Behaviorist help!

[:'(] Sorry she was so rude.  A co-worker had a similar experience and she just kept looking till she found someone better.  Good luck!

I don't know any behaviorlist in your area but this one does sound a bite much.  I think that you are walking him much more than most, more than me I can guarentee.  I think a mile in the morning and at night is good.  Of course, if we all that time and energy and walked our dogs 10 miles a day they would be lots more tired and probably more well behaved but lets be realistic!
 
Just for reference:  I have use two different behavorlist in the past, both used both positive and negative reinforcement and were excellant.  My dog didn't have SA though so not sure what they will do to help that.  Pricing wise the first was $350.00 for a inhouse visit and he stayed 4 hours until we were done with questions - he addressed all our issues and questions.  The second charged us $150.00 for an inhome visit and spent almost 4 hours with us as well addressing our issues and answering our questions. See what the others have to say before you get discouraged. 
 
Good luck

You could try contacting OSU (columbus) for a referral from their graduate programs in animal behavior.

Nicole,
 
Looks like your Sammy has some hound in him.  Hounds, IMO, suffer from ALOT of SA due to the pack identity thing. 
 
When you leave is he crated?
 
If he's not crated I can give you suggestions that worked with my SA prone hound.
 
If he is crated, try putting a stuffed, frozen kong in the crate with him.  Fill it with a mixture of kibble, PB, yogurt, honey or something else that he really likes to eat.  Put a dirty t-shirt or something else that smells like you inside the crate.  Put the TV on at a medium to medium high volume, where he can see it.
 
What SA symptoms is he showing?  There are homeopathic drops that you can purchase over the counter that will help to calm him down.
 
 

I met a trainer/behaviorist a couple weekends ago and just chatting with her I liked her, though I didn't go into any specifics or ask any burning questions, so I can't make a recomendation or anything. But she's (Lilian Akin) listed on [linkhttp://pittsburghdogs.wordpress.com/dog-training/]this page[/link] of Pittsburgh area trainers and behaviorists.
 
I just now noticed you're from Pittsburgh. I live in Point Preeze and have two hounds of my own, one with successfully managed SA (Conrad, the bloodhound mix). If you ever are interested in a play date, please pm me. We go to the Frick Park off leash area every weekend, sometimes twice. []
 
SA is heartbreaking, I know. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. But you can overcome it.

AND - she charges $90/hr and we have to go to her - she won't come into our home to evaluate the problem!

 
We used a behaviorist for the fighting between our 2 dogs and the price was about the same, but she was wonderful.  My feeling is if you're not comfortable with this person after a few minutes on the phone, you should probably trust your instincts and keep looking. 

When Marvin did his destruction on Monday the HS organization referred me to the Denver Dumb Friends League.  The write-ups were good for a 1st timer, me, and it also gave you a number to call.  When I called they referred me to a Certified Animal Behaviorist and made a point of distinguishing between Certified and not being Certified.  They gave me Purdue University in Indiana, where I live, and a name.  Their URL is [linkhttp://www.ddfl.org/tips.htm]http://www.ddfl.org/tips.htm[/link] and their instructions for the helpline is:

Behavior Helpline
If you need assistance with your pet, please read our [linkhttp://www.ddfl.org/tips.htm]pet behavior advice[/link]. If, after reading this information you still have concerns, please fill out our online [linkhttp://www.ddfl.org/behaviorhelpline.htm]behavior help form[/link].
You can also reach us by phone:
(303) 751-5772, Ext. 1420 Dog Behavior
(303) 751-5772, Ext. 1421 Cat Behavior
1-877-738-0217 Non-Denver metro residents, toll-free
Calls and online requests are returned during regular business hours by specially trained employees and volunteers who are dedicated to helping people understand why pets do what they do.

Xerxes' dad -
 
The HS thinks Sammy is boxer and hound and I think also a bit of beagle.  I've heard hounds suffer SA a lot and someone told me boxers did as well - so I guess I've got it twice as bad!
 
We do crate him when we leave - we have to, he is destructive otherwise.  We give him bones and kongs and t-shirts - he will not chew on ANYTHING while we are gone and just shoves the t-shirt to the farthest possible corner or his crate and usually spills the bit of water I give him on it, so we stopped with the t-shirt.  As soon as we get home he will run in and get his bones or kong and eat/chew it.  The TV is always on when we are home and not.
 
He used to bark and howl but once we moved his crate and got him an enclosed one he now only whines.  He also chews his crate until his gums bleed.  And the past few days he was moving his crate around the room and even stopped to chew my computer chair on the way!
 
Ironically enough, the ONLY thing we had changed in the past week was taking the a/c out of that room and it was after that that his behavior get worse.  We put it back in last night and today he was much better!  He didn't move his crate at all and our downstairs neightbor didn't hear him once!  So we have a dog addicted to the a/c...... guess that noise is soothing or something.
 
I've posted several times in the past on this and tried several ideas from people - including several books on the subject, Rescue remedy, he's on clomipramine, etc.  So that's why I'm now thinking the behaviorist for the final training to get us thru this hopefully for good.
 
Thanks for the help and Sammy says thanks to Xerxes for being his dogster friend

So for a quick update - I've decided that the behaviorist I spoke to earlier is nuts and won't be coming near my dog.  I have been in touch with someone else who came highly recommended and she says she can't see us for a week so referred us to other hgihly recommended trainers who might see us quicker!  It was nice that she cared about us getting help right away even if she couldn't provide it.  So I will be following up with them - either of them will come to the apartment and help us here, which is what I wanted.  So hopefully we will have some answers soon! 
 
Thanks to everyone for your support!

While you have her make a list of anything you can think of that you would like help with.  The behaviorlist is hired so take full advantage.  Good luck.

Do they usually work on only one problem individually, or will they work on anything I have problems with ?   Like Sammy's fear of kids or his aggression with intact males along with the SA?  How cool would that be!  Hahaha, doesn't take much to get me excited anymore, unless the behaviorist comes free!
 
Thanks for the idea!

I would bring up everything with the  behaviorist because it could be that several of his problems are linked and giving all the info will help in finding the best way to address the underlying issue. I definately see fear and lack of confidence as a common denominator between all the issues you mentioned (his problems with intact males may derive from his own lack of confidence and a greater percieved threat to his position that an intact male poses rather than an altered one).

So, yes, I'd bring it all up, lay all the cards out and see if there's a relationship between them all.

That's a really good idea - I'm meeting with Lilian Akin on Tuesday - she fit us in very quickly!!  And I will bring it all up.  I'll probably spend from now till then making notes so I don't forget anything.
 
And houndlove - I got your PM - maybe an upcoming weekend we could get together at Frick park - it sounds like a better setup than south park and Sammy could use a play date.  I'll be in touch about this and the trainer   Thanks for the help.

Glad you found a less bossy behaviorist who was able to help sooner! Please keep us posted.

Here's what worked for us: "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan. Seriously! Our greyhound was having separation anxiety that would result in accidents. (We don't crate. Not 'cause we're averse to it; it just wasn't for us.) We learned all about Cesar's philosophies and, most important, the long leadership walk. Now, our dog's separation anxiety is completely gone. He is too tired physically and psychologically to stress!

And as tough as it is to admit, we did learn that we were causing our dog's separation anxiety. At best, we weren't helping.

I highly recommend Cesar's show, his book "Cesar's Way" or any of his DVDs to supplement your professional help. They are wonderful resources that we turn to again and again.