Time for medication for Stew. Need Advice & help please!

[Jess & Stewart]

We had a training session Monday night. Earlier that day, Stew went in crate in the morning, then busted out of it. He scratched at the doors until one unlocked, squeezed out one side, got partially stuck, then crate toppled over him and he managed to get out. Now yet another thing to traumatize him and make the anxiety WORSE!!!!

Trainer said Stew's behavior raises MANY red flags.

1) He  isn't motivated by what dogs are usually motivated by.

2) Unresponsive in general 70% of the time, aloof. Stands or lays down with head down, white of eyes staring up at you, not moving when you try to engage or get him to come to you. He does engage more with other people, but barely regards me. Although he does have periods of excitement, wiggles etc (when finally focused on play, seeing other people & dogs)

3) Guards very odd/weird objects that wouldn't normally be motivating to a dog to guard (vomit, a magnet that falls on the floor etc)

4)Unresponsiveness & guarding has developed in Stew's head as a "game"- what can I get and guard, how long do I need to sit/stay/stand for Jess to give up and not put me in crate, leave me be, not call me etc. 

I don' want to get raked over coals for this but I cried during the session and said all I wanted was a nice dog and I had first pick and why didn't I see that Stew would turn into Cujo and is he not able to be rehabbed and is he really, honestly a weird dog. Am I stuck with this for 10-13 more years where he HATES me and what did I do wrong. That I literally did EVERYTHING right (or I thought) from the beginning). He's not abused or hit, he gets everything he needs etc. 

Then Stew just looked so cute sitting and listening to us that I said "See, you lookso cute, handsome and playful now Stew, why aren';t you like that all the time?" The trainer said "It's good you see the good in Stew". I said 'no offense, but DO YOU?" All I do is stress over him and he doesn't seem to give a s***." Can he really turn around or is this really his behavior" To which he  said "well all dogs are different and Stew is just challenging. Which IMO, was totally not an answer as I'm clearly freaking out about him. 

Then said maybe we need to think of medication and gave me the name of someone, but caveat that the sessions are long, expensive and very clinical. That they aren't as concerned with certain behaviors like he is as the trainer. Then left it, that were not even trying to get him in the crate and will try to manage my apt by just getting it all behind closed doors (my small bathroom) until we figure out a soultion. 

Last night, my mom & I needed to leave and leave him. We left him out of the crate since we didnt want him hurting himself getting out. Shoved tons of stuff in bathroom, barricaded closet. He didnt bark as we left. Came home, the front door had paint scratched off, bedroom door open, closet door tried to open, scratch marks and paint off. 

What the heck can I do before I get meds and/or secure locks on my doors? Thankfully I'm off tomorrow. HELP!

[Jess & Stewart]

Thanks Rebecca- I'm hoping the new apartment and leaving him fully out, with access to the bedroom will help. I am still working with the trainer & have an appt with the behavior as I've said previously. I'm really thinking it will make a difference.

To everyone else, yes, obviously I know I haven't followed through completely with training & that wasn't a good decision. I also didn't just randomly decide to medicate Stew as I previously stated. I would never just jump to that point. It was suggested by the trainer because of Stew's unpredicitability & that it may take the edge off to get us back to a point where training could really imprint. Stew has also never showed any effects from thunderstorms, lightening or previous fireworks displays. He is none the wiser when they're happening. I also don't live in an area of Phillh where people light off fireworks. I could hear the sparklers & poppers down the street but it was just a few families & their kids. Stew wouldn't have heard them. He was fed, walked, peed/pooped & exercised before I left to go to a friends house.

Stew is loved, gets enough exercise, gets time with the dog walker & other dogs that she walks him with, gets played with, brushed, loved etc. He's not in a bad environment & I don't look at him 24/7 with resentment. I understand everyone is passionate about our dogs but I was speaking honestly about the sometimes thoughts of having this crazy dog. I'm sure we all know people or have said in a moment, something of that nature, everyone knows how Cujo is described & obviously we called him the stinker or you little "four letter" word jokingly. I mean my mom calls her family members "little weirdos" & we joke that we need to vet girlfriends/boyfriends because they need to know we're crazy, loud, interrupt each other & are usually more than fashionable late for any event or "Eastern Standard Stewart Time".

Jane- I'm not playing tug per say, it's more little exercises with a tug toy to increase his motivation & attention. Like click/treat while sitting in front of him & he looks at me, same if he looks at the toy I have, then click/trick if he shows interest & touches it. Then I give the take it command, he holds/tugs it for 3-5 seconds, "drop it", click/treat. The trainer told me to work up to a game where I am standing & he is engaged with me in play. I also have 2 of the tug toys to work with if he does try guarding. I'm assuming this is how you've heard of the training game?

I'll stop posting so I don't get any responses.

[Kaitee and Orwell]

I'm just going to add one thing. From this post, it seems that you only walk Stew-- maybe multiple times a day. I don't know. 

I know that if I just walk Orwell (and take him on long walks 3x a day, mind you), it still isn't enough to meet his exercise needs at this point in his life, and as a result, it takes him longer to settle down for "down time." Stew probably needs more rigorous exercise needs. Orwell isn't okay to go on long runs yet because of his age, but I let him off in a field and let him romp while I walk around the whole field. This way, he can go the pace that he wants to go. However, he is super good off leash. I don't know about Stew, but you would be the best judge of that. Swimming is also a good way to get them dog tired. 

A tired dog is a good dog. 

[Jess & Stewart]

There isn't a close enough park fenced in that I take Stew to, the dog walker has taken him to a fenced in park during their walks but it's further into west philly than I like to go.

I have a 60 ft line that we play fetch most mornings on & sometimes after work if I find a big enough area around UPenn, so he does get running/play time. He really likes fetch now, a while ago I posted he wasn't engaged & would always guard the ball but that's lessened now. If we can't play outside, it's fetch inside. He doesn't just get 3 walks a day. Yes, he could use more if I lived closer to the large city dog parks (hopefully that happens next year) but he isn't getting none.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

There have been thoughtful, caring responses to Jess on the topic she started, not only this time, but many times

over the past two years.  This group on Dk has been very supportive all along, I don't think it is helpful for you

to dismiss everyone else's advice.  She did start the discussion.

Btw, good luck Jess, that is all we want for you and Stew.