Badly need some advice on my dog? He may have to be euthanised if we can't retrain him?

Question

Ok. I have a 13 month old male, steralised German Shepherd x Border Collie. He has a gorgeous nature (loving, playful, affectionate), but mega behavioural problems. He can't or won't housetrain (we've done everything), he jumps, paws you, barks constantly, destroys anything he can get to, digs, and is totally restless and unable to settle.
He doesn't growl or show aggression at home, but when we take him out anywhere he just constantly barks and the vet is fairly sure it's anxiety or nervous barking. She thinks he may need to go on some Prozac or something and have behaviour therapy. Also, most of his littermates were rehomed, and his mother was euthanised due to aggression. Most of his littermates weren't aggressive though, just destructive.
We've got a full assessment booked in 10 days time, and a consultation with the behaviour specialist but does anyone think he can be retrained? I really don't want to have him put down?! Thanks.

Thanks everyone for your answers so far, it sounds pretty encouraging!
I just wanted to add a couple of things that might make a difference.
Firstly, because of the breed mix (I agree with Darla E, it's a near-fatal combination of breeds!), I made sure to do early socialisation and training with him. He went to puppy school, next level obedience, then we had Bark Busters (private at home instruction, one to one). None of it helped! I followed everything to the letter, but it got to the stage where even at dog training we had to seclude him from the rest of the group and work independently from the rest of the dogs! Also, I've stopped walking him now, because of the barking, but we were (consistantly) doing at least an hour a day walk, plus the rest of the day was taken up (ridiculously so) with outside play and games.
I should have made it more clear, sorry, that it's not just 'energy' he displays, it's borderline obsessive-compulsive behaviours. Also, although we tired him out

Although we tired him out, as a puppy even he would only sleep about 2 hours per day! He nearly had me at the point of exhaustion. Does this change anything, or do I still just need to find the 'right' way of getting through to him? I really wanted to put him into agility, that's what we were working towards, but he couldn't even be around the other dogs for basic obedience! Thanks everyone, I just wondered if the extra details changed anything?

Just to a couple of posters: Please don't critisize me for mentioning the possibility of Euthanasia! That is what I'm told (by the vet) that the end result will be IF the combination of drugs and behaviour therapy don't work! IF he is not retrainable, it is the only responsible thing to do as one day the nervousness and anxiety will cause him to bite. Obviously I DON'T want to put him down, that's not what I was asking!

Answer 1

Just wanted to add, Border Collies and G. Sheps. are VERY intelligent (in the top ten of dog breeds) and need something to occupy both their time AND their mind.

Many owners of these breeds (esp. B. Collies) have to come up with a 'job' for their dog to do every day in order to make them happy. There are many ideas you can come up with to stimulate their minds and make them 'work.' Agility training or something equally active and interactive is a good example.

Just remember, you are doing the best thing you can by talking with a behavioral specialist (commended for even) and that you aren't the first owner of this kind of dog to have this problem and it's a GREAT sign that your dog is not aggressive - it means that you can probably rehome your dog (rescue groups will likely be more than happey to take him) if you can't handle it and won't need to have him euthenized.

I wish you luck for both you and your dog!

**Updated from your additional details: Your veterinarian is probably giving you good advice with using a mood stabilizer like Prozac. Just like with people, if you don't have to use it you won't - but in extreme circumstances like you are describing I would try it. If nothing else, and if it results in an acceptable level of change along with everything else you are doing, it might just get you both through until age and maturity settle him down a bit.

I've had a similiar dog to what you described that I rescued from a shelter (he was on 'death row' there and I thought I'd at least try). On top of that, he was also extremely animal aggressive - loved people but flipped out at the sight of another dog on a leash. I won't lie, it was a nightmare that resulted in having to pay a personal trainer to help us train with him several days a week for about a two year period in addition to continous work on our part. He became an amazing dog though that we could even take with us out to eat at restaraunts in Germany and he would behave perfectly. He died of cancer shortly after becoming one of the best dogs I've ever had. I wished at the time that psychotropic drugs like Prozac had been available - it may have given us more time to appreciate him.

Answer 2

The first thing I always ask the owner no matter what kind of dog or what size the dog is: Do you walk your dog at least 30 minutes everyday? If your answer is no, or partially no, then this is where you must start. If a 30 minute walk does not calm your dog down a bit when you get home, then you may want to look into a doggie backpack that you can put either a few rocks in or bottles of water to weight the backpack down a bit. What you are trying to accomplish is draining your dog of some of his pent up energy. Now, these walks are not to be substituded with any outside play time; the walks are inaddition to the playtime. I know this is sort of long, but then this is a problem worth addressing.
When you take your dog for a walk if he should begin the barking or not wanting to walk quietly with you, take the leash or choker collar if that is what you are using and place it up high on the dogs neck just behind his ears. This will give you better and instant control of the actions of your dog. When he begins to carry on, give a slight but firm jerk and make a 'tsk' or 'shhhtz' sound at the sametime. This will break your dogs attention to listen to you. Dog's cannot concentrate on more than one thing at a time. You must be consistent, and you must practice this behavioral change at all times or it will not work.
I wish you the best with your dog, and above all you must remain calm/assertive with your dog even when he's acting up. He will pick up on the energy you are giving off weather it is excited/scared or whatever. If you are calm/assertive this means you are in control; you are the pack leader.

You may also wish to check out Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. He is on the National Geographic channel every Friday evening. Or, come visit his website at: www.http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/

I have 5 dogs, I practice what Cesar teaches, and trust me everything he says and does with the dogs is true, and does work.

Good luck. Please feel free to email me if you would like further guidance. I don't want to see anything bad happen.

Answer 3

The good news is that this is a fairly common problem. But it will take a lot of work.

A Shepherd is an intelligent working dog who needs a job. But a Border Collie is a genius obsessive dog, who is a rocket on legs. Between the two, you need to exercise the dog to tire him out... just to get him to normal. Then you might also train him.
1. Walk or jog with him for 30 min. twice a day. You might also walk him for 10 -15 min just before bedtime.
2. After you finish the walk, start teaching him, sit, down, stay, come,
3. Then teach him other things, like agility, catch, fetch, frisbee, left/right.... and so on. Keep him occupied and busy.
4. He may be too old, but try to socialize him with lots of friendly people and dogs. If he isn't good with dogs, see if you can get a friend with a Lab... they can be the socialites of the canine crowd.

Accept the fact that he won't calm down until he is about 3 years old, but he will start to mellow quickly at that point.

Everything that you say points to not enough exercise. BTW, if you take him out and it is hot... that may not be enough exercise. Healthy Dogs do not breathe hard , because they are tired, they breathe hard because they are hot.

You dog should calm down dramatically after one or two days of walks... if he doesn't then either increase to 45 min. twice a day... or start jogging... a tired dog is a good dog.

Look at it from this perspective. Imagine an 18 year old athlete. Now imagine that it rains for a week... He'll go stir crazy trying to keep busy... fidgeting, fretting, playing computer games... and maybe making a pest of himself.... This is what is happening with your dog...

Exercise your dog for the next 10 days... and see what the specialist says. If your dog calms down....you will have learned something that many people never learn. If this works, and the behaviorist tells you to stop, or suggests anything harsh... then you might consider someone else.

Ideally, the behaviorist should tell you that exercise is good, and that gentle, positive training is important. (read any tapes and books by Ian Dunbar)

Answer 4

No one here can tell you what to do. There are indeed a TON of things you can do to help dogs in his situation, but it makes me insane to see well-meaning but ignorant people suggest that you're just not telling him "no" enough or that it's just insufficient training or that you did something wrong. I don't think you can appreciate it it until you've lived with or worked with it that there are some dogs who just can't get comfortable in their own skin, and and yes, we see it a whole lot with both GSDs and Border Collies. I've seen many dogs of both breeds with through-the-roof levels of anxiety. It's not just hard for you to deal with, but it's hard for the dog to live with too! I hope very much that it doesn't come to euthanasia, but you need to know that if that's where you land after working with the behaviorist, then you need to not worry about people's comments here that "all dogs can be fixed". Sadly, that's just not true, and sometimes it is in the dog's best interest to release them. Happily, that's not the norm and most dogs can be helped!

I'm not going to take time to list a bunch of suggestions here because you have more challenges going on than can be addressed in a few trite lines without a full consultation, but hang in there and have hope that the behavior specialist can help you out. Whenever I hear people say they've "tried everything", they've almost never tried the things that are first on my list to give them.

You've gotten a crummy roll of the dice with basic temperament, but it sounds like you're committed to try to help your boy, so hang in there just a little longer! The behaviorist will be able to give you the best realistic evaluation, and I'd put money down that they will give you a bunch of things that you have not yet tried!

Answer 5

I'm sure you may hear this from other responders - but do you and your family really have enough time to exercise this dog the way that he needs to be exercised? Physical and mental exercise are vital to the mental health of any dog, and especially a very active herding breed such as yours. Nearly all of your complaints could be helped by adequate exercise. Your dog should not be killed because you don't have enough time for this.
I hope that the behaviorist will show you how to stop the barking behavior in a positive way. Your dog does *not* need to be choked, alpha rolled, or beaten into submission. Before the behaviorist comes, try to get your dog exercised and have him work for every bite of food. A Google search for "NILIF" (Nothing In Life Is Free) will also help you - good luck, and thank you for trying to help your dog.

Answer 6

I believe that every dog can be retrained, it's the human that has problems with being re-trained most of the time. I am not saying anything about you, but in general, dogs that are euthanized or that have behavioral problems have owners who enforce their actions. Make sure you take the specialist's suggestions, and that you don't put up with any bad behavior on your dog's part. You may have to do some harsh training, but you will have to train yourself to realize that it's tough love, not abuse of any kind. In return, you will have a great dog, and a happier family!

Answer 7

First, he is STILL a puppy. I have a German Shepard and I have a Border Collie....I don't think those two breeds should have bred. Those are both in the herding dog family which means, your dog has tons of energy. Maybe you are not exercising him enough...how much time do spend with him actually playing and exercising with him? Do you give him positive rewards for good behavior or are you always focusing on his bad behavior? Does he have a playmate like another dog? Why not make him a outside dog....My German Shepard is nervous, but as she gets older, she is now 3 years old, it becomes less and less. She also does get nervous around other dogs but not puppies or cats and kittens. People and dogs make her nervous if we are around her, not to where she is aggressive or barking....it just seems like she is worried about protecting us from them. She does get along great with our Border Collie, but does get a little jealous, but not to where she wants to fight him. Give your dog to someone who has a farm or huge yard so he can have lots of room to run. You didn't say what breed his mother was, so I'm not sure what breed she was. Some people just want the problem to go away so they can get another dog that they think will be different. You probably should have done something different from the time he was brought to your home, the training starts from the time you bring them home...If you really love the dog you will do what ever it takes to find him a good home instead of having him euthanized. Or you can call the dog whisperer...

Answer 8

Well, if you have an assessment booked in 10 days time, there is nothing we can really say. The Specialist will tell you all you need to know.

However, you won't have to get him put-down, just because he isn't obedient. If you surrender him to a German Sheperd Shelter (or similar, a no-kill shleter) then they will work hard with him.

There are Prison Pet Partnerships that take the dogs deemed "untrainable" and "doomed" and partner them with a prison inmate, who works one on one with the dog until they can be re-homed a new and rehabbilitated dog.

Do a google search on Inmate Dogs Training, if all else fails.

Answer 9

If you stay committed to his training, you shouldn't have to put him down. Worst case, maybe find a trainer to give him a second chance. I knew a behavioral trainer that cured an aggressive/anxious German Shepherd, and now he's the most gentle dog. Make sure you have enough time to spend with your dog too. Some dogs get separation anxiety, and many dogs need structured training that continues after graduation.

Answer 10

This is a behavioral problem that needs to be controlled by a human, I haven't seen a dog yet that isn't re-trainable, if he isn't house broke, you need to crate train him, put him in the crate when you aren't home, they don't like to pottie where they have to stay! We have raised dogs for years and they have all been crate trained, when you are walking him don't keep a tense lead on him he can sense your tension, whenever he barks a quick jerk on the lead and a firm no but keep walking...every time he barks jerk the lead, they get the idea real quick...you have to let him know that this behavior isn't acceptable, tone of voice when giving the command will work wonders. a sharp NO and a quick jerk on the lead.
90% of the time it is the owners that need to be trained on how to handle the dog!