Dog Anxiety

[Bthomas5]

I have a shepard/rott mix I rescued from a shelter about 9 months ago. We think he is about 1 1/2 yrs old. He is one of the most loving, but stubborn dogs I've met! He seems to get anxiety a lot. I cannot leave him loose around the house when I am not at home beacuse he goes insane and destroys everything he can (furniture included). If I cage him up however of course he does just fine when I'm gone. I don't really want to have to do this I feel bad because I'm sure he spends the majority of time sleeping, as well as the time he spends sleeping when i am there/ He is not aggresive at all, and doesn't get into things when I am around.
     Also, he gets super crazy nuts whenever someone else comes over. Comapny doesnt happyen often, but by now I'd think that he would still be adjusted to being around others. Is it just territorial? Even then, he still is not aggressive. He will put on a show barking and running around but he never even growl, except when the vehicle first pulls in.
     I've tried training him on my onw, my next step is to take him somewhere for training. Just wondering what else I may have missed that I can try. He is supersmart, you can tell he understands, he just doesn't obey and is majorly stubborn.

[ginger899]

Of course he is going to be like this, firstly because he is in the first flush of youth, health, strength and energy....and he is either caged (which is your only option at the moment I do realize) -or inside, having to lie down and sleep!
I know how hard it is to have to juggle a working life, and other commitments, and also a home, probably family....and an energetic dog!
But some plan does have to be worked out, because apart from him being a young energetic dog, he is also a working breed mixed with a working breed! That means he needs a heck of a lot of good exercise each day as a regular thing, come rain or shine. I would say a dog like this is going to need as much as he can possibly get.
So basically what he really, ideally needs is:

A morning walk/run, (with poops and pees) for about a half-hour before breakfast.

At LEAST two hour-long walks/runs during the course of the day

Another walk in the evening well after dinner, and before bed. About a half hour.

If he can have more than that, well so much the better.

Do you think you could arrange that? Do you feel capable of doing, say -one or two of the walks yourself...and getting friends/family to do the others? Or if this is impossible, you will seriously have to think of getting a professional dog-walker in.

Also -he desperately needs structured, puppy-training and/or agility classes. He needs to learn at least these basic things:
He has to come when whistled or called -first time- no messing -right to you.
He has to be able to walk slowly and steadily on the leash, quite relaxed, beside whoever is walking him, and not pull them off their feet.
He MUST be able to do as he is ordered. This dog is a powerful breed, and if he grows up with no discipline, he could become a whirlwind on 4 legs! (lack of discipline and respect for any leadership he is shown can also escalate to make him even a potentially dangerous dog)

This is a little harsh of me I realize, and I don't mean to be rude in any way, but please...if you feel you cannot cope with the needs of a dog like this, please find him a suitable home, and get a smaller, easier dog for your lifestyle.

[lindapalm]

My son has a 9 month old lab mix, and has the same problem.  He gets into everything, and jumps on everybody.  His wife is pregnant, and I fear the dog will accidently jump and hurt the baby when shes born.  I know for a fact the dog doesn't get enough exercise, and would guess thats 95% of the problem, but they won't listen to reason.  I will be reading the answers you get to see if theres anything helpful, good luck.