Thanks for the replies. I found this board yesterday while trying to identify him, have read a pile of stuff here, very informative!

I have not checked his paws, never even dawned on me to do that, I just figured he was crossed with shepherd because of his markings, but I see that elkhounds have similar markings too. Will check when I get home tonight

He's a big doofus! I really didn't want another dog but I figured my little dog Scooby (pictured with him, his name is Zeus) was lonely as we just had to give our husky up and they were best buds. I came across Zeus via an acquaintance, it was her teenaged son's dog but they had to move and couldn't take him. It was either find a home, or take him for a ride in the country

I decided to take him. I love animals and couldn't bear to think they'd just dump this pup

So I took him and holy hell, what a bundle of energy. I had full intentions of working with him, but then my dad ended up in hospital and both dogs were neglected as I was running to the hospital every night after work and was just exhausted when I came home, so all I did is clean up poop, let them out of the dog run and that was it. He became very destructive, bugger chewed up my brand new hot tub cover even

Can't blame him though, I know he's just bored and I just didn't have it in me to take them out after a long day like that. His destructiveness is 100% my own fault, I know this. My dad got out a couple days ago so we can get back into a routine again and I can spend more time with the dogs.

Doesn't help that at the last house he was banished to the backyard as the mother didn't want him in the house to disturb her little dogs but now he's a lot better in the house, he's not ripping thru it at warp speed and destroying things lol

Obedience training is something I've thought of, will see in the next couple of weeks how he does now that I'm home more. I've been reading up on Elkhounds and he's definitely got the traits, as well as their weird high pitched bark. Either way, I'm glad I decided to take him, love my handsome guy to death, even if he does behave like a toddler!