How can I get rid of my german shepherd?

Question

He is destroying our house. We'd rather not have to euthanize, but his lack of positive qualities make it difficult to market him for a new family. The waiting list at the pound is several months.

I suppose I should add: he is eight years old and still acts like a maniac. We attempted to crate train him as a puppy, but he literally destroyed two different styles of crates to escape while we were gone and then proceeded to damage our house. We have open space outside; he plays and runs and exercises. He loves the kids; we just cannot continue to pay to repair the things that are damaged in our house only to do it again a few months later. That is my point. I cannot correct behavior that I do not observe and I cannot be home 24/7.

We have also contacted the local german shepherd rescue and have been on their site for about 6 months with no responses.

Answer 1

Please don't euthanize! You have a great dog and I understand it is too much for you to handle but there are people who know that the cute puppies turn into a handful for those not familiar to the breed, so there is a German Shepherd Rescue organization. You didn't say where you live, but here is one contact link that can direct you to someone or something in your area.
Otherwise, if they don't have anything available, you can put up some signs in your Vet's office and in pet stores and interview people to make sure they are a good home.
Some people take animals that are advertized as "freebies" and sell them to medical research centers which is why you might not want to advertise that he would be free to a good home.
So try this link! Hope it helps.
http://www.gsdrescue.org/

Answer 2

German Shepherds are very very intelligent dogs.They are very easily trained.They also require alot of exercise and if you don't provide both the exercise and mental stimulation for them this is the end result.
Rather than go thru all this why don't you put a leash on the dog and take him for a walk or better yet a good 45 miute off-leash run before you leave him alone.A tired dog sleeps rather than destroy things.Putting him in the yard alone for an hour won't get it.There's nothing in the yard to pique his interest.
Your dog is bored and as you've never provided him with things he can chew or interact with that will hold his interest he has nothing to do but destroy things.Chewing is a dogs stress relief.
For the dogs sake I hope you can find him a new home soon before you totally ruin him.In the meantime I suggest you take him for 3 walks a day that last at least 30 minutes at a brisk pace.And stop being mad at the dog and acting resentful toward it for all it's cost you in repairs cos it's no ones fault but your own.
You can get up and leave anytime you want to when you're bored for a change of scenery.That poor dog is stuck.You have turned his home into a prison and then you try to stick him in a tiny little crate at your convenience.Of course it was'nt happening.From your dogs point of view you were being very abusive.Shame on you.
Are you aware that German Shepherds have the 3rd highest intelligence rating of I forget how many dogs?
I own 2 and they never cease to amaze me with how easily they pick up on things.
Your dog does'nt lack positive qualities.You've just never taken the time to notice them and help improve them with training.
Frequent walks will help calm him down until you can find him a good home which I hope you will SOON.Put an ad in the paper for him and explain to anyone answering the ad that the dog needs a home where he'll receive alot of love and exercise.

Answer 3

What do you mean the waiting list at the pound is too long?
Contact German Shepherd rescue and explain the situation and make sure you tell them you are planning to euthanize the dog because YOU failed to train him and now he is destroying your house. Put in German Shepherd Rescue + your location so you can find a rescue near you. Another thing you could try is put up an ad at a GSD breed club and explain the dog and the situation.
Do not ever get another dog until you have done some research, all the problems you have with your dog could have been prevented and still can if you would have been or were willing to work with the dog. Dogs do not come pre-trained and all dogs need to be taught what is acceptable and what is not!!!

Quit going to their website and get the phone number and call.

Answer 4

Have you worked with a trainer at any point? You've had the money to fix all of this damage... have you invested any into training?

It's hard to imagine that you've had this dog for 8 years and have only now decided to get fed up. Unfortunately as you've discovered, there is not a booming demand for 8 year old dogs who are abandoned by their lifelong owners -- if you guys who have had this dog since a tiny baby puppy aren't even willing to work through the dog's issues, it's hard to expect someone else to leap out of the woodwork to take them on. If you're really serious about rehoming this dog, try to do more to work with the rescue to help find a new home. Does the rescue do adoption events at PetSMART or PetCo where you could bring the dog out to meet potential adopters? Have you put up fliers at the local vet's office, or gotten him listed on websites like petfinder.com?

I don't know how much effort you've actually put into training this dog, so I'm can't say that you have or haven't done everything you could to help this dog be a better family member than he is today. It's all water under the bridge now. If you're committed to helping this dog now, you should begin to work more proactively to find this dog a new home rather than to wait for another organization to do it for you. Use them as a resource, but get out there and advertise the dog yourself. Rather than pitch the dog as an "uncontrollable maniac", you should be very honest about the problems you're having but you might suggest that you feel the dog would do better in a different household or with someone with more time or more German Shepherd experience. I don't know your dog or your entire situation, but based on my experience, it sounds like you're dealing with a training and management problem more than a full-fledged personality problem, and it is very reasonable to think that this dog could do better in a different household IF you can find someone who is both experienced and willing to take the dog in.

I know you're getting a lot of harsh responses, but pet ownership is a big responsibility. It does seem like you're trying to do the right thing by hanging on to the dog until you can find another home, but there is a lot more you can and should be doing. Regardless of the outcome here, I hope you do a lot of research before you consider getting another dog in the future so that you can avoid ending up in this sort of sad situation again.

I wish you luck finding a suitable home for your boy.

Answer 5

You do not euthanize a dog cause its being bad! How old is your shepherd and have you done any training classes?!?!

I mean think about it. If your kid was uncontrollable and destroying your house would you put him to sleep or up for adoption?

Pets have feelings just like humans do!

Also what kind of toys does your dog have? Does he have things he can play with? Like a Kong, Rope, Ball, Natural bone?

Don't give up on your dog! Try training classes!!

Answer 6

Get rid of the German Shepherd (simply kidding) Keep him from rolling within the poop! Pick it up instantly earlier than he has time to roll in it. Give him a REALLY well bathtub, and simply maintain him clear of the poop. You too can seem into exchanging his nutrition considering the fact that that might be gambling a component in his smell. Is he an within puppy or outside? What company of puppy meals does he consume?

Answer 7

Put an ad in the newspaper. when people read the newspaper they will see the dog and they might buy it. If that dosn't work, ask friends family, and neigbors if they want it. You could also have it go to a doggy training school, and they could get it to calm down. And everybody else answering, don't dump everything on her. It is her choice so you don't need to be nagging her and making her feel bad.

Answer 8

what qualities is he lacking? all dogs try to destroy things when they first come into your home. they are trying to be the leader of the pack - it's up to us to show them, that they are not. this comes from dedication and love for your animal. with the proper discipline, and i don't mean hitting, a dog can become the little prince that we all imagine he is when we first pick him out from a pet shop. believe me, this does not happen over night. i hope you hang in their and find that he will change in time. try keeping him in his crate and taking him out only when you are present with him in the house. he will eventually get the picture of what's right and wrong. i wish him and you luck.

Answer 9

Contact a German Shepherd Rescue. Here is a web address for one:

http://www.agsra.com/

Or, you can go to the AKC website to find a German Shepherd Rescue in you area. That web address is:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm

Answer 10

pleased to hear that you dont want him put to sleep! what you mean his lack of positive qualities? hes only being destructive nothing that cant be sorted by good training and understanding of your dog. if you arnt willing to help sort this problem then you should have thought about this before you bought him. (not meaning to sound harsh but dogs arent easy to bring up) get in touch with a behaviourist they can help you train. i bet your dog has lots of good positive qualities but your not seeing them. dont get rid of him because hes destructive help him work with him. its all down to the owners on training and you are responsible for teaching him the correct way.