Wild Dog!

Question:
 Does anyone out there have a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix breed dog? I got Obie 5 months ago from the Humane Society, and he is absolutely a wildman! He has the attention span of a flea. I have to hold his face right in front of me to get his attention. He NEVER settles down. If he's awake (which is all the time), he thinks it is recess! I love him to death, he's really sweet and VERY VERY smart. He knows what I want him to do, but he is still very much a puppy and I swear he has ADHD! Any suggestions from anyone -- please. . . . ..
Answer:
 Thanks for the information. Obie's a great dog -- just a bit distracted. I do take him for walks, he has been to school, and I work with him every day. The hard part is not having any history on him for his first year of life. He used to bolt out the front door and run away, and he does NOT do that any longer, so there is much improvement. On our walks he stops at all streets before crossing. He knows the commands, but needs to get out and run. There will soon be a fenced offleash area close to my home, and that will be a gret help. I will access all the information you suggested. Many thanks!
Answer:
 I have worked with so many dogs like you describe and this is caused by several things: 1) Insufficient training of manners and self-discipline. Not punishment, but teaching the dog that in order to get certain things, he needs to behave certain ways. I want you to go and read this on NILIF by Deb McKean - excellent piece on explaining a NILIF program and a program I have used for years in my own training program. http://www.mwcr.org/nilif.htm 2) Confusion. Dogs that are confused about what is expected, who do not get consistant training and good, positive training get confused about their role in the house. This can lead to acting up. Increase training, go to http://www.apdt.com and find a member trainer near you. If not, see if a member in your region can help guide to to someone they recommend. A good, positive training program will work wonders for helping establish a bond and teaching you and the dog how to work as a team. 3) Insufficient exercise/mental stimulation. Too much energy manifests itself as acting up. The dog just does not know what to do with himself, excessive energy and needs to do something. Think of how kids get if they have been cooped up for several days during bad weather. They drive their parents crazy. Very similar with dogs. The average dog get far less physical and mental stimulation than needed. I am recommending this: a - 30 - 45 minute walk twice a day. b - at least one good round of playing fetch or some other physical enrichment program like Agility or mock-up Agility in your back yard for 15 - 20 minutes a day - at least once a day. http://www.petprospects.com/Care/Dogs/003/18.htm (for more enrichment ideas both inside and outside the home). c - enroll in a good training program and after graduation, go through another one. A 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 week course does not a trained dog make. Trained dogs takes daily work for awhile and then GRADUAL reduction of formal refreshers and sessions as the dog learns and grows confident. This has to be combined with integrating the lessons learned in class into your daily life as manners. d - consider an activity such as Agility or Weightpulling. http://www.ukcdogs.com allows crosses to be registered for many competitions should you decide to go that route (and many dogs love competiting, the bonding with the humans and the physical and mental workouts). If not, just get the dog into a program of a physical activity so he can be around other dogs in a controlled environment and learning to work and getting energy burned off! You have a higher energy cross that you really have only had for a short time. This dog needs a lot of work from you in order to maintain him properly and give him what he needs. Both breeds in him were bred for working and working all day. Your dog is not ADHD or wild, he is inadequatelt trained and not getting what he needs. Chances are this is part of the reason he was given up. Sadly, the average dog in the US does not get what is needed physically or mentally to be a well-mannered companion. You have given this dog a chance to break this cycle in a new home, what you do with him and how you manage him is up to you. But I have outlined what I recommend for any higher energy dog. They are a lot of work but if you can handle it, you will create a dog you can sanely live with.