I need help

[MadCap]

I have a beautiful boy that I need to rehome and I am so broken up about it.

He's a nearly 2 year old Caucasian Shepherd cross that we were told was a lurcher (we assumed gsd×longdog). He's lovely, loyal and super intelligent in the house.

However, he is absolutely terrifying outside the house. I have no control over home despite a double ended lead and a muzzle. He's bit me hard enough to break the skin while wearing a coat and nipped a stranger on the hand while going for her dog (muzzle was bought on the trip home from that walk.) I suffer from terrible depression and anxiety which was why we got the dog to help me not be so isolated. An incident a few weeks ago where he nearly pulled me into traffic trying to attack a man was a bit of a last straw and led to a suicide attempt for me. I'm getting help.

I am now driving over 20 minutes away to a private field every day to exercise him. No amount of brain games I play with him are enough to wear him out.

I have 2 children who are 8 and 10 who 99% of the time he's wonderful with, but in my gut I don't trust him (or my 8 year old.) Last weekend we had a terrifying moment at the field where he ran into ds full pelt and knocked him to the ground. I thought he'd broken his neck. The dog was just playing, but he is so fast and heavy.

We also cannot have any visitors to our house other than my PIL's.

I've tried so hard to train him to be a good dog for us. I've done agility, training workshops, puppy classes, socialisation walks, spent hundreds and hundreds on behaviourists and vets all to help him become a better fit with us. He knows a list of tricks as long as my arm. I think I've come up against a genetic wall that I can't overcome.

We've even looked at moving to a more rural location fo see if that would make him happier, but can't afford that kind of land close enough to where dh works.

Any so after all that, do any of you know of a really good rescue that will take on a dog with his issues? I'm happy to make a contribution to his upkeep to make sure he is in a nice foster home until the perfect home is found for him. I want the best for him. I need to know that he'll be well looked after, because I feel like I've failed him.

[Jesse70]

People love dogs I would say put an add up for him and explain his behaviour so that the new owners are totally aware dont sugar coat anything
I'm sure in the meantime a kennel would house him until something more permanent was in place
Could be a number of reasons why he is behaving how he is and someone else may be better at dealing with it
U are doing the right thing by finding a new home for him as your children obviously come first
Just a thought maybe he could be a working dog if he has so much energy and is intelligent it's worth looking into
Police/sniffer dog etc

[Ylvamoon]

Did you have the dog from a rescue centre? Would they take him back?
OR Find a rescue that specialises in guard shepherd dogs, as by the sounds of it it's a natural inbred behaviour.

sadly, from what you are saying, he is a candidate for PTS unless you find a very experienced dog owner / rescue to take him in. This is simply to avoid him being passed from home to home, giving him a live of misery. Some type of dogs are just not fit for a modern suburbia life. They are meant to work, guard a flock, fight wolf, bear or even thieving humans

[MadCap]

Unfortunately, the rescue we had him from won't have him back (nor do I think they're equipped for him). They're a specialist breed type/rescue.

There's no Caucasian rescue in the UK either. I really don't think I could post even though I know it could be best

[Ylvamoon]

Try searching for Anatolian Shepherd, Komondor or Pyreneean mountain dog rescues / clubs / breeders who can get you in touch with the right people. These breeds have very similar traits to your Caucasian Shepherd. I am not sure how popular any of these breeds are in the uk and how good the "rescue network" is.
It's a bit far fetched, but some mastiff types have some common traits to your dog, you should be able to find people who can deal with the behaviour.

[MadCap]

Thank you. I will.

[adaline]

Where did you get him from?

Caucasian shepherds really are not pet dogs unless you're extremely experienced and have lots of time to put into them. They're strong and territorial and are known for being dog-aggressive. They're bred as guard dogs, not as pets.

You could contact a rescue, however as he has a bite history they may not accept him. Lots of dogs who bite people are not accepted in rescues for obvious reasons.

How would you feel about having him PTS?

[adaline]

Oh hang on, you got him from a rescue? What kind of rescue homes a big strong dog like a Caucasian to a family with young children?!

[Dontgiveamonkeys1350]

Don’t give urself a hard time. I had this with my springer. Like u I tried everything. Spent fortunes. And it made no difference. He nearly killed me by pulling me into the road when a motorbike came passed. I missed it by cms. The point where he jumped off the sofa , ran across the room and went for sons neck was the point where even the vet and the behaviourist said enough.
He went to a specific rescue as they had someone who would try one more time to see if they could help him before he was put down.

It is heart breaking when u have like me tried everything u can. It broke my heart as I loved that damn dog so much. I always think there are dogs that need a proper trained person looking after them 24 hours a day to really help them.
No judgement from me just hugs as I know exactly how u feel.

[fivedogstofeed]

It was only a matter of time before Caucasian shepherds found their way into rescue and it's very sad, but these are not pet dogs.
I really don't think you will find someone to take him on OP.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

By the sound of it, you're not the one who has let the dog down. His breeder failed him, by not homing him appropriately in the first place, and the rescue failed him by not identifying his breeding and his needs.

Livestock guardians are not pets. They are big, active, independent dogs, selected over the centuries for traits that mean that they are not suited to life with a small garden and a couple of walks a day.

There is a big problem with people who want a dog that looks a particular way, but do not understand the behavioural traits and physical needs that go with it. I'm not having a go at you with that comment, OP, but at the breeder.

[MadCap]

We got him from a rescue at 5 months old. He came into the rescue we got him from at 3 days old with his mother and the rest of his litter.

Unfortunately, nobody knew he was a Caucasian cross. We only found out because of a dna test after we'd had him for almost a year. He doesn't look like one because he's crossed with a greyhound. I'd never even heard of a Caucasian Shepherd before then though once we found out, everything started to make more sense.

[adaline]

Ah that makes more sense.

I think you need to either get some specialist help or find a rescue who will take him. However, I'm not especially optimistic that it'll happen sadly - this dog has a bite history and Caucasians are big strong dogs. No sensible or reputable rescue will rehome a dog like that, and what kind of life will it have in kennels?

[Fucksandflowers]

Contact KARAS (Kangal Anatolian Rescue) or German Shepherd Rescue UK, both take on Caucasians.

The guarding nature of livestock guardian breeds like Anatolians and Caucasians develops at around 1 and half to two as they come into maturity.

[MadCap]

I definitely don't want him to go to kennels. He loves his family people if you know what I mean. I think he'd really suffer in kennels.

I couldn't sleep last night. I've found a rescue that takes Caucasians even though they're a gsd rescue. I'll contact them (or have dh do it, because I can't do it without crying).

[MadCap]

Thanks @Fucksandflowers. I'll add karas to the list. That's when his aggression really kicked in at about 18 months.

[Fucksandflowers]

Yes GSDUK also take caucasians but your best bet would definately be KARAS because Kangals/Anatolians are extremely similar in behaviour to Caucasians as they are both livestock guardian breeds so KARAS are better equipped to deal with him as they understand the guarding nature.

Yes, unfortunately as they reach maturity livestock guardian breeds tend to become intolerant and potentially aggressive of anyone outside their family unit; both people and other animals.
Very normal but potentially very difficult and dangerous to deal with.

[DotOnTheHorizon]

I understand that any decision you make won't be easy and will be the one you feel is best for the happiness and safety if your dog and your family.


But before you consider rehoming can I ask if you've tried training using the free shaping method (the dog is thinking for itself and learning to make the right decisions). It has worked incredibly well for my dog- it is so mentally stimulating that you'd think she'd been out for a 10mile walk. It's not something you can learn on your own, you need a good trainer (if you're near NorthNotts:/North Lincs/S Yorks I can recommend you a trainer.

[adaline]

I don't think a novice (in the nicest way OP!) should take on training a dog like this.

They are known to be hugely aggressive towards other dogs, as well as territorial and unpredictable. They love their families but can be aloof and indifferent towards anyone else they meet.

They're also large, strong dogs and have the potential to do a huge amount of damage in a very short space of time. Caucasians were never ever bred to be pets - they are livestock/guard dogs. It's humans who have taken them and tried to turn them into pets and in the vast majority of situations it doesn't work. They are not designed to be kept in houses and given two walks a day. They're bred to be outside working for hours on end, guarding their territory.

Caucasians and other big working breeds need specialist care and a specialist home with someone who has the time and space to care for them properly. They're not suited for families and I would imagine most trainers in the UK have absolutely no knowledge of dealing with a dog like that.

[CaptureCastles]

Just to echo PP, this is not a family pet. Even as a cross breed.

I'd be considering PTS if you can't find a rescue to take him - and none of this is your fault.

You poor thing. I hope your mental health drastically improves (I suspect it'll be better once the dog isn't such a stress for you)

[missbattenburg]

I am genuinly intrigued on how free shaping would help with this case...

You are way, way out of your depth here, OP which is understandable considering the hand you've been dealt. Personally, I would rehome or work with a good and reputable breed/type specific charity to understand the liklihood of this dog being rehabilitated with a view to making the tough decision if chances are low.

I'd also just repeat what pp said:

By the sound of it, you're not the one who has let the dog down. His breeder failed him, by not homing him appropriately in the first place, and the rescue failed him by not identifying his breeding and his needs.

[Raphael34]

He needs euthanising imo. He’s massively human and dog aggressive. I doubt any rescue will take him with this sort of history whether they’re experienced with this breed or not

[Motorina]

This is a dog who has bonded very strongly with your family. Being separated would be hugely distressing for him.

Given his very significant aggression the likelihood is he will be PTS once in rescue, possibly after several failed regimes or a protracted period in kennels. If you do it, he dies with his beloved family around him rather than after a period of isolation, confusion and distress.

I think the kindest thing you can do for him is to be brave and be there when he slips away. Dogs have no concept of death, but they do understand loneliness. Sorry - I know not the answer you wanted.

[Motorina]

Rehomes not regimes. Sorry!

[Booboostwo]

Do the right thing by this dog even if it is the hardest thing for you. Have him PTS. His life will only become more miserable if he is rehomed and his problems will only become more difficult to sort out.