[LimestoneKid]

I'll start with the back story.

Three years ago we rescued a cocker spaniel off the streets of the Navy Yard. (He is now six.) We didn't really have any intention of keeping him and we made arrangements to place him with a rescue service. Unfortunately the rescue service had no room at the time so they made arrangements to temporarily house him at ACC. After a couple of days they called us and said that he had tried to bite some of their handlers. They also told us that we either had to take him or they would put him down. It was at that stage that we accepted a second dog into our lives.

Over the three years that we've had him he has improved in some areas but there are other areas where there has been little or no improvement and some where his behavior might even be worse.

So now the issues:

1. He barks uncontrollably whenever one of my wife or I attempts to leave the apartment without the other. In fact he's got some of her morning routine memorized as he'll even start barking when she calls the car service.

2. He is house trained but lately he has been pooping in the apartment, five times in the last four days, and it's getting really tiring to come home to.

3. He refuses to go for walks unless both my wife and I, plus our other dog, all leave the apartment together. If one of us is still sleeping in the morning he will not go out for a walk. In fact he will growl and try to bite you if you attempt to put a leash on him.

My patience has just about run out and we need help getting him sorted out.
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[CRISTINA]

Sorry you guys are having such a trouble with your rescued pooch. It seems that you need professional help since you are talking about aggression signs, which is a red flag in my opinion. Also, this dogs acts like the pack leather (this should be your role) and he is obsessed with keeping you all together to take care of you... his own way.
We also adopted a dog 2 years ago and he had some issues (never aggression though) and after 1 session with our trainer we saw a big improvement. After 6 sessions, the problems were almost solved.
If you are willing to consider paying for a trainer, I could give you our trainer's details.
Good luck!

[StoopLady]

Separation anxiety.
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If I don't quite understand you...well, that's all right...if you don't want to understand me...it really doesn't matter.... If we all try to understand each other, well now, just think of what might happen!

[OpossumQueen]

I know this might sound silly, but one of those dog training shows (I think "It's me or the dog") is looking for people in NYC, according to a Fido mailing I got recently. If it's that show, I think the trainer uses great techniques and this might be a way to get free help from a professional trainer.

The issues that are going on are probably too complex to really get true help here in this forum. I do agree that it sounds like part of the problem is that the dog is alpha of the home. Being the alpha as a human does not mean yelling the loudest or hitting/kicking, etc. as some people seem to think. Some things a trainer might work with you on include showing the dog that all things come from you: food, walks, toys, affection. Little things like when the dog eats compared to you and how you go through doors can make a big difference for dogs with these issues.

Locally, Tyril Frith is a great trainer who might be able to help you. I have close friends who have had great results with very serious issues by using Tyril. He's definitely not cheap now that he's in such high demand, unfortunately.

Good luck and let us know how things go. These things can be incredibly stressful for you and your pets, but a good trainer may be able to help you a lot.

[pitu]

Mos def time to work with an experienced trainer.

If you need some food for thought, there's this thing tonight...

[friscopete]

Half a Valium and a splash of whisky in his dog bowl first thing in the morning

[CRISTINA]

Yeap! Tyril Frith is the one I was talking about

[mr. met]

interesting problems. it's kind of funny that the dog always wants everyone in the family to be together. i have two pieces of advice, one of which you won't like.

1. teach the dog that nothing in life is free. do this by making the dog sit before EVERYTHING, including opening a door, jumping on the couch, petting, food, treats, etc. this will teach the dog that you are the master, that you control the resources.

2. consider putting the dog to sleep, especially if you have children or if the dog is around small children on a regular basis. there is really no place for a dog that bites people.

who knows what this dog went through that made him this way. poor guy.

[Kevin_on_Putnam]

consider consulting a vet also, there is a canine equivalent of prozac that might help severe anxiety, which is the root issue I think he's experiencing. That and training might help alot and you might be able to withdraw the drug over the longer term

[Salix]

Tyril Frith is an excellent recommendation, as well as Vivanne who will be one of the presenters tonight. This is a serious situation and need professional assessment from a behaviorist. Vets can prescribe meds, but without understanding the roots of the behavior it will not work. Vets are rarely triined behaviorists. Prozac is useful in many - but not all- situations, but needs to be part of a behavior modification (training) regimen as well. Get professional advice.

[ParkSloperite]

Think of your neighbors! Your (literal) pet project with poor neurotic barker would be fine if you had your own property, but to undertake this in a highly dense living area like brooklyn is ill-advised and not very neighborly. Where do you live--in a brownstone? Have your neighbors complained?

[LimestoneKid]

Thanks for your responses people.

First of all, we have, or at least I have, considered putting the dog down but he is not a danger to others. Only to those who feed him. That's not to say that he's a lovable little teddy bear when we have him out for walks but he is tightly monitored and we keep children well away from him. A difficult task to be sure because he is so darn cute.

We have also thought about giving him up to a shelter like North Shore Animal League but that would only mean we're dumping our problem into someone else's lap. That's not very fair to them or to the dog.

Secondly, there's not a chance we're going to put our dog on some sort of medication. I can't imagine doing that to a dog, let alone a child.

I don't think it's a straight case of separation anxiety because when both my wife and I leave at the same time he doesn't make a peep. It's only when one of us leaves will be begin to bark at us.

mr. met, even though you might find it hard to believe I do make the little dude sit before everything. That's how we've been able to make some progress on things. It's just that he has still has a ways to go.

What I really appreciate the most is the strong recommendations for the dog trainers. We will definitely make contact with them.
_________________
"Free The West Memphis Three!."

http://www.wm3.org

[mr. met]

sounds like you're a good, responsible dog owner, limestone. good luck.