I don't know what to do

[Mab]

My miniature American Eskimo is 7 years old. He has never been mistreated or beaten or anything other than a rare smack on the nose or on the behind when he's doing something he knows he shouldn't. Lately he has gotten very very aggressive & very mean. I cannot even TALK to him in a disciplinary tone without him growling, snarling, and baring his teeth to ME--his mom. He barks at every slight noise (a fly goes by & he barks). He's rather like a really annoying car alarm that goes off when the wind blows too hard. When I tell him to be quiet, he ignores me. When I tell him to stop whatever he's doing that he shouldn't be, he ignores me until I have to chase him off or raise my voice.

Tonight he started growling & snarling at me when I told him to stop barking. He ignored me & I walked over to him to tell him to STOP & to mind when I tell him the first time. He tried to bite me. I told him to go to his room (my bedroom), and I told him to lay down (accompanied by the hand gesture we were taught at obedience school to go with "lay down"), and he tried to bite me again.

I'm just at wit's end. I have a 2yo that spends most Saturdays with me. I just.......he won't mind, he won't behave.....I mean, usually he's a pretty good dog, but there are these episodes where he tries to bite me, and in general his behaviour seems to be getting worse.....

The thought of taking him to a shelter makes me wanna cry, but I cannot put up with a dog that keeps trying to bite me when I discipline him & who ignores my commands out of sheer will.

What the heck do I do?:ack:

[Aine of the Fae]

Oh hun... I know how hard it is to have a dog that is like that!

I had a black lab mix who was the sweetest thing when she was a puppy, but the older she got the more territorial she got. She became very dominant and very aggressive and it escalated to her biting. And you just can't have a dog that bites :( We ended up having to have her put down.

If you can afford it, I would suggest first trying to find a very good trainer. Do some research before you choose one. Most issues such as this have to do with fear and dominance. My Auggie (the lab) would take advantage of anyone who showed the slightest hint of fear, and strangers were just fresh meat! However I had two boyfriends who had very, very deep voices, and who showed no fear at all when around her. She loved them from the moment she saw them and listened to their every word. You have to have authority, showing no fear whatsoever, but that can be hard to do.

If the training doesn't work, you may end up having to put him down.

Also remember that at 7 he's getting older. Consider having him checked by a vet for arthritis or any other condition that may cause pain, as chronic pain can bring out agression in some dogs.

[Isil Darkmoon]

Take him to the vet! I knew a dog like that--started out wonderful and sweet, and had a behavioral shift all of a suddden. It turned out to be an operable brain tumor, and once it was taken care of she was bakc ot her sweet self.

[GaiaDea]

Many purebred dogs are at the end of their "useful" lifespan at 7. What that really means is that they begin to show their age in many ways. It is possible that he is suffering from any one ormore of several illnesses that can affect older dogs. He may have diminished hearing or eyesight, causing him to become very defensive and "spooky". He may have developed arthritis, as mentioned above, and may be in pain. He may be feeling older and less secure about his place in the household power hierarchy. He may have digestive, heart, or pancreatic issues causing him to be tempery. Please do take him to the vet for a full exam, and tell the vet about the behavior issues as well as about his diet and potty habits.
Also, some older dogs have a hard time dealing with changing situations--things that we wouldn't think of as stressful or unusual, but can make an older dog feel nervous or insecure. Small children can do this. A change in daily routine can do this. New furniture or carpets, getting rid of old linens, even new drapes can unsettle an older dog sometimes.

This could be either a medical situation, an environmental situation, or a combination. The best place to start is at the vet's office in either case though, as if it is medical it needs addressing right now, and if it is environmental, the vet can offer solutions and resources.

Good luck!

[Erebus]

My SO used to be a dog trainer... I asked about this thread and she said to check it for blindness. Get to the vet and test its vision. There are a lot of different eye problems an older dog can get that will make it so they can only see shadows or sudden movements. A dog that is growling or barking at flies, it sounds like what's called "moon blindness" in horses (but she forgot what it's called in dogs). Also look for Progressive Renal Atrophy.

A dog that changes "over night" is having a serious problem, usually physical. An always-sweet dog just isn't going to turn into Cujo of the Flies one morning.

[Mab]

Thanks everybody. He's been to the vet for a complete exam just a few months ago. We had his thyroid checked & an injured knee looked at as well. As far as we know, there's nothing physical wrong with him. He hasn't changed "over night", but rather....he has these psychotic episodes where he wants to challenge me. Like HE's the dominant one in the house. Oddly enough, he doesn't pull this crap with my bf--who is a good 6'1, and roughly 230-250lbs with a fair deep voice. I try lowering my voice for commands, but he just insists on challenging me.

I don't know...he is purebred & the most high-strung thing....maybe he's just getting old & cranky & testing his limits? I'm just afraid he's going to bite Baby Girl & her mother will go insane.....

[Old Witch]

Sorry to say you are probably going to have to get rid of her....If it was just you and the SO, then it might be worked out. But a threat to a child........... well lets just say, an attack could be very severe and because it's a small child, very disfiguring.
See if you could give her to men. but if you take her to a pound, goddess forbid, she could end up in a home with small children.

Euthanasia might be your saddest but best choice.
You all know me in here, so I'm gonna give some advice that you may find strange coming from me.......It does sound like for some reason she's trying to move up in the hierarchy in the house......soooo, you might get bit, but when she pulls her stunt again, have a fly swatter, a rolled up magazine, newspaper, etc ready and give her a firm whack across the head, with a low voiced "NO!!! BAD". And if you can, without getting bit, grab her by the scruff of her neck, give her firm but not violent shake, simulating what a more dominant dog might do.........like I said, you might get bit........ Be consistant, and seem as "large" as you can! And then keep Baby Girl and her completely separated, just to be on the safe side........It could work....

[Shanti]

Actually what may work, I've seen it work, is to re-do basic training and look into a differant method than what she was first taught. Sometimes re-programming works to put the dog back in the correct pecking order. I would call a trainer to re-train the dog and me!

Just a sugestion. :)

[Ahautenites]

I agree with Aine of the Fae and Shanti. If physiological problems have been ruled out, the last recourse is to try going through dog training again (or for the first time). And if that doesn't work, the dog will either need to wear a muzzle or be put to sleep because the moment that dog bites someone else (especially a child), you will have a lawsuit against you like you wouldn't believe, *and* your dog will be put to sleep.

[Mab]

Actually what may work, I've seen it work, is to re-do basic training and look into a differant method than what she was first taught. Sometimes re-programming works to put the dog back in the correct pecking order. I would call a trainer to re-train the dog and me!

Just a sugestion. :)
That's what my SO suggested. The funny thing is, he's only rough with me. He's too big for me to shake (he's a good 45lbs), but he never tries this with the SO, and he's actually very gentle & patient with Baby Girl. He's never once snapped at her or anything.

Well, last night we tried something the trainer suggested for when he "get's too big for his britches". We made him wear his leash around the house all night, and he wasn't allowed on the bed for snuggles or anything. The trainer suggested that sometimes dogs forget who's Master, and think they can push YOU around, and you have to remind them. I'm gonna try this for a few days & see if it helps. He's going to the vet for grooming this Sat, so he won't be around Baby Girl at all, but I'm definitely keeping a very close eye on them from now on.

[SilverMaiden]

I agree have a vet check him out to rule out medical causes.

He may also be pushing you around because he mistakenly believes he's alpha over you. Put him in alpha boot camp and NILIF.

Nothing in Life is Free. He doesn't get food, treats nor pets unless he earns it by doing a command.

For the next few days ignore him, except at feeding times. Change the feeding times too so he realizes you're in control of his food and when he eats.

If he approaches you to be pet, ignore him and go about your business. If and when you're ready to pet him, call him to you. If he doesn't come, ignore him and go about your business.

Don't even acknowledge him when you walk in the door. Matter of factly let him out and go about your business.

If he sleeps on your bed, boot him out for a while. That's your bed and he's only allowed up when you specifically invite him. Make sure you only allow him to spend a short time and then put him off the bed.

Pick up all his toys and chews. Only give him a toy or chew when you want to give it to him.

Cut out all treats unless you're doing obedience sessions with him. When the sessions are over, ignore him.

What these actions do is tell him that you're alpha and he's not. You're re-establishing your role as pack leader and demoting him.

Don't yell at him and remain matter of fact and calm.