aggression in dogs.

[cuddlepop]

What makes a normally happy dog turn aggressive?

In pain.
Anxious over a change in surroundings or people
Dietary
Previously been attacked so now attacks.

Are there any others you can think of?.

[rich62_uk]

One of my dogs has snapped at me once and that was because she was in pain. She had dislocated her tail :( and I touched it by mistake.

Is the dog getting on in years as they can get grumpy, my father in laws dog suddenly lost all patience with the children :(.

[widdy]

It could be a medical condition other than just 'being in pain'. Like humans, if an animal isn't feeling well it may become grumpy and a simple body chemistry change can lead to aggression. If it persists you may want to ask your vet for advice.

[billmoseley]

my Lab is as soft as a brush i thought not an aggressive bone in her body till one day our other older dog was atacked in our back garden by another dog. The Lab flew out the house and laid into the other dog giving it a right pasting. After she turned back into to her soft old self. to this day if she sees this other dog she bares her teeth at it

[cuddlepop]

Thanks everyone.

Its a tough one to pinpoint the "trigger point" as our other dog has "taught" him to make a racket when their playing.
If you didnt know better you'd think they were setting out to kill each other.
Unfortunatly this is how he thinks he plays and understandably if you dont know the dog it looks and sounds aggressive.

He's 5 in March is it too late to try and get him "reprogrammed" even though 10 year old is still with us.....thankfully.

[billmoseley]

i think you can still do something about it. you can get a control collar that vibrates or gives a small electric shock (which isn't as nasty as it sounds) which is operated from a remote control handset. We have one for our lab but rare you have to use it as it just a few days for her to learn. check out ebay for them

[cuddlepop]

i think you can still do something about it. you can get a control collar that vibrates or gives a small electric shock (which isn't as nasty as it sounds) which is operated from a remote control handset. We have one for our lab but rare you have to use it as it just a few days for her to learn. check out ebay for them

Thanks for that will give them a look.

[rich62_uk]

Mate of mine is something of a dog specialist and helps loads of dogs who need rehabilitating. She is up at Christmas and would happily pop over and say hi to your dog and see if she can help in any way. If you are still having a problem pm me after Boxing day. :) xx

[pepsimax]

i think you can still do something about it. you can get a control collar that vibrates or gives a small electric shock (which isn't as nasty as it sounds) which is operated from a remote control handset. We have one for our lab but rare you have to use it as it just a few days for her to learn. check out ebay for them

PLEASE do not use an electric shock collar on your dog. You could try squirting water using an old washing up liquid bottle to distract you dog but giving an electric shock no matter how small is cruel.

[achingale]

I'd suggest telling the dog off when his behaviour is not acceptable. Dogs often pick up bad habits from other dogs and unless you step in, letting him know you are the boss and you do not like it, they will vie for power. Tower above the dog and show that you are in charge. Like pepsimax I would never use a shock collar. I know someone who did and it made no difference until she turned it up to a high setting and the dog came back scared for his life! You can get lemon scented squirty collars but I know a dog who chases birds and this never put him off chasing! Good luck and I hope you get it sorted out.