Opinions please: I can't get this dog's attention. Help?

Jude has seen several varities of vets, dog communicators, etc.  Naturally he never has "suspended animation" at those times and nothing has shown up on tests.  Besides stopping dead on a walk  I have noticed that if he awakens suddenly, he jumps to his feet, but I think he is actually still in a sleep pattern.  Standing, but no communication with his surroundings.  Eventually he comes out of it, no longer than 5 minutes and off we go as if nothing happened.

I am reading Animals in Translation.  Do you think its possible that some sighthounds have a gene similar to one of the genes involved with autism?  I know there are many contributing factors that cause autism, but having worked with autistic people, I can see a connection.

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I have no idea, but it is an interesting idea.  The other possibility that springs to mind is an overactiveness of what causes the dog to lock on prey.  I think it makes sense that a sighthound would have this trait more pronounced than some other types of dogs.  Perhaps the behavior loops back on itself at inappropriate times and that would cause what you and the OP are seeing.  I have experienced my dogs fixating on prey, but never, say, a poster on the vet's wall.  Have you read Coppinger's book on Dogs?  They talk about behavior chains and where the behavior chain is broken for different types of dogs.  More interesting theories. 

You have a dog which is a cross of two breeds very prey driven.  When locked into something, he will pay no attention.  (I know I have a Belgian Malinois -- same problem).  What I found helps is this.   Calling come, baiting with treats won't work.  If the dog is off leash in the yard when this happens, go up to him, snap his leash on, and tell him good dog or whatever.  He needs first at that point praise that you have "seen" whatever it is he has seen, even if you don't.  Then, using a GENTLE hand to turn his nose away, all the time telling him good dog and try and get him to focus on you.  At that point, shove a treat under his nose and see if you can get him turned around and start walking with him away from whatever it is that has caught his attention.  He will keep turning back, no doubt, but be persisent in a gentle manner, talking to him all the time in a normal voice. 

A harness when walking would be good.  I personally used a pinch but it must be used correctly and often did not work.  So when walking and dog got fixated I did what I did above.  The dog has stopped and is staring at something.  Dog kept want to keep turning toward "prey" and I kept turning head around with a command to "look at me" or whatever you use and start to walk in the other direction at all times talking to your dog in a normal voice.  And if dog will take a treat at this point use it then.  You might trying giving him a command like "Ignore" while you are doing this having of course praised him first for finding prey.

 I know this sounds kind of corny but after awhile it will work.  I can now approach my dog when in prey mode and get her attention and she will turn to come and get the treat.  At which time, i grab her collar and start walking away with her.

 Unfortunately, this will take some time and effort, but I think it will work.  My dog is ADD OCD (Attention Deficit Dog and Obsessive Compulsive Dog).  It has definitely been a training nightmare.  But we are coming along and hopefully you and your beautiful dog will to.  Don't give up.

I have a 9 month old male english lab that ignores me, even though he will sit, stay, still having trouble with come, he is bullheaded and comes when he's ready to.  I have gotten a lot of pointers from Cesar Milan, Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Maybe you could email him and ask for his advice.  If he can help Red Zone Rotties and Pit Bulls, maybe he will have some good pointers for you to use.

Try some of the suggestions in this book:

http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB919

Forget the equipment and start training for attention at home using clicker training.  You can modify any behavior with this system and it is pretty much boo boo proof so you can feel confident that you aren't creating more of a monster.  I mean if they can train tigers, elephants, dolphins using this system, it should do the trick wouldn't you think? 

Try www.clickertraining.com and get one of their beginner book kits.  You know which treats the dog likes.  Tiny pieces of hot dogs are a hit here for learning a new behavior or changing an old one.

What is really fun is that the dog becomes a  training nut...once he gets the idea.  It requires the dog to think and reason so that once you get the behavior, it's there solid thereafter.  Paying attention is put on a cue (not a command) and then you can use it in more and more distractable situations. 

I was just wondering how you knew he was a Basenji/Ibizan Hound cross? Those are two fairly rare breeds. According to AKC, there are ~130 Ibizan Hounds registered each year, and ~820 Basenjis. It would surprise me if two rare breeds such as these got loose, found each other, and "hooked up".  Seems like you might be focusing on the characteristics of a sight hound, and may not indeed have a sight hound.

I also wonder if he may be experiencing some neurological problems. His behavior sounds more like seizures than misbehaving. This could have easily come on after getting hit by the car. Just imagine the trauma to his head from the accident. Poor guy. Have you ever heard of the "fly biting seizures"? They happen often in Cockers and present just as the name implies - the dog snaps at the air, as if trying to bite a fly. Seizures can be very odd.

He's lucky to have someone working so hard to bring him back to pre-accident condition.

I know this is a little late to post; you have had so many wonderful suggestions from others in the community.  After reading several, I thought of another suggestion, (I did not see it mentioned; if it was I apologize for the repeat).

feel free to visit my blog at link removed ,there's some tips there.