Jim Manson wrote:
I have experience in rescues and have dealt with an abused Klee Kai
successfully. The problem is that the Eskie almost seems to be, for
want of a better term, autistic.

Shell-shock might a better analogy, IMO. He's had little physical or
mental stimulation up until now, so taking him from the only home he's
known (no matter how inadequate) and putting him in an environment where
he's exposed to a barrage of new experiences might be quite overwhelming.
It seems reasonable to me that what we consider a quietly normal home
situation might be an isolated dog's version of Grand Central Station.
During an air raid. With the circus train unloading.

...He will come if you hold out a treat but
that is a recent development according to the foster mother.
Originally he didn't know what a treat was or that people gave them.

He'll be making discoveries like that for a long time to come. Are you
thinking about keeping this dog yourself? He'll likely be a long-term
project, because it will take time for him to become comfortable in his new
circumstances. Once that happens, he might start doing some exploration.

He might never become a highly interactive, people-oriented pet. I've
owned a few animals that were shut down by the stress of changing
circumstances, although none was quite this unresponsive. Establishing a
regular, low-key daily routine goes a long way towards building a feeling
of safety. The truly hard part is the waiting.

--
Mary & the depleted Ames National Zoo
(Ranger, Duke, Rhia-cat)