Sudden, unexpected aggression towards dogs.

[Jax08]

I can NOT freaking believe this. Jax just attacked Banshee for no reason. They weren't even in the same room!! I heard her bark, turned to look at her and then she lunged 8 feet through the air to attack Banshee. What the @!#$# is going on with her?! What would cause that? She's never been like this at all! First the bones and now nothing at all!

[Lauri & The Gang]

Sudden onset of ANY behavioral change would have me taking the dog to the vet ASAP.

If she hasn't had a full thyroid panel done recently (within the year) I would have it done now.

You want at LEAST a 6-way test - NOT the 4 way. Check out the Hemopet website for testing info and prices. You can have your vet draw the blood and ship it to them:

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/HEMOPET.HTM

[Tbarrios333]

Oh, I'm so sorry Michelle.
I hope Jax and Banshee are both okay and that nothing serious is going on.

[Jax08]

Thanks Lauri! I"m still in shock. The bones were one thing. I could understand that reasoning.

This was crazy! Banshee was just standing there next to the chair and Jax was out here next to me. She lunged a solid 8' to get to her. So we put her in the crate while I finished something up and she was growling and barking in there.

I put her prong collar and leash on her and now she's just as calm as could be. Actually a little timid like she knows that was NOT ok.

I wonder if this lump on her neck is involved in any way. Seems a pretty big coincidence.

[Jax08]

I don't see anything about the "6-Way".

Is it this?

Quote:The COMPLETE Thyroid Panel AND the other Blood Chemistry values is the Profile 7200 which includes:

*

the CBC with differential
*

Chemistry panel
*

Thyroid5 (as specified below).

The fee for this extensive testing which includes Dr. Dodds' interpretation is $115.

Or just the thyroid panel that is $65?

[RebelGSD]

She is two years old and becoming an adult. They can start acting more bossy at that age. Are you practicing NILIF with her. It seems that their interactions will have to be supervised.

[Jax08]

Yes I practice NILIF. I've been running thru my mind anything that has changed lately.

When DD went back to school we put Sierra in a crate while we're gone, because she can't be trusted not to eat the house, and Baron (our dobie foster) is in the other crate. That leaves Jax and Banshee out. I wonder if Jax is taking her freedom as a signal to establish dominance.

And yes...I would say she is a dominant female. If I am petting Sierra she will come over and try to hump her. I can catch her before she does it. You can tell from the look on her face.

She has also taken to reprimanding the other dogs if we do. She usually will nip at their necks. That just started over the last 2-3 weeks too.

The bones...she's always snatched up the bones and when we started taking them away from her the behavior towards the other dogs escalated from snatching the bones to growling to attacking.

Tonight Banshee was looking out this way and Jax could have taken it as a challenge but I don't believe Banshee was actually challenging her.

So is this sudden and unexpected or has this been building and I didn't recognize it?

[maggs30]

You are going through something very similar to what I am going through with my two males. They actually both were a bloody mess today from a fight and the vet swears that there is nothing wrong with the aggressor male.....I am not so sure. I am actually having a consultation with an animal communicator tomorrow afternoon. $50 for 20 minutes but if she can pick up on something that me or the vet are not seeing than it is all worth it. With my two it is a small growl from the aggressor...he gets reprimanded....he postures over the 2nd male head over his back growls again and if you don't get them separated in the 15 seconds these take place...they are all at it. After the fight is broken up by me....fun times....they are laying together licking each others faces and tails wagging. So it could be a dominance issue for both of us, or a very real medical issue that we haven't caught. I wish you the best of luck in finding what is wrong.

[Jax08]

ok...after thinking over her actions that last few weeks and her general behavior I'm sure at least a good portion of it is as Rebel said.

Is there a really good book on how to handle this? I'm sure she is trying to establish her dominance over the pack. She is also possessive of me.

[maggs30]

Okay I may sound like a loony to those that don't believe in dog whisperers. I had my consultation today with one and my aggression problem and she was wonderful and Bear is listening. I would highly recommend her! Bear wanted to be alpha and told her he was the strongest and most athletic and we told him he was alpha but he was abusing it. After an extensive talk he is now calm and is not acting aggressive at all anymore!!!! If you want more information on her send me a PM and I do have to say that I was a little skeptical but it was the best $50 I have spent in a long long time. I now have my calm house back! If it is simply a hormonal alpha status issue like mine turned out to be then it would be worth a try and it was a heck of a lot cheaper than the vet bills I paid looking for what the problem was.