I do believe my wits end has been reached...

Oh dear, I just woke up so Im half asleep here.
You cannot beat your self up, you have tried a fair few things and im thinking the stress of both issues here are getting you down.
I don't think you should thing he is not rehomable, eriusly we have rehabed and rehomed some dogs I never thought would gett there, or even a hom be out there for them, some issues to one and not to others, the crating whilst not home, alot of people own dogs that need to be crated hun, and he is still a young lad, he may not need it for life.
Can you type the main issues you have with Tyson that are getting you stressed?
Alecs is a good idea, its ok giving advice but the most important thing is seeing how you manae/interact with him.
With Bryony, it sounds like an allergy and she is of prime breed for this, im affraid they do suffer badly with allergies, I would be asking for allery tests which you an get at your own vets.
 
Dobiegirl said:
I empathise completely with regards to Tyson, a lot of us have hit that brick wall and its devastating. There is some wonderful advice on here and I cant add to it but just to say you have my support what ever you decide to do. I to had a similar dog who was very challenging and wish I had a pound for everyone who said get rid,he chased sheep, attacked other dogs and destroyed furniture including a family heirloom. I got there through training,training & more training and I had my dog of a lifetime who I sadly lost last year age 4. The times I went to bed crying full of self doubt and really believing I was failing this dog but we got there.

If I can offer any support or dry those tears please pm me you are not alone and you are very brave to have posted this.
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I dont feel very brave - I feel like someone who is about to give up on their dog who, despite being a hellish cross of breeds, is a very gentle and kind lad - and doesn't deserve to spend the rest of his life stuck in limbo.

CAYLA said:
Oh dear, I just woke up so Im half asleep here.
You cannot beat your self up, you have tried a fair few things and im thinking the stress of both issues here are getting you down.
I don't think you should thing he is not rehomable, eriusly we have rehabed and rehomed some dogs I never thought would gett there, or even a hom be out there for them, some issues to one and not to others, the crating whilst not home, alot of people own dogs that need to be crated hun, and he is still a young lad, he may not need it for life.
Can you type the main issues you have with Tyson that are getting you stressed?
Alecs is a good idea, its ok giving advice but the most important thing is seeing how you manae/interact with him.
With Bryony, it sounds like an allergy and she is of prime breed for this, im affraid they do suffer badly with allergies, I would be asking for allery tests which you an get at your own vets.
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Yes, I've PMed Alec so maybe something will come of that.
Am PMing you now with a nice long list of things that make me want to cry, but its probably nothing you haven't read from me before. :(
 
LLL - I was on here every few days, I was in tears EVERY day, I was mentally and physically exhausted and if I am honest I do sometimes resent all the blood, sweat, tears, time spent trying to make my dog just be 'normal'...but it has been worth it.

I think I said something similar in a PM but if you start to truly feel like you don't 'like' or gel with the dog, it is certainly worth looking for an alternative home, it sounds like he needs a lot of mental and physical work and a job of some description.

You've had some great advice from Leah and I really hope Alec can link up with you, a fresh pair of eyes really helps, often it's not just the dog that needs trained, it's us!
Did you try Steve Havers?

Re Bryony - agree look at environmental things like surfaces and cleaning products, you could also try dropping her protein levels right down, she might be hot-blooded and need a very plain, low protein food.

Also agree, a very brave and honest post x
 
There is a blood test called the Yorke Test;get this done on Bryony and it will pinpoint exactly her problem.Dependent on the results feed her whatever it says is ok. I had a home bred bull terrier who was a total mess,oozing feet,pustules on her nose,you name it.Did this tesat,and did exactly as it indicated..only feed fish or turkey with pasta and eggs. She was also reactive to some pollens and house dust mites..she is now in perfect health ,fed right,with a paved garden and wood floors.
It was a revelation to me that just environment and diet could take a dog close to PTS,we never feed kibble anyway..but out of the blue came this atopic dog.At least the test found the triggers though.As a bacteria killing wash you cannot beat Povidine diluted. This is the stuff they paint neat onto operation sites in hospitals,it stops dead all bugs and fungal problems,totally brilliant and cheap as chips.
 
He is an arse - but I love him and I just want the best for him. I dont think that is me. :( leah pretty much said via PM that she agrees a different home for Tys would be best and I know she's right but I just dont think I'll ever find one. I cant bring myself to 'advertise' him as I cant deal with the idiots that will inevitabley start to call me.
It'll break my heart to hand him over to someone else but the sense of releif I know would be huge.
Hes a lovely, friendly, exuberant boy that deserves so much better :( i've literally changed my life to try and accomodate him - but it just isnt working :( i know its me who needs training to train him, I just dont think I have it in me to train a Tyson dog...
 
Has Bryony had her thyroid checked? I had a young borzoi with similar symptoms, hypo-thyroid caused an auto-immune response resulting in constant itching, anal gland infections, ear infections, and so on. Once medicated it cleared up in a matter of weeks and we weaned him off the thyroid medication over a year. Since then touch wood no more repeat episodes 5 yrs on.
 
Just a thought and probably not relevant but my friends dog was itching - chewing feet and was raw around mouth etc etc and it turned out to be cushings disease - I suggested it might be but she had to insist on the test as the vet raved on about the dog being too young and that it was an allergy to grass or clover or something -but no it was cushings diesease - much much happier dog now it is on correct medication.

Good luck with it all - I have a rescue border collie and have been there in tears over it all and nearly handed him over to the nearest farmer - however he has turned out to be great but not everyones cup of tea ! only you know if it is going to work out though and if not dont beat yourself up, its not quitting but doing the best for both of you thats important !
x
 
Blackcob/Cyrus/Suzysparkle should be able to help with forums or specific places you can try putting feelers out for another home.

You know yourself, don't put him on Gumtree or anywhere like that and not a mainstream rescue as he'll be unlikely to get out anytime soon, or will yo-yo - I was told myself by someone who works in a rescue, when I was looking for a private rehome, about my little female 'nobody wants a dog like that' - all that we required was that she not be allowed offlead in an unsecured area, to be an only pet and to have lots of contact with people in a low-pressure environment.

I do really, really recommend Steve Havers, he has worked wonders with some other dogs from this forum and their owners (who won't blow their own trumpets, even though they should!) even his blog posts are real food for thought.

(To add, never met or conversed with the man in my life and have no connection with him)

In the meantime, walks are walks, the type of dog you have could run for four hours and still be ready for more - do try and incorporate any sort of training you can, feed him from your hand, bursts of heelwork, lots of turns, running for a while, anything to keep him engaged. I never 'just walk' we always do at least something else while we are on the move.
 
I try and do as much training with him as I can on a walk, but when I have Bryony to take too it is quite difficult. I take him to the park everyday to do his stays and his waits around people - he always does just great when he has my 100% attention, but at home he doesn't always, its not possible, and he plays up tenfold until he gets it.
Is Steve the person you put me in touch with ages ago? If so i've spoken with him but his training sessions are on Sunday afternoons when I am at work and there is just no point in Scott even trying to take Tyson... it would never work.
Reducing my hours to part time in order to be around the house a bit more is an option, but whilst things are unstable with OH's company its one i'm not keen on taking if I can help it..
I would NEVER put him on preloved, or dump him in a rescue - i'll suffer a badly behaved dog for the next 10+ years before I do that. He's my responsibilty and I love him dearly, despite dissliking him intensely at times.
 
Sorry if that ^^ sounded narky CC, wasn't meant that way at all...
Really appreciate the advice you guys take the time to give me.. and to everyone who's PMed me, I will reply to them all, its just i've had hundreds because you're all to bloody lovely. X
 
God, I know how you feel! Zak has been a helluva steep learning curve. Hard ain't the word. I've stood and cried on walks. He needs constant stimulation/attention. I've caved and organised training in a small group.

Don't think you're failing: some dogs are bloody hard work (Zak is banned from the lounge currently because he was being such a pest :o)

As for Bryony, have you tried raw food? I've heard of several skin issues being 'cured' by a switch. It's a stressful time, not ideal timing for a switch, but may be worth a go. :)
 
lady la la la- Have you got any conifers anywhere the dogs go? My aunt has a Westie that has mange like symptoms that are made 100x worse by a fir tree in the garden (cut down now) she scratched herself raw, she tried changing her food to all these different things, but she has found that although none cure it, foods without all the additives in are the best. But yeah, since the tree has gone, it has virtually gone now, and we think her scratching is just habit now.

I also sympathise with you about 'bad dogs', we have one, and honestly i don't think anyone would have him if we didn't. He's got no better in the 4 years we have had him either, Tod is Tod and that's how it is. The worst thing is going on the lead, he pulls so badly that my poor mum/dad constantly have bad arms/shoulders. I have cried with him on walks when he has almost pulled me off my feet/pulled my shoulder out of it's socket. He get's gentle leaders/halties off whilst still walking on three legs, he snapped the anti-pull harness thingy, he almost passed out with the choke chain and made himself sick, so he has to just have a beastly harness on and pull you along.

When he gets taken away from home (holidays), he's terrible, he gets so excited/stressed and just loses his mind. We can't send him anywhere to be looked after because he is such a handful, and kennels is a no no as he's a rescue. So we don't go on family holidays anymore, we alternate so someone can stay at home with him....

BUT, if he wasn't in our lives, I don't think we would know what to do, everyone loves him because through all the crazyness, he is a nice dog, and is actually good with other dogs. We have learnt to just accept that this is how he is. Chin up, I'm sure you'll get to a better place with it soon xxx
 
Can i just add my small and probably useless contribution, re your dog Bryony?
Do you by any chance use shake and vac on your carpets, or a simular carpet deoderiser, i have known dogs have a bad reaction to this. Just an idea.
 
Can i just add my small and probably useless contribution, re your dog Bryony?
Do you by any chance use shake and vac on your carpets, or a simular carpet deoderiser, i have known dogs have a bad reaction to this. Just an idea.
 
What sort of dog is Tyson and what are his issues? I have a family member who is home all day and enjoys walking. He's currently looking for a dog.
 
Tyson is an Alaskan Malamute x GSD - he'll be two in September and we've had him since he arrived at our pub as a pup.

I'm taking some steps to help the issues I'm having with Tys via the help of Cayla and a few others. I think it will probably end up in attempting to rehome him, but initially I'm going to try and have his behaviour, and my handling assesed. I'm 99.99999% sure that the problems I have with him are down the the fact that I dont have the time to spend with him that he needs - Yes that old clishe` :rolleyes: but really do think this is where the majority of our issues stem from.
No conifers but yes to the shake and vac type carpet products - however I have steam cleaned all carpets and banned all freshening products etc yet seen no change. It may be that we have to get the carpets professionally cleaned to rid the house totally of anything nasty.
Am busy replying to all my PM's re Bryony - A lot of suggestions to try and I've written a big list of possibilities to show to my vet. I think allergy testing sounds like the next step to go down, but I have to be lead by the vet so we'll see what she suggests this evening.
Thanks again for all the help and advice - This is a really lovely place at times.

Edit - The other thing I forgot to say about Bryony is that she STINKS - all the time. Really badly. A dog smell is one thing, but she takes it to a whole new level.
 
Just another thought la La- the chaps at RR may be able to help with a new home for Ty- worth a go!

and mange has a distinctive smell does it not?
 
They have enough dogs coming through their doors in need or rehoming Lex, I'm sure they would try and help but I'd sooner see them finding homes for the Bryony's of this world that have nowhere to live than wasting their resources on my idiot dog.
He's not about to be booted out onto the street... yet :rolleyes:

Bryony's smell is similar to that of Tyson.. (y'know all doggy n that)... only 500 MILLION times stronger. Opening the door to the living room in the morning after she's been sleeping in there all night is like BOOM - Now Im Awake!
 
Good luck with both of them - dogs are hard at times! I have a problem one of my own, who sounds a bit like your Tyson. Took us eight years to get her to walk reasonably well on a leash...
 
I did not mean send him to them, but they may have contacts, or a foster home or someone who wants a breed specific loony? :)
 
Lady La La said:
Tyson is an Alaskan Malamute x GSD - he'll be two in September and we've had him since he arrived at our pub as a pup.

I've had two GSD and two GSD x Collies. They have been complete nightmares until at least two and a half. I've spoken to several GSD experts and apparently this is quite common. They have destroyed everything and been hyperactive(the dogs, not the experts!). The present GSD used to think it was funny to run up to us, bite us and then run away and I was convinced he hated me too. They had all calmed down by the time they were three and become lovely dogs, with the exception of one of the crosses, who is epileptic and has a collie brain. Although he is lovely, I don't think he'll ever be calm!

Most of the GSD's you see for rehoming are around two years old. Probably because their owners just can't cope anymore. If you can give Tyson another year, I'm sure you'll see a big difference, but, having been in your situation, I'd completely sympathise if you didn't! I just wanted you to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
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templewood said:
Tyson is an Alaskan Malamute x GSD - he'll be two in September and we've had him since he arrived at our pub as a pup.

I've had two GSD and two GSD x Collies. They have been complete nightmares until at least two and a half. I've spoken to several GSD experts and apparently this is quite common. They have destroyed everything and been hyperactive(the dogs, not the experts!). The present GSD used to think it was funny to run up to us, bite us and then run away and I was convinced he hated me too. They had all calmed down by the time they were three and become lovely dogs, with the exception of one of the crosses, who is epileptic and has a collie brain. Although he is lovely, I don't think he'll ever be calm!

Most of the GSD's you see for rehoming are around two years old. Probably because their owners just can't cope anymore. If you can give Tyson another year, I'm sure you'll see a big difference, but, having been in your situation, I'd completely sympathise if you didn't! I just wanted you to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
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I'll give him 10 more years if I'm convinced it's the right thing to do by him. I dont want 'rid' of him to make my life easier (although yes that would be friggin' lovely) I just want him to be happier and less stressed with life in general. I did hear that GSD's dont mature until they're slightly older than the average dog... but then I heard that Husky's / Malamutes dont bother maturing at all really :rolleyes: and it kind of dampened my spirits a bit!

I've been through 6 dog walkers in the last year as none of them can/want to cope with Tyson. :o I get yelled at daily on walks by people telling me I need to learn to control my 'effin dog' .. despite him being on a lead all the time - he stil gets me into trouble & the neighbours to the left of us wont talk to me anymore because of the noise that he makes (and the ransacked garden... and the dead cat...)

Oh I can feel the self pitty starting to flow again. I wish I hadn't given up smoking.
 
The smell is also likely to be related to the fact that the dog is Atopic, LLL, if anyone has ever smelled an Atopic dog, you'll know what I mean! A bit like rotten cheese and meat and sewage. Ahem :p but it really does hit the back of your throat.

And yes, my dogs have always taken until about 2 to settle, TW makes a great point. 12-18 months is always the worst!!!
 
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CaveCanem said:
The smell is also likely to be related to the fact that the dog is Atopic, Amy, if you've ever smelled an Atopic dog, you'll know what I mean!
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It's just like... DOGx100. Thats the only way I can describe it. Its actually not that much of a bad thing that Tyson insists on having the back door open all evening as at least it gets rid of her smell. Now that cleaning products on the carpet etc are banned it's megga minging.

... she also has flatulence issues :(
 
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