untrainable beagle! NEED HELP

i have a ten year old beagle who i got from the animal shelter 5 years ago.
its pretty clear he was abused in some form before he ended up in the
shelter; when ever i reach for something, like the tv remote, too quickly he
flinches. he gets scared when i sweep the kitchen floor and hides under the

diddy...

I have one too. I don't know her past history,or her age. I use an
antibark collar on her for my sanity. She's very quiet, until I take it
off. It doesn't train her not to bark, because she barks when the collar is
off. (beagles "Do that")
There may not even be batteries in it, but she doesn't bark... just in
case.I'd supervise the first time you try it, because I've heard of some
dogs barking, and going so spazzy over them that they died.
I really don't think you are going to train a dog that age, especially a
beagle, NOT to bark.
I see your options as being:
1) anti-bark collar
a)citronella
b)electronic
c)bark buster (your neighbors will
probably complain asmuch about
that as the howlng)
2) surgical debarking
3) placing the dog and accepting the consequences
4) moving

bed.

shelly...

That does not necessarily mean he was abused.

ive never done anything abusive to him, and always tried to "spoil" him
without spoiling him. like: i let him sleep on my bed, and sit on the couch
and cuddle on my lap. but he's still really spazzy and barks ALL THE TIME.
hes got severe anxiety especially when i leave him, even for a few seconds
to check the mail.
at the this point, my neighbors are complaining, and as i can quit my job
and be a stay at home mom for him, i am left with few options.
i DO NOT want to put him down
and i know at his age with his behavoir, if i brought him back to a shelter,
he probably wouldnt be adopted.

shelly...

I can't imagine that anyone would want an elderly dog with behavior
problems.

Ten is pretty young for this sort of thing, but have you asked your
vet about the possibility that the dog having age related cognitive
problems?

Other than that, I'd recommend talking with a local trainer *and*
your vet about measures you can take to relieve some of the dog's
anxiety. There are both meds and behavioral steps that can be pursued.

ive read up a little on "debarking" surgery and that whole thing seems iffy.
i dont know of anyone who would want to take him, or would i would feel
comfortable giving him to.
ANY ADVICE???
its getting really bad, and my landlord wants me to "do something" about it.