Hi there,

We have a 4yr old border/lakeland terrier cross and the situation is this:

Generally around the house he is totally fine, the perfect dog who seems happy, loving and you hardly notice him. He has always gone for any mail/post, though since around a yr ago we tried to stop it more he has been better at it. He also always gone mad when anyone arrives, especially those he's not familiar with, mainly barking, jumping up, never aggressively (other than those below).

The problem is over the past year or 2 he has had multiple situations where he instantly changes and becomes extremely agressive toward a person. Nothing serious has happened yet but he could have potentially bitten someone, and is of course something we can't risk, so we have a decision to make.

After reading/talking to a few people we guess that it is probably due to nerves but we can't be sure. The only other times where he has shown anything like the aggression he has there is with the post and barking in the garden (either animals or walkers passing on the path that runs along our backgarden), but neither of these are quite the same.

What is there that can be done? If anything? We've had a few books to read through but each one we get we hear or read somewhere that we shouldn't trust the writer so bit at a loss on what to trust/try. Thanks for any help, it's really difficult because 95% of the time he appears a perfect dog, who clearly shows affection towards us.

Sounds like we would need a little more information as to when and what triggered the "Multiple" occasions when he has been agressive. Difficult to help otherwise
Aileen

The only other times where he has shown anything like the aggression he has there is with the post and barking in the garden

I wouldn't say the barking in the garden should be classed as aggression. I have lakelands and they bark alot (usually at nothing). My 4yr old male has taken to biting peoples ankles given half the chance. He's fine out on walks, it's just when people come to the house he can't help himself so when we do have visitors he is shut in the kitchen until they have gone and then there is no risk of someone getting bitten. Is this something you could maybe try?

>The problem is over the past year or 2 he has had multiple situations where he instantly changes and becomes extremely agressive toward a person.

What were the circumstances when this has happened? Where were you? What were the people doing? Were they men, women, old, young? Is he used to being around lots of different people?

Sorry for all the questions but it helps to get a proper picture!

No I haven't worded that right, I agree it's not really agression, it's kind of a similar sudden spontaneous reaction of his where sprint down the garden barking.

I was more meaning that he literally shows no other signs of agression, the closest being that (to emphasis how generally un-agressive he is). This is essentially what we do at the moment (the shutting in room), but he'll continually bark/scratch at the door, it's not something we should accept. Also the mad rush when the door bell rings and he goes mad shouldn't be acceptable (Though these are not the main issue, its the random very agressive spontaneous turns he's had, though non the less fixing one would maybe the other).

Sorry yeah should have explained the agressive turns better..
It has happened both when someone visits and whilst on walks, and most the time toward someone who has interacted with him or us (ie, not a random passer by).
It won't be something that can be spotted from a distance, he's perfectly normal until we get very close and one small thing happens and he'll turn and go to attack..
It may be something more obvious, one time where someone has gone to shake my hand which probably triggered it, others with no real obvious reason, he may just be sniffing them and turn.

is he an entire male?

Hi, posted the last one while you sent this but answered most of it, terms of the people it has been both men, women and younger (13-14ish). I'd say he's pretty used to being around people, always had the excited barking/jumping up in him but the seemingly random agressive things have only started over sort of 2 yrs or so, it's happened about 4-5 times over that time, and so obviously more concerned about letting him roam freely with other people around.

Has he been thoroughly checked out medically, including blood tests (incl thyroid)?  As it seems from your descriptions like this was a fairly quick onset so I would want to make sure there's nothing going on medically that could be causing the problems (or at least, making them worse - one of mine is nervous but generally fine, but if she's sore or ill she can become aggressive).

I'm confused!   Your first post mentions multiple situations

>have only started over sort of 2 yrs or so, it's happened about 4-5 times over that time

Yet the last post intimates that it has been approximately twice a year over 2 years?????

Which sort of contradicts yourself.