Agression

[MAD3448]

My boy is going to be 11 in May. He use to be nice to other dogs but is now very aggressive. This seems to have started after he had been attacked by other dogs while on leash. Does anyone know what I can do to stop this behaviour? There are several dogs in the family and I just can not allow him around any of them. HELP!

 

[Toffee's Mom]

My boy is going to be 11 in May. He use to be nice to other dogs but is now very aggressive. This seems to have started after he had been attacked by other dogs while on leash. Does anyone know what I can do to stop this behaviour? There are several dogs in the family and I just can not allow him around any of them. HELP!

Welcome
can you tell us a little bit more around the dog, and the scenarios that makes you say he is very aggressive??
It is highly unusual that a dog is truly aggressive out of the blue... for no good reason.
Have you checked for health problems, that can make any dog cranky when they are in pain, and when they get older they most certainly don't suffer fools gladly, either.. Neither should they have to, so I would make sure that no dog is allowed to get into his personal space, first of all.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Poor guy is just to old to be attacked and thus tries to take preemptive action and/or is hurting is my bet. Getting feel better and being around nice dogs that behave would seem them best options. Also at 11 is there any chance he is getting senile? Seems a bit young but my last dog got more aggressive out of fear when his mind started to go (you could see it in his eyes)

 

[Shelby's mom]

Our Hollie was like that too. She was great around other dogs until one day when DH was walking her and a black lab broke his chain and came after her. DH picked her up before he could attack. After that she was very stand offish with other dogs and she would growl and snap if they got in her space. We never were able to get her to trust other dogs after that, unfortunately. Then again we did not have the opportunity to really work on it as much as we should. Also as she got older the crankier she got. I think a lot of that was because of pain.

I am sure there will be a lot of people who can offer some greag suggestions to help

 

[MAD3448]

Hunter will be fine.

Hunter's mom again. Thank you all for your post. The agression has been coming over several years. Yes, he is 11 and is more cranky now but, he was not cranky when the agression started. He is not really wanting to fight but, he does want to show who is boss. He is the one to start it now even with a friendly dog. He never was the aggressor before. Once he knows the dog, it is fine. Some of the attacks on him have been brutal. The only way it was broken up was by me kicking the other dog. Twice the attacks have had him on his back. I believe, he is in very good health because, he had just gone to a specialist for a polyp problem and I do get him a complete physical and blood work every year. He does not act like he is in any pain or getting senial. I just will keep him from other dogs and let him enjoy his life with out any stress. I am able to take care of him because, he is all I have and so important to me.