Showing odd behavior please help

[bibluegirl]

Flash is 3 and the past week hes been showing agression tword my older sheltie thats 9. They have always gotten along slept together when I watch tv they lay o. the couch with me.

Last week i had them gated in the bed room and my husband said he had rico corneded and was showing teeth at him. Last night he was laying o. the couch he snapped at the cat and rico was just walking on the otherside of the room and he jumped and attacked him.Im not sure how to go about handling this as if now hes not allowed on the couch. please help.

[mellie]

Make sure that Flash is healthy and have his thyroid levels checked to see if they are in a good range for shelties . Best keep them seperated if you are leaving them alone until you get it figured out. Was there food involved ? Is Flash usually the boss ?

[Ann]

If this is new and consistent behavior I'd have your vet check Flash out. Years ago, we had a Westie who was previously very mellow begin getting snarky with the other dogs. It turned out she was in pain from a joint issue.

If the vet rules out health issues you can address the behavior. I would definitely keep them separated at feeding time though, or when giving treats.

[*Caro]

I agree, get the joints checked, Deska was really grumpy when he developed joint disease.

Are both dogs desexed?

Keep them seperated when you aren't around, and if Rico has a go at Flash put him in time out. Don't talk to him or tell him off, just quietly and quickly remove him from the room (or put him in a crate). Keeping him off the couch is a good idea, he could be resource guarding, but if you keep him off the couch you should probably keep Flash off the couch too so you don't encourage jealousy. If it is resource guarding you should nip it in the bud quickly - and seeing as you don't know what the resource could be removing him from the room should show him you don't accept the behviour. Remember, your house, your rules so if you don't like what he is doing you need to let him know.

[Emmasmom]

I can't any more advice that what you are given. I would definitely have a vet look at him. I know Emma got really snappy with Natalie when Emma had the torn ligament. And Liam can get snappy with the girls when he is not feeling well.

[bibluegirl]

Both of them were just at the vet not that long ago and both had a full thyroid pannel.

There are a few things I'm thinking of why the change of behavior. One is my husband and I got a puppy hes 7 months old now and I'm wondering if he is showing signs of being jealous. Tho I still do things with him first. I have 5 dogs so keeping the pack in order ive always done. I use the NILIF training with all my dogs and it seems to work.

The puppy is 7 months and he has a stong personality. He does summit to the other dogs but he pesters them I let them correct him and he will sometimes back off but always goes back and then I remove him for a time out in his xpen.

The other thing that could be wrong is hes stressed. My husband had a very bad accident a few weeks ago and our house which is usually just us and the dogs and is quiet is suddenly full of noise. People coming in and out. Nurses, physical therapist his family my family and my mom staying with us.

I contacted a behaviorist and am waiting for her to call back.

Right now its controlable. Hes done nothing more than show teeth and he charged at Rico barking and growling but no contact but I don't want to get to the point where he does make contact.

I've been removing him everytime he growls unless its the puppy pestering him then I remove the puppy but Rico could just be layiing there and he will growl at him if Flash walks by.

Both dogs are neutered. The puppy isn't yet I'm waiting until the growth plates are done growing.

[Ann]

That seems to answer the question...changes in your house, extra people, your husband's recovery and a new puppy! I'd guess all of that is why Flash is acting out. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, but I'm sure the behaviorist can give you some additional tips.

In the meantime, I'd continue with what you're already doing to correct Flash when you hear him growl or see him snap. Perhaps consider trying one of the homeopathics for stress like Rescue Remedy or Anxiety Relief drops for Flash. Hopefully when things get back to normal, so will he. Good luck!

[BarbV]

Just another add....when you said you had the thyroid checked, how deep did your vet go?

Did your vet test the full Thyroid 5 panel or just the T3, T4. Its not enough to do only a couple of panels to really get a picture.

When dogs suddenly show signs of agression like this, there is something either physically or psychologically wrong going on.

If it helps, my Indy has started to get aggressive over normal things.....to the point that I'm thinking about getting his thyroid tested now too. I've alrealy got Bacca already diagnosed.

Shelties are in the Top 10 breeds subject to this disease. One of the first symptoms is change in behaviour and change in eating habits.

[bibluegirl]

I had a T5 done sent out to Michigan rather then sending it out to antech or having the vet do it in house.

The behavorist got back to me so we are going to meet this weekend.

Yesterday he was fine. Things are slowly getting back to normal where my husband can start getting around better and get things and do things for himself so I can spend more time with the dogs.

I'm trying to get back into the same routine and I did realize he wasn't getting as much exercise as normal. I normally when I come home from work throw the ball for an hour or so. He doesn't ever get the ball but likes to run with the other dogs.

Something new I'm trying is that usually I have the puppy out with him(65lb puppy) being a lab hes a ball hog and when he has it he will then run and try shoving it in Flashes face. So now I exercise them together but I also take them out for thier own time. I also give puppy some times in the xpen so that Flash and the other dogs have some time just by themselves without being pestered.

When I'm not home tho Flash is baby gated in another room just in case because my husband can't break up a fight if one breakes out.

[Jaynie]

Ah, the changes in your household are probably having a big effect on pack order.

I had three dogs (one Sheltie, two border collies) when I began having health problems. My Sheltie was a little over three years, and was the top dog (all 3 were males). I had to have emergency gall bladder surgery, without much time to prepare the dogs. (Mom and Dad just disappeared and bad old trainer came to feed them!) When we got back home, my Sheltie kept jumping up on me to check me out (WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!!!) My husband would put him back on the floor every time. Finally, the Sheltie just turned around and bit him on the thumb, bringing blood. This was totally uncharacteristic with him, and he continued to be a fiesty little monster the entire time I was laid up.