Might have to give up Gunner - Owner keeping him

[GunnersMom]

Originally Posted by sit,stay

I don't think that neutering him will give you enough relief to make much of a difference at this point.

That being said, if you do in fact rehome him...NEUTER him before he leaves your home. That is the responsible thing to do in a case like this.

I know you said that you would like to place him yourself, but have you thought about asking a GSD rescue to courtesy post him on their website? Perhaps doing so would give you the control you want and yet give him the exposure to a wider adopting public at the same time? Many rescues will courtesy post, as long as the dog is spayed/neutered and a minimum of appropriate adoption procedures are followed (application, reference check and home visit).

It sure is a rough position to be in. Good luck.
Sheilah

Oh, definitely. If he would need to be neutered, I'd be more than happy to have it done. Or, I would certainly pay for it to be done, at least, if the new home came first.

I did speak to one woman with a rescue here in my area. It wasn't too encouraging. The woman was super nice and really seems like she *wants* to help... but it doesn't sound like they'll be able to find a home for him. His age, his barking and his EPI are going to make it impossible. I told her that I would be more than happy to continue paying for his food, his enzymes and any future vet bills associated with it. She said that might help, but the odds still aren't great.
She actually said that, in some cases, euthenasia is the most humane thing to do. My god...! I mean, in a strictly logical sense I know what she was trying to say... but I can't even find the words for that. To say that it's not an option is really an understatement.

[GSDSunshine]

I'm sorry nothing seems to be working for you. I know when you posted a few weeks ago, you had been given quite a few good ideas to try. Which ones have you tried?

i think part of the problem is you do work at home and since you are home a large percentage of the time, he doesn't know how to cope with you gone. One of the pluses of crate, is it helps keep dogs from being too clingy and dependent upon their owners. I think it might be easier to get him into liking a crate than you think. It will also remove the him watching you leave out the door, watching you leave out the window... and all the big fuss. Plus with a crate, you can give him alone (independent) time during the day while you are still there in the house.

Start with the crate in a quite part of the house. Not where you work at home, and not anywhere he can watch you leave the apt.

Now you might need to start out with a very short amount of time, but he should get the idea, that this is his space. if you could think of one thing that he would go bonkers for...cheese, steak, chicken, cheese puffs, peanut butter, goldfish, hotdogs....what would it be?

Start with the crate open and toss in a few treats near the back and let him take them. After he is comfortable with that progress to tossing them in and letting him getting the treats, but close the door (calmly), for just a second or two. treat him again when you open it. (remember to treat this whole situation calmly...similar to how you put a baby to sleep everything quiet and calm). Slowly progress until you can have him stay in his crate for a minute before treating him. by now you should have put a command to the action of being crated, either "crate" or "night night" or "bed time"... whatever works for you.

Now comes the moment of truth. Very calmly, have him go "night night" and close the door, walk away calmly and don't say a word. Walk to the door of the bedroom (or where ever the crate is) and open it, wait a second, then close it return to him, calmly open the crate and treat and praise.

You will slowly progress in these steps:
1. Gunner in the crate with the door open
2. Gunner in the crate with the door closed
3. In the closed crate with you at the door and the door open. (get up to 30 seconds)
[at this point you can incorporate a kong stuffed with doggie crack (peanut butter, frozen ground beef, chopped cooked chicken, for smaller amount of time you can use the time appropriate amount.)]
4. In the closed crate with you leaving the room but the door open (get up to 1 minute)
5. In the closed crate with you leaving and closing the door but still in the house (work up to 10 minutes)
6. In closed crate you leave room with door closed and leave the house, but don't get in the car yet. (work up to 20 minutes)
7. You can leave the house in your car. Slowly work up times.

Remember each time you come home, you are to remain calm, your leaving and returning are no big deal. Also, if you can' do not give into his barking. I know you have a noise/barking ordinance, but if you can wait until you get a 4-5 second silence and then release him, you will not let him think that barking will let him have his way.

[crs996]

Originally Posted by GunnersMom

He's never been in a crate in his life, so I don't think he'll take to one now. I worry that it would only make him hate my leaving even more than he already does.

The collar does not work. Tried it. He got so freaked out and frustrated when he couldn't vent himself by barking that he tore a nail clawing at the gate.

I understand you're frustrated and stressed, but I don't think you've tried everything, ie: another type of bark collar and especially, the crate. Spray collars are noted for not being effective with excited dogs.

I think everyone here IS trying to help you, I understand you can't afford dog day care and that he is intact, but I think writing off a crate just because he's never been in one may be unwise.

You should be able to quickly AND positively acclimate him to it, it is hardly a punishment and if done correctly will not be viewed as such. Many dogs need structure when they're insecure, I had a dog with similar problems. It may not work, but seeing as how you have one strike already, why not give it a shot?

[GunnersMom]

Originally Posted by Sigurd's Mom

Sorry, I usually don't read past the original posting. Maybe neutering him will calm him down a bit? My parents had a husky that barked and barked and barked, he was about 5 years old, they got him neutered and within a month he didn't bark as much (only when people came to the door and such).

No, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be snarky... I'm just really upset about all this. Bear with me...!
I do appreciate the suggestions and the support. Believe me, I do.

Neutering might be something to think about. I mean, it may or may not help... but at this point, there's nothing to lose by trying it.

[GSDSunshine]

I just wanted to add I was asking what you had tried so that we don't offer the same advice again.

And as far as that woman telling you it might be best if he was PTS, well she doesn't sound very helpful or sympathetic.

[bethd]

I went to a free afternoon at a training facility. They basically showed you a few things they could do with your dog in hopes of you paying $1000 to leave your dog there for two weeks. One couple said exactly what you're saying - "too much uncontrolled barking". They didn't have a gsd, it was a big black curly dog. Here's what he did:

Now all of us are there sitting in chairs outside in a covered area. There's 7 to 9 dogs, and 10 to 15 people and a few crates. So he takes their dog and puts him in a crate. The dog is nonstop barking. No one paid any attention to the dog for about a minute, didn't say his name, didn't look at him. Then the guy in charge threw a football towards the crate and it hit it making a loud noise, which caused the dog to stop barking. No one said anything to the dog, we just continued talking amongst ourselves. After a minute when the dog continued with NOT barking, he went over and said "Good boy" and gave him a treat through the caged door. Then we went about with the demonstration. As soon as the dog started barking, he went through the whole thing again. Pretty soon, the dog wasn't barking.

I know you said "The dog won't take to a crate now, because he's never had a crate" but it's not the dog's choice. A crate actually might give him comfort. It's worth a try. If a wire crate is what you find, cover it with towels so he can't see outside. Make it his little home, feed him in there if need be. He'll take to a crate if he's hungry enough.

Victoria on "It's the dog or me" tv show, cured a dog's barking in the car. She covered all the windows so he couldn't see out, then she pulled the curtain so he could see out the front window and he started barking, so she closed the window. When he stopped, she praised then opened the curtain, and on and on.

Point is to be able to praise the good behavior, not just yell about the bad behavior.

Hope this helps. :-)

[georgiapeach717]

I actually feel quite bad for you bc I can see it in your posts that you are scared and frustrated and sad.

I would 100% get the crate. You would be surprised how fast some dogs take to one. Give nothing but positive treats when he goes in and he will learn that is his new safe spot. It can also *help* muffle barking.

Is this a new apartment? If so he may just be freaked out thinking you are leaving him for good every time you go out the door bc he doesnt consider it home yet. Does he get out and get used to the smell all around the building? Are there other dogs barking that he may be barking with?

Also, have you checked to see if you can move apartments? Not from one complex to another, but to one IN the complex that may be more secluded and he have less chance of aggravating neighbors? Maybe one next to a noisey dog so they can sing together during the day?

I just know there is an answer here!! I know it!

[GSDSunshine]

I knew I forgot something. I also wanted to add that feeding him in his crate will also help associate it with good things.

[georgiapeach717]

i personally would advise against throwing things at the crate to startle the dog while he is locked in it to be quiet...I can see that working for some dogs...and traumatizing other.

[vjt555]

I really feel for you as this is really difficult. You really do need to get him neutered in case you do need to rehome him. I hope things get easier for you.