Stressed out dog!

Question
We re-homed a Staffordshire Bull Terrier on December 2007, and wew he first arrived, he had chewed his tail and neede antibiotics. We recently had a trainer in to help with a few issues like on the lead and tail chasing etc, but lately he has changed. He obsessivley chases his tail chewing it really hard, and ripped his bed up into hundreds of pieces!! The resuce place said he should be put to sleep, as we struggle to care for him like this and we have a 1 year old son. When he gets his tail, no matter what we do to distract him, he sometimes doesnt hear you, and foams at the mouth while biting it! Any advice? I feel he is too nice natured to be put to sleep and deserves a home who can maybe offer more time with him. Thanks

Answer
Please read this: http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/tailchase.ht...
Usually, you need to see a veterinarian behaviorist, both to rule out seizures or other physical causes for his behavior and to design a treatment regimen for the dog.  Time is not what the dog needs, he needs medical care, whether physical, behavioral, or both.  If you cannot offer him that, and the rescue does not want to take responsibility for his treatment, you have few options.  It really isn't fair to palm off an expensive, and potentially heartbreaking situation onto someone else.
If it were my dog, I would make an appointment with a veterinarian behaviorist.  You can find one on the Animal Behavior Society web page, or call your nearest teaching veterinary college or SPCA for a referral.