Destructive Akita! Help!

[Preferpetstopeople]

Hi guys!

Okay so a long rambling thread I'm afraid but it's essential backstory! My retired stepdad took in an Akita 6 months ago from a friend of a friend! We know the dog was previously mistreated by two seperate families and taken in by a lady who runs a really small independent rescue centre. The guy we got him from seemed to really have the dogs best interest at heart but the longer we've had him the more inconsistencies there are in his story!
We checked the microchip to change the details over, he's very much a beautiful white and tan Japanese Akita, the microchip says he's an American Akita and black and white! Microchip also states he's 8 years old but previous information said he's only 5! We were told that he is happy to be indoors and is not destructive in any way, he just may knock over the bin for fun! We were also told he isn't afraid of loud noises or fireworks, has no medical or health problems and was a beloved family pet who slept on the children's beds!

The truth is that he's incredibly anxious, (understandably given his past trauma) flinches when you move suddenly around him, he has a painful previous leg injury which was never treated and has led to arthritis in his knee joint so he's on medication for that now, hates loud noises and fireworks and suffers with crippling seperation anxiety which leads to him
totally WRECKING my stepdads flat! He has chewed walls, doors, furniture, appliances and decorations, rugs and the laminate flooring has been torn up and he is going to end up seriously injuring himself! He also howls and barks every time he's left alone (4 hours at an absolute maximum but more often is 2 hours). His behaviour has got continually more destructive! He lives in a flat in a tower block which is by no means ideal I know but stepdad walks him 6 times a day so he has plenty of gentle exercise!

Is there any way we can eliminate this behaviour and make this gorgeous pup a happy dog? We have an Adaptil plug in and collar and neither worked unfortunately, he doesn't play with toys and will only eat if someone is home so leaving treats down for him won't work! We are so desperate, we are saving for a dog trainer however a chat with an experienced dog handler told is that training likely won't change his behaviour as it's ingrained. We don't want the dog to suffer and we definitely don't want him injured! Any advice or experience is hugely appreciated!

[bunnygeek]

At this point it may be best for you to seek that local dog behaviourist (not trainer, behaviourist) ASAP. Make sure they're accredited.
www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/findabehaviourist

Find one who has experience of Akitas as a breed as well as using positive reinforcement (none of this pack leader rubbish). Your vet will be able to recommend people.

It will be best if you have someone come into the home and observe his behaviour, an experienced person will be able to spot things that are more subtle and can easily be missed.

It will be a long term thing getting this pup anywhere near what you would expect from a "normal" dog. He definitely can be improved, but may well still keep some anxious behaviours.

[adaline]

Akita's really aren't breeds suited to flat living or to first time owners - and that's when you've had them from puppies and they've not gone through the trauma of several homes and a rescue centre first.

In the kindest way - is this really the right dog for your stepdad? An 8yo dog who is destructive and cannot be left alone is not a happy one, and not one who is suited to an environment where he is frequently left alone.

[Preferpetstopeople]

Thank you @bunnygeek for the link! The behaviourist we found recommends 10 initial hours which need to be paid in one lump sum as he's doing us a deal! We're saving up for that and then we can hopefully help the dog out! Really just looking for anything else we can try in the next couple of weeks before we start with the therapist!

@adaline I know 😔 we've done such extensive research about the breed to try and make life a little comfier for him because after everything he's been through he deserves it but it seems horrible to hand him to another owner so late in life as he's so attached to my step dad and we don't know of anyone able to take him in! The vet said he has about 6 months before he's suffering too badly with his leg and will have to be put down 😔 I think he just wants him to have a safe and happy last few months! Life really is horrible!

[SmileCheese]

Honestly speaking he sounds utterly miserable and given that the vet suggests he only has a few months left before he will need to be put to sleep I would suggest making that decision now. Why put him through another 6 months worth of stress and pain it seems much kinder to let him go now.

[adaline]

If that's the case I would be thinking about getting him PTS now.

He doesn't sound like a happy dog at all.

[Hoppinggreen]

Let him go now
Why put him (and the rest of you) through 6 unhappy months just to pts anyway, there’s really no point.