Change in behavior

[nzang]

Hi, I have a 3 year old male Rottie who use to be the most loving dog to friends and strangers alike. I have written before about him snapping at strangers when he was turning 3 in October. Now his behavior is getting worse. He walked up to a friend I was talking to in the house, licked her hand and then bit her. He left an imprint but did not break skin. No warning what so ever and had been in the other room minding his own business. I had him on leash when she came in and once I thought he was going to be okay, let him off. That is when he went into the other room on his own. About 15 minutes later he came back into the kitchen and bit her. I was wondering if having him on a leash when she came in gave him some confusing message as to his safety? This is the second time this has happended when I had him on leash in the house. I just don't trust him to great someone on his own now. I don't know what happened to my sweet boy. He had surgery for a torn cruciate ligament in April and I left him at therapy once a week. The therapist use to call me to tell me how wonderful he was. Now this. I am dispondent.

[hokisteph5]

Have you had him thoroughly checked out at the vet? Sometimes behavioral issues are caused by a medical issue.

[fbkeays]

Do a search for Jean Dodds and thyroid. Send a blood sample to her for analysis. Thyroid issues can cause changes in behavior. While getting the blood taken for the thyroid, get your vet to do a complete physical and other lab work.

[nzang]

I had him checked for thyroid when this started. I did not send it to Dr. Dodd because it was not boardline. I plan to have a complete blood panel done and am sending the thyroid to Dr. Dodd this time. I really think there has to be something medical going on to make his behavior change so suddenly. Thanks.

[Mick Trainer]

As you are happy to go to this leangth I would say do some research and find a trainer in your area knowledgeable regarding aggression and get them in the have a look at your boy. Seeing the dog for 5 minutes will give them a better idea as regards what the dog is feeling etc than we can get no matter how long you write for.

Mick.

[nzang]

I am currently working with a behaviorist who works with Rotties. She is very busy, though and I wanted to post this to see if anyone else has experienced this. Thanks.

[jlaack]

I am currently working with a behaviorist who works with Rotties. She is very busy, though

If I were you I would be a little insistent with the behaviorist that he/she needs to make a commitment to you and your dog if he/she wants to stay on your payroll. I can't imagine any behaviorist not making a client with a biting dog a high priority. In the interim while you are sorting this problem out; please crate or leash your dog whenever he is around anyone besides yourself. Is he in obedience classes? Has he had obedience classes before? This might be another avenue to travel in addition to the behaviorist.

No warning what so ever

A lot of posters on this site say the dog bit w/o warning. Did you see the moments before the bite? Usually there is a warning but people do not notice them especially if they are subtle. Has the behaviorist you are working with been able to elicit his aggression to see firsthand what is going on and perhaps identify his signals of escalation?

[David Feliciano]

I am a professional dog trainer. I work primarily with aggressive dogs. I'm also a certified schutzhund helper through USCA and have worked a lot of dogs in protection. When your day job requires you to teach dogs to control their aggression, but your hobby is to elicit aggression, it really helps you to see a lot more than the average trainer.

In my experience, a dog that has already displayed the type of aggression you are talking about is prone to aggression. It seems as if your dog aggresses when it feels uncomfortable or threatened. This can be very much a genetic response. I also get this from the fact that you say this is not an isolated incident. At this point, it becomes a management issue. Training is a must and will help, but you will always need to manage your dog's aggression.

It is also common for this behavior to start occuring during adolescence or early in adulthood. Rotties tend to mature a little slower than herding breeds and sometimes take a little longer to start displaying aggression. In schutzhund, I don't like to start working dogs in the protection phase until they start to show some aggression in other areas such as barking in the car or barking in the yard. This tells me that they are mentally mature enough to handle the work, and also gives me something to start working with.

Rotties can be hard to read and are often okay with one person and not with the next. Him minding his own business in the next room for 15 minutes then coming into the kitchen and biting may not be all that unusual. Your friend may have looked at him in a way that made him feel uncomfortable as he was sniffing his hand. This is especially common if she is already nervous around the dog, as her behavior will seem abnormal to him and she will be likely to stare him in the eyes. My boy will let strangers pet him until something makes him feel uncomfortable and then he becomes aggressive. For this reason, I do not let him interact with strangers unless they are close friends of mine. You always want to be in control of the situation.

[nzang]

Thanks to everyone for the response. I have trained my dog in obedience but lately he is starting to defy me and I need to start making him listen. He does not give me warnings, and the bite this time was not provoked. I guess I don't understand how a dog that was a certified Delta Society therapy dog at 16 months can change so drastically at 3 years. I am not allowing him near anyone anymore, except my husband, daughter and myself until I have this sorted out. I am making a vet appointment today for blood work and physical, although he looks and acts healthy. As for the behaviorist, I only pay her when I work with her. He has not displayed agression with her even when we took him to a pet store together. I know Rotties are typically aloof to strangers, but I didn't think that one who was well socialized would become agressive.

[brunie's mom]

I think you've answered your own question. You have let his obedience slip, and he is slow listening to your commands. This is a breed that needs to be kept on their toes, and owners that must follow through with commands, training,etc.
As soon as they don't listen the first time (though they know their commands), they are blowing you off...and they start thinking they are in charge.

Get back into formal classes....start doing some obedience training everyday...get some help for this aggression.

A dog at 16 months of age is still a puppy....just because an easy going puppy passes the therapy test at that age...does not mean he would pass at the age of 3. I honestly don't think slow maturing breeds should be allowed to take the therapy test before the age of 3...when they are mature both in body and in brains.

Get his thryroid checked also...because it is common enough to have aggression problems when the levels are borderline or low.

Gina

[nzang]

Thanks for the response. I am working with a behaviorist. He was doing therapy work until he had his surgery at 2 1/2 years old. I have a vet appointment tomorrow. I don't think it is just related to lack of obedience. I make him listen when he blows me off. I just never expected this from a dog who has been known as "mister lickey" because he always loved everyone. I guess I am looking for a fixable option because I hate to think I now have a dog I have to keep locked up or muzzled when I have guests but that is what I have to do. I always felt he was an ambassador of his breed to change the sterotype and I am dissapointed that he now seems to be what people think of Rotts. I esp. hate to have to muzzle him at the vet, etc. I am also wondering if he tore his other knee and am having the surgeon take a look this week. He just doesn't seem to be the happy go lucky boy that he was. Thyroid was checked once, and wouldn't that be nice if that is the problem! I have heard of agression in dogs suddenly starting when thyroid was off and resolved when treated. Thanks everyone.