I apologise in advance for the longevity of this message but I think it is probably best that people know the full history.  I own two BCs.  The problem is with the older one, 2 years old Feb 2005.  Quick history is: born Fen 03, we got him in April 03, went to puppyschool classes at 14 wks and did very well, went onto beginners and again did very well, socialised well and loved everybody and everything, we dont have children so the neighbour's children were invited in so that he was socialised properly, at around 5-6 months (sorry cant remember exactly when) we went camping with some friends, he had been with us loads of times and loved it, they brought their 6 year old white female boxer whom he knew as he had been down to their house loads of time, without warning she ambushed him when we were sat down chatting, laid into him (no injuries and we are not sure whether she used her teeth but he screamed), immediately split the fight up and there never appeared to be any lasting effect from this.  Lovely to walk etc last year with no problems at all and I could trust him anywhere, he went into kennels last October as I got married abroad, he was there for about 16 days and the owners had BCs which is why we picked it, seemed to be nice kennels and had been recommended by friends.  When he came out it took a couple of days for the routine to settle down which I expected.  We didnt do anymore training classes until January of this year when we did another beginners clicker training class whcih again he did well in. We then got another BC puppy in about beginning of Feb, rescued him as he was going to be drowned.  Introduced them on neutral ground and they seemed to get on well and have never had any problems between the two of them, in about May of this year we went on hols and again no problems, in about June of this year we were out on a walk as usual and we met a lady who had a lab and young springer puppy, he attacked the puppy for no reason, didnt do any damage and I don't know if he was merely pinning him down being bossy or what but luckily no injuries and I pulled him off.  About a week later he then attacked an older springer again for what appeared to be no reason.  During the summer of this year I helped out at various dog shows on a stall.  Every dog that came near to us he growled at and barked at.  I spoke to a friend who is a dog trainer and started making it party time for him if other dogs came near us (ie loads of treats and toys etc) and this seemed to do the trick as we didnt have any problems.  Then at the end of July this year he was attacked by two older BCs whilst on a walk.  The owner made the comment 'thats BCs for you'.  We went to the wag and bone show and no problems but then there was so many dogs I dont think he had a chance to do anything.  I hadnt taken him dog training for a while so took him.  We went into the hall and he was fine until another dog walked in and he went beserk.  Barking, growling and snarling.  I have to admit I just put him out of the room as I couldnt risk any injury to other dogs.  I brought him out a little later and he was very het up.  He is a very gentle chap and I fed him titbits every time a dog walked by which he would grab (most unlike him).  I never took him again as I dont want to put him through that.  Problems have got worse.  He is now wary of other dogs out on walks.  If he is off the lead he just generally ignores them and will only growl if they try and get his ball or are in his face.  We have had no more attacks but I am probably more aware now.  If he is on the lead and he doesnt know the dog he barks and growls at them so we now cross the road or I hold him back whilst the other person walks by.  Now we dont have a back garden only a front garden and are not allowed high fences so the fence is only one metre high.  I explain this because he has now started barking and growling at people or children who seem to come near him.  He has also started growling at my two cats if they come within a foot of him.  I really do believe that this is fear aggression arising from the two times that he has been attacked as he appears to become aggressive when people invade his personal space.  He also nipped my husband last week when he went to pat him on the head almost indicating he has been hit which he never has been by us.  I am therefore concerned that something else has happened whilst he has been out in the garden.  I am really worried hence why I couldn't sleep tonight and have come on here to see if there is any good honest advice out there.  He is neutered by the way and is fed Autarky and Naturediet lite as he has a tendency to put on weight.

Thanks in advance

Claire

My first port of call on this would be the Vet.

This sounds more like he is having trouble either with eyesight or possibly a health thing.

To bite your husband  and to growl at cats that he has lived with is to me not a sign of fear aggression but more a physical problem of some sort.

Ask the Vet to check him out thoroughly and explain to him exactly what you have put in your post, if you think you may forget anything, take a copy of your post with you and let him read it.

I feel you might be on the right track there. My Kizzy is one of the nicest softest temperment's I have ever known, but she is night blind and if we go out after dusk she will bark and growl like mad at the same people or dogs that she has been playing with thaat afternoon and will play with them the next day as if nothing has happend.

I would also suggest the vet to start :)
Any change in behaviour should always be checked out at the surgery in case of a medical cause. Don't worry because if it is medical it can often be sorted out with medication.

To be really sure the dog will need more than a quick once over - blood tests will need to be done and so on. The very worst scenario would be something like a brain tumour but thankfully this is rare. Other causes can be things like remembered pain, thyroid, liver shunts, minor seizures, hip/eye problems, and so on. Often the dog may seem fit and healthy until the medical side is investigated.

Good luck

Lindsay
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yes he is booked in for a full health check at the beginning of January so I am going to start there just to satisfy myself that it isnt anything medical. 

I wouldn't be waiting until January to see the vet, this is something that will only get worse the longer it is left, whether it is health or behavioural.

I would be seeing my vet asap, otherwise you are going to have a very miserable Christmas worrying about it.

I agree, I really would be down to the vet straight away :)

Lindsay
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I have to add though, that by Border collie was very similar. No real problems with dogs until she had an argument with a male BC at agility class when she was 18 months, and is now quite similar to what you describe, she is ok off lead as long as they don't get in her face or try to take her ball, but on lead at training class she is a demon. We can only keep going becuase the class is a very good one and they know not to let their dogs sniff meg. I think it is becuase she is a nervy dog anyway, but until she had reached maturity at about 18 months she didn't have the courage to get all defensive. Now she has, and has learnt that it is a useful strategy to keep dogs away. She is now nearly 3 and i can't see her behaviour ever changing.

I agree the change could by physical. To rule it out, I would get the vet to give him a complete health check & go from there.  If given the all clear on the health front, poss consult a behaviourist.

as hes putting on weight have him tested for thyriod problems as this can make them grumpy & put on weight