Passing this along in plain text for Helen: >>In NJ -- 18 month, male, neutered, bred by Grace Bloemart in Alberta, Canada. >>Owner has an older Golden and a fenced yard and has done all she can to civilize this dog. He is VERY hyper -- destroys everything; chewed his way out of a metal crate, digs holes under fence to try to get out, refuses to housebreak (goes out, comes in, poops on rug). Vet's best advice is that he'll calm down when he is older. Ho, ho.
Without seeing the dog in person, one can only speculate...so here goes... The behaviors described above appear to be manifestations of classic Separation Anxiety, Frustration, lack of proper housetraining, and attention seeking behaviors to boot. I question just how much time the owners actually put into this fella in terms of actual training. More in particular, housetraining. Was he ever properly potty trained and rewarded for eliminating in the right plae? Just letting the dog out does not guarantee he knows what to do there, other than sniff the world around him. Then, when he comes in, bang, he remembers he has to pee and poop. Did they hope the BMD would cue off the older GR's house manners? Grrrr! He definitely appears to be suffering from some form of anxiety...What is going on IN the house with the owners? Has he been physically corrected making him nervous and fearful? Ah...so many, many questions that need answers: How old was dog when acquired? What age was it neutered? Is he displaying any type of aggressive behavior? Has the dog ever received formal obedience? Has the dog been properly housetrained What kind of exercise does the dog get aside from being in yard with GR Is the dog left outside for an inordinant amount of time? What is the owner's schedule? Are they home or away most of the day? Have they *always* had this out of control behavior or is it escalating? Has the vet suggested pharmaceutical intervention? (anti-anxiety to help calm the dog so that he will be more receptive to behavior modification) Just off the bat, this dog has to be taken back to square one with a person who is kind, gentle but quite firm. They have to immediately implement a program of deference.. N.I.L.F. He must defer to the owner and by doing so, the dog will be given his role in that (or any other's) family's heirachy. His not knowing what is expected of him fuels his anxiety...part of that being he does NOT KNOW what to do and is left to decide what works for *him*. This makes any dog anxious...and when they are anxious, physiological problems arise...such as inappropriate elimination...fear and anxiety causes the body to *empty* itself (going back to a wild dog that is threatened will empty its bladder and bowels to be able to run faster to safety). Ever find you have to pee more when you are nervous etc, etc? They must leash this dog and take him out routinely for potty training, rewarding him when he goes... Definitely try changing the dog's diet...Barfing often helps tremendously. Have a thyroid panel done on the dog... My first suggestion is to get a work up by the vet...Thyroid in particular. Then perhaps get some meds or homeopathics into the dog. Change his diet. Naturally removing the dog from whatever is triggering his stress is optimum. Only good things ~ Helen Helen Hollander, CPDT The Educated Pup, LLC Lawrence, L. I., NY Certified Member Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT #5888P exp.12/03
