Please help!! My 5 year old male Border Collie has become very aggressive towards me. He hasn't actually bitten me but I feel like he may at any time. He no longer wants to come to me volountarily and when I tell him to come he growls if I touch him. I must say I have never smacked him or given him reason to be scared of me. I have tried re asserting myself as top dog as I thought it may be a dominance issue. I no longer let him sleep in my bedroom and I make him sit before giving him treats or his main meal. However, now when I tell him to sit for his meal he growls and walks away and when I tell him to come he tries to go elsewhere rather than do as he's told. I was always used to being affectionate with him and vice versa and now I find this behaviour very upsetting and rather frightening although I try not to show him I am feeling worried as I know they can tell. Please help!!

Hi Guest,

A sudden and dramatic change in behaviour in a 5 year old dog is not in any way normal and very possibly could be the result of something which requires immediate veterinary attention.  Please make an appointment to see a vet a.s.a.p. for both of your sakes.

Good luck, Teri

i totally agree,there is no  reason why a loving breed like a BC should suddenly change. get to the vets ASAP. i dont for a moment think its a dominance thing but be aware that if youve suddenly turned his life upside down with a load of new rules he could be feeling really confused :(
get to the vet & go back to treating him as normal

That's correct, guest; a sudden change in behaviour  can point to a clinical/medical problem, which can range from anything from hypothyroid, focal seizures, remembered pain, digestive problems, plus others, and, the worst scenario, a brain tumour.

Do get a vet check, good luck :)

Lindsay
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