PLEASE HELP - About to give up...

ORIGINAL: Xerxes

I would like to echo that I know what you are going through, to an extent.  When I got my hound, I knew that I would have 10 months of excruciating work ahead of me, and another year or so of just hard work...in order to have a lifetime of liveable, social companionship. 

I'm sure that you didn't realize what you were getting into, most of us don't have that complete picture.  We think we do but we paint a picture of puppy kisses and soft cuddles.  What we get is shredded pillows, holes in the drywall, scratches, abrasions and the occasional "awwww just look at him lying there..."  My own personal belief is that hounds, being so pack oriented, are the most difficult to raise.  You have to find what motivates them, deal with the boredom that comes with training, and keep everything up-beat for them.

My best suggestion, at this point is for you to ask one of your fellow puppy class mates to make play dates.  Since he is already familiar with the other pups, and they're familiar with him, these might be good playdates...and a way to really burn off some of that puppy energy.

 
Xerxes- As usual, excellent advise.

You have all really helped a lot here.  I know in my heart (and wife's) that we could never let him go, we are just both at our wits end.  I will keep fighting, but have some regret deep down for getting the dog.  He has taken over my life, and I was not ready for that.  What I am ready for, is to devote my time to him to help him become the loyal, trustwoirth, loving companion I'd dreamed he'd be.  He gives me glimpses everday that he does appreciate what we do for him and does show little smidges of affection and thats just enough to keep me going. 

We have now decided to crate him during the day as much as possible, before he was just "in his area" when it wasnt play time.  I think the crating will help him appreciate the time he has out more.  Its not like he gets all crazy when we let himn out of his area, its a slow build up.

I think the sooner I can teach him fetch the better.  This will give us a great way to "blow him out" If anyone has some good tips on that, I'm all ears. 

Below is a pic(s) of the little (well getting bigger) guy at 15 weeks.  28lbs:

ORIGINAL: gbjork50

You have all really helped a lot here.  I know in my heart (and wife's) that we could never let him go, we are just both at our wits end.  I will keep fighting, but have some regret deep down for getting the dog.  He has taken over my life, and I was not ready for that.  What I am ready for, is to devote my time to him to help him become the loyal, trustwoirth, loving companion I'd dreamed he'd be.  He gives me glimpses everday that he does appreciate what we do for him and does show little smidges of affection and thats just enough to keep me going. 

 
Not to be rude but to questions:  How old are you?  Do you have any kids?
It sounds like you have been upset that the dog has taken over your life persay, but what did you realistically expect?  Having an animal is similiar to having a child.  They do "tie you down" and they are alot of work, BUT they are worth it.  When you have a pet they take up a lot of time and they depend on you for alot of things.

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

ORIGINAL: gbjork50

You have all really helped a lot here.  I know in my heart (and wife's) that we could never let him go, we are just both at our wits end.  I will keep fighting, but have some regret deep down for getting the dog.  He has taken over my life, and I was not ready for that.  What I am ready for, is to devote my time to him to help him become the loyal, trustwoirth, loving companion I'd dreamed he'd be.  He gives me glimpses everday that he does appreciate what we do for him and does show little smidges of affection and thats just enough to keep me going. 

Not to be rude but to questions:  How old are you?  Do you have any kids?
It sounds like you have been upset that the dog has taken over your life persay, but what did you realistically expect?  Having an animal is similiar to having a child.  They do "tie you down" and they are alot of work, BUT they are worth it.  When you have a pet they take up a lot of time and they depend on you for alot of things.

 
I'm 29, newly married and have no kids.  So it is a shock when you have been doing your own things whenever you want for the past 11 years. , and now you cant.  Fair to say?

If you have done research like you say you would have known it was a big undertaking.  I take it you never had pets when you were younger.  Recently married well that must have you tied down a bit too.  But at 29 you should have figured out logically that a pet would tie you down and consume your life unless you got fish or a cat.  Dogs are like children and require alot of attention and care.  Prior statement is logical.  I guess between getting hitched and getting a pup you are now tied down like never before and now longer can be a free spririt.  That comes along with the territory when you get married, have pets and/ or have children or all or some of these.  It's know as sacrifice and responsibility for someone other then yourself.  No you can no longer be selfish. 
You can make it through this but your gonna have to put 110% in daily and there will be days you want to rip your hair out and days you will love it.  It is all worth while.  Stop looking at the negatives and look forward to the future positives.  Everytime that pup pleases you remember that when times are tough.  When you finally get there with your dog at two or three you will be thankful for all your hard work.  Keep positive not negative the dog will pick up on that.

All I can say is I'm trying as hard as I can.  Everyone is different.  Evreryone has different tolerable levels of frustration, etc.  Not everyone can withstand 8 hours a day of hell.  I'm trying.
 
 

8 hours of hell?  I am a stay at home mom and raised my Rottie an it was 24/7 and there was good and bad.  Try dealing with a pup all the time. 
You need to get some patients, work hard, seek a behaviorist if need be and enroll this dog in some private obedience classes.  Then continue training at home.
Pups are frustrating so is life and work and people...we can't just throw our hands up in the air and walk away just because things aren't a fairytale.
In order to make it through you got to suck it up.  You and your wife decided to take this puppy thing on and it is not the pup's fault.  You chose to get him . He didn't choose you.  So you need to take and put alot of time in and be prepared for the long road.  Accept the pup for doing puppy things but teach him how to be a good dog in the process.   If you need help go seek a professional.  All the things that bug you that he does are all puppy behaviors.  If you are not trying your hardest to work with the pup its not good enough.  
you are old enough to have some idea that this was going to be a project and a half and a dog's lifetime of hard work to get the dog you want.  Now is the time to stop with the negativeness and selfishness.

He's adorable!!!  I rescued my black lab when she was 2 or 3, so I missed the cute puppy stage (and frustration []).  It's too late now, but you might've been better off rescuing an older dog.  Mine still was a bit of a terror (chewing anything and everything), but she'd was calm 90% of the time.
 
As for feeling tied down, I do understand.  I love my dogs dearly, but there are times when I'm bummed that we can't just throw some clothes in a suitcase and head to San Francisco or Tahoe on the spur of the moment.  It absolutely changes your life.  In some ways, having a baby is easier.  There aren't many places you can't go with a baby or child, but there are lots of places you can't take your dog.  Having said all that, once you've bonded with your dog, you realize it's all worth it.  We get to enjoy them 24/7 and it makes up for the occasional things we can't do. 
 
I'm not sure if this toy would work for you, but I used it in the winter in my garage to give some exercise.  It's called the Chase n' Pull Toy:
 [linkhttp://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=K9X109]http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=K9X109[/link]
 
There are lots of other great toys.  I can't remember the name of it, but it was on a previous thread, and it's a clear, plastic ball that you can put treats in and then they chase it around while the treats slowly come out.  I bought that one also and it was great exercise too.  Maybe someone else will be along with other ideas.
 
Hang in there.  It's going to take some time, but it will get better []
 
 
 
 

Not many people would get a puppy if they knew what they were getting themselves into! I have decided (now that I am finally at a place where I can have my own dog) to get young adults from sheletrs or rescues that have been thru puppyhood! I have raised a few family puppies and I think some are much worse that others. Of course there is a large spectrum of what defines normal puppyhood but of the 5 puppies I have been around I remember one was so much worse than the others! He ultimately turned out fine but he was pretty awful as a puppy and sounded similar to the one the OP is describing. I don't think we need to berate the OP and tell him he is selfish and needs to grow up. He is trying to do the right thing by asking for help and advice and has said he is willing to put time and money into helping the dog turn out great.

what a cute puppy! i love the 3rd pic.

hang in there and i am sure things will get better. []

ORIGINAL: Firestorm

8 hours of hell?  I am a stay at home mom and raised my Rottie an it was 24/7 and there was good and bad.  Try dealing with a pup all the time. 
You need to get some patients, work hard, seek a behaviorist if need be and enroll this dog in some private obedience classes.  Then continue training at home.
Pups are frustrating so is life and work and people...we can't just throw our hands up in the air and walk away just because things aren't a fairytale.
In order to make it through you got to suck it up.  You and your wife decided to take this puppy thing on and it is not the pup's fault.  You chose to get him . He didn't choose you.  So you need to take and put alot of time in and be prepared for the long road.  Accept the pup for doing puppy things but teach him how to be a good dog in the process.   If you need help go seek a professional.  All the things that bug you that he does are all puppy behaviors.  If you are not trying your hardest to work with the pup its not good enough.  
you are old enough to have some idea that this was going to be a project and a half and a dog's lifetime of hard work to get the dog you want.  Now is the time to stop with the negativeness and selfishness.

 
Easy there....Maybe I'm one of the ones that "get" that he's doing both...venting and asking for advice at the same time.  We're in a good spot right now because our dogs have grown up a bit...but I'm sure if you think back to the puppy days you probably would have sounded just like this...or at least would have wanted to. 
 
GB is actually taking our advice to heart, check out his original posts.  He's sticking with the program.  Again, as with your 4 legged companions, try some +R. 

ORIGINAL: cakana
There are lots of other great toys.  I can't remember the name of it, but it was on a previous thread, and it's a clear, plastic ball that you can put treats in and then they chase it around while the treats slowly come out.  I bought that one also and it was great exercise too.  Maybe someone else will be along with other ideas.

i think this is the ball described above....
http://www.busydogball.com/

Maybe I was on the harsh side but, I did grow up in the country and had lots of animals.  We had many puppies we raised to adult dogs and I learned a lot as a child.  I knew that puppies although cute are not easy to raise. 
I really found that out when I took on the Rott puppy I was given.  He was a pup who drove the owner's cats nuts.  So I have had two people's rejected animals now.  I had to start with him from scratch.  I got him when he was 10 weeks old.  I had to work really really hard.  I knew what I was getting into would not be a cake walk.  Having puppy's can be just as difficult as having kids.  You can't just say I have had enough and I want to give up and do so.  I had a lot of rough spots with my Rott but it all turned out great.  But you get what you put into it.  If you work hard then you can end up with a wonderful animal but if you don't you will probably end up with a problem dog.
 
I guess rehomed pups and dogs can have successes.  My two have.  I guess down the road I will again end up with someone else's dog they no longer wanted or could keep and hopefully make another great companion dog out of them.  Atleast I have been able to give two dogs a great home.  I just wish my Rott lived a lot longer then he did, he only lived to 8 but I got to enjoy him for the time he was here.  I appreciate the things my dogs and other animals have taught me.  I am happy that I have been able to give dogs a home that were no longer able to be cared for by their prior owners.
I guess growing up the way I did gave me a better insight of the responsibilities of being a pet owner.

i think this is the ball described above....
http://www.busydogball.com/

 
Yes - that's it!  Thanks!!

Xerxes, I remember all to clearly the heck I went through training my Rott.  It was a LONG HARD  road for 2 and a half years.  Rott's are not really easy to raise.  Plus if you are going to own one of the "evil attack dogs" you need to make sure that he has the best manners possible because the breed already has enough strikes against it.  he  wanted to be dominant and did have some  foodagression issues when a teenager, but I worked through all of that.
 
Now my work in progress is my 2 year old Shih Tzu who came to me with no training and thought he could do whatever he wanted and I have put training into him, and he has learned very quickly even so. Every once in a while he decides to see if he can get away with something but I nip it in the bud.  He knows what is expected of him now. I know having a dog is a lifetime committment to the animal, not something to be entered into lightly.