the bowl on the floor. He is good with other dogs, excited to see them and will give a bark or two but he's not obsessive and is easily distracted with a toy or treat. He loves people but needs to learn not to jump up. Course all these big tough soldiers tend to encourage him to do it Our only issue is his leash manners. He is absolute HELL to walk. Not only does he lunge and pull but he's forever crossing from side to side and almost tripping us up. We seem to have got a handle on the lunging, he hasn't done it for a couple of days now so we're going to try the Halti. I'm sure we'll get there with it.
I do seem to have managed to stop the lunging though so I'm introducing the Halti to him. We've also got a new leash that should be gentler on the hands. But yep, mostly positive 
In fact I feel a bit petty whining about his pulling when he's so good overall 
Spencer is quite a lucky dog to find someone who understands him.
