This is a problem that is best solved by a trainer or a behaviorist. It's too serious now to just try something and hope it works; the best way to solve this problem would be to work with a trainer or behaviorist.
Any Advice on Anxious High Prey Drive Dogs NEEDED
Okay this might be a pretty long post, please bear with me. I have an Akita Newfoundland mix (at least that is what the vet guessed he is) named Max who has some major separation anxiety and a very hyperactive prey drive.
Some background on Max. He is a rescue, we think he is about 4-5 years old and we have had him since August of 2013. The Akita rescue we got him from was on a large plot of land where they basically let the dogs run wild all day (I think this is where Max's prey drive was encouraged to get so bad). His separation anxiety only surfaced in October of 2014, when I got married and moved in with my husband. Before that, he had never had any problems, which i later realized was because he was never actually alone before (there were always other people and dogs in the house).
My husband isn't crazy about dogs and has given me multiple chances to work out Max's problems. But nothing I have done is working. This week alone, Max has defecated in the house (after being let out and walked repeatedly AND i had only been outside for about 2 minutes and he could see me from the window), he has busted down a baby gate and opened up bedroom doors (he knows how to open any door or window unless it is locked) trying to find a way out of the house, he nearly jumped on top of my 8 month old son trying to get out the window, and he broke out through a window screen and jumped about 6 feet down before I managed to run outside and stop him from attacking one of my goats. His behavior is getting worse and worse and my husband has officially told me that Max is "on probation" and if he keeps acting this way I will need to rehome him. Please help me, I don't want to lose my dog but even I am getting tired of his behavior and I love him to death.
Some background on Max. He is a rescue, we think he is about 4-5 years old and we have had him since August of 2013. The Akita rescue we got him from was on a large plot of land where they basically let the dogs run wild all day (I think this is where Max's prey drive was encouraged to get so bad). His separation anxiety only surfaced in October of 2014, when I got married and moved in with my husband. Before that, he had never had any problems, which i later realized was because he was never actually alone before (there were always other people and dogs in the house).
My husband isn't crazy about dogs and has given me multiple chances to work out Max's problems. But nothing I have done is working. This week alone, Max has defecated in the house (after being let out and walked repeatedly AND i had only been outside for about 2 minutes and he could see me from the window), he has busted down a baby gate and opened up bedroom doors (he knows how to open any door or window unless it is locked) trying to find a way out of the house, he nearly jumped on top of my 8 month old son trying to get out the window, and he broke out through a window screen and jumped about 6 feet down before I managed to run outside and stop him from attacking one of my goats. His behavior is getting worse and worse and my husband has officially told me that Max is "on probation" and if he keeps acting this way I will need to rehome him. Please help me, I don't want to lose my dog but even I am getting tired of his behavior and I love him to death.
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I was afraid of that, I am not sure i can afford to bring in a trainer/behaviorist. We've tried putting him on medication and I have tried training him myself with some success but once a new element is introduced (like a new goat/cat/etc.) he always goes right back to square one. I will just have to see if I can find an affordable behaviorist. Thank you for your input.
Definitely need to work with a trainer. I'd also use a nice big sturdy crate literally any time he'd be unsupervised.
When you look for a trainer, make sure you hire a trainer that doesn't use any choke or e-collars (electric collars). There are still a lot of trainers out there that use them, and using them on your dog sounds like it would make everything much worse, setting you back far.
I second using a sturdy crate when you're not around or your baby could get into danger. I would keep them separated for the most part. Newfoundlands look like big dogs. :0
I second using a sturdy crate when you're not around or your baby could get into danger. I would keep them separated for the most part. Newfoundlands look like big dogs. :0
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