Exshow standard

Question
Hi
I have an eight year old ex show/stud champion standard.he retired a year ago.when I adopted him.he had always lived in kennels but settled into family  life pretty well.but is getting increasingly nervous and scatty.he will suddenly turn extremely nervous and paranoid,at these times is attached to my legs literally,nearly caused numerous tripping accidents. When he becomes like this he emits foul wind or diarrhoea with no warning. He has taken to escaping from our garden,luckilyhas been found by neighbours.
He will one minute bark,growl and hiss at certain people then be their best friend!
I am at my wits end,I don't know if he has just spent to long in kennels to adjust ,whether castration would help-the vet said it wouldn't-or wether he would be happier back in a kennel environment??he is certainly happiest when he goes back to the show kennels for grooming or to stay for breaks.what would you suggest?? Thank you

Answer
Hello Fran,
It sounds like your dog went from the Show Ring to now sitting at home and being a housepet, and he isn't ready to settle down just yet.  You may need to give him something to do to help him expend this energy that he has by some kind of activity.  Take him for a walk morning and night, play games (fetch, tag,) or let him run with you in the backyard, take him to the Dog Park and let him play, or even get him into an Obedience class.  This way, he doesn't go from being a hyped-up show dog to sitting at home doing less than what he did on the show circuit.  

Obedience classes will also help him with his mistrust of people.  Once he will sit good for you, you can try having people pet him #with him sitting next to you) and they can give him a treat.  He will soon learn that he gets pets and food by letting people see him.  
You can also get him neutered if you want to, it won't necessarily help him with his fear, but will be good for his health and may help keep him from wanting to escape.

I don't think he is happier being at the kennel, but rather he recongnizes the smells where he lived before and is eager to reunite with his old friends.  

Give this a try and let me know if you are having other problems with him.  If you have other questions for me, please let me know.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim