My last two dogs were well socialised brought up with children and never a moments worry. After my last dog died we took on a 13 wk old lurcher from a rescue, he was extremely nervous when we arrived home and it took quite some time to get him used to going outside. He has had issues with territorial barking which we are still working on in that every time he hears anyone the other side of the fence and goes mad hackles raised etc we bring him straight back in. I walk him on a gentle leader and martingale collar as when he is out he will lunge towards cars, hates youths on skateboards and anyone  who are generally making a noise. He also has issues with some men. We have socialised him over the fields with all the many dog walking people and he goes off lead and loves everyone with a dog and will accept couples walking alone. We have to be careful around cyclists and joggers as he will chase barking but as soon as they stop so does he. Phew!!! We have walked him endlessly around cities and towns and he is very well behaved. He accepts my grumpy cat but he only has to see one out and becomes a lunatic trying to get to it. I was told he was a lurcher cross terrier but my feeling is that he has a lot of collie in him as he fixates on things and crouches down the way collies do. He is 2 in July and I am grateful that he is only small about 21 inches high as I know that I would not be able to manage him if taller. I have come to the conclusion that he is fear aggressive and has a high prey drive. I never realise how difficult it would be with such a dog as all the lurchers I have met have been very placid. I am finding it difficult in that  just when I think I am making some kind of progress we take 10 steps back!!! He is a real Jekyll and Hyde character. He has a lovely gentle side which has endeared him to many people whilst out on walks but when he goes off on one his aggressive stance makes my heart sink. He is particulary bad around the small close I live on and will growl and bark if he sees the children running around or if they suddenly come running out of their houses. I could go on and on. Is there any way of making him more relaxed around perceived threats because I have exhausted every avenue so far. And as the heading says feel such a failure.

From reading your post, it appears that you're working really hard to get your dog sorted out. You most certainly don't sound like a failure to me ;)
Good for you for perservering with what sounds a difficult dog, I hope someone will be along shortly with some advice for you :)

Good Luck

liberty :)

Thanks for the message of support. I think I am just feeling a little downhearted at present as I have never had these sort of problems before. He is so sweet with people he knows and trusts and I feel disloyal talking about him as we all love him to bits and would never part with him just have to manage him as best we can. It would just be more beneficial to him if we could find a way of helping him to relax more.

It's so nice to hear how much you love him, problems and all!! Hang in there, there are lots of people on this board who are bound to have some suggestions for you. Sorry I can't be of more help.

liberty :)

Welldone, you have done so much for your dog, please dont feel so down you are doing a good job you obviously love your dog very much, im sure in time he will improve :)

Heidi

Do not feel a failure, you are not one! Just hanging in there for nearly 2 years makes you a winner and it sounds as though you have taken steps to address issues safely. I really relate to the idea of making progress then slipping back as we do it with our boy who came to us at 6 months having missed all the training/socialisation most pups get. Hes a Pointer xGreyhound and like your lad has a high hunting drive - think nose to the floor to sniff it out then chase anything running into sight. It is hard to get his attention at the moment due to his rabbit addiction, so we went from instant recall to riot and have been training for freedom on a long line for a week now. Hey ho these things happen :)

When things seem hopeless make a list of all the things which used to be an issue and you see progress in I find this helps. My friend has a rescue who is a lovely dog but it took her 3 years to win him round and shes a professional dog trainer, so it takes a lot longer than most people think. Also many dogs are little horrors at this teenage stage. Youve given him a good home and introduced him to friends who accept him, you prevent him getting into trouble and you love him. Thats all it takes plus time. Maybe some of the lurcher people here can give you help with the specifics. Hang on and give yourself a break :)

I echo what everyone has said. You're trying everything you can and that's all anyone can do. This is a long shot, but have you had your vet check his thyroid level? Sometimes if it's out of whack, it can cause weird personality changes. That's something I would do in addition to the good socialization you're giving him. Things will look up.

Carrie

Thankyou everyone for your replies its good to know others are trying to overcome problems as well. Carrie I will certainly ask the vet to check thyroid levels next time I go. Although i would have thought he would have been hyperactive and on the go all the time but he is impeccably behaved in the house and gladly sleeps the day away as lurchers do. The last time I took him to the vets I was trying to explain his behaviour around strange people and the way he barks and lunges with his hackles raised and what does he do sit like a little angel while the vet examined him and wagged his tail throughout. I felt such a plonker as if I was talking about another dog and Im sure the vet did not believe me. He does have a good side in that he has never caused me any problem with being left whilst i work part time and has never really chewed anything he shouldnt so I have been lucky in that respect. This is what I find maddening from being a gentle loving dog he can at the flick of a switch become a barking banshee. Oh well I will just have to manage the best I can cause he is not going anywhere. Dont you just love them!!!

I know exactly what you mean, as meg is exactly the same. She can be so loving one minute and the next minute it is like she is posessed. She is now 2 and has been a pain and a half! But i do have times when i feel a failure, but then you realise just how far you have come, and how much we have had to work through to get to this stage, i realise that actually i'm not such a bad owner after all.