hi everyone, i have 2 rotweillers, one female-6yrs old (a rescue dog we have had for 1 year) and a male-approx. 10 yrs(a resuce as well that we have had for 6 years). Both are amazing lovey loving gentle, easy going rotties. But, as the male, bruno, has gotten older, he has gotten more temptermental. He NEVER showed any aggression what so ever in any circumstances. He has been around children, elderly, well socialized with other dogs, puppies, etc. No problems what so ever. He has always allowed us to brush his coat daily. Both my husband and I do this. He sheds year round, so we try to maintain a healthy coat for him. But, lately, he doesn't like it at all. He will not allow my husband to do it at all, not even one stroke with the comb. He does let me do it, and sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes for 1 minute. The problem is, he used to give a little growl when he has had enough, and I would stop. Lately, he gets downright nasty. I start ok..he sits there very relaxed...then even lies down and all of a sudden out of the blue he whips his head around  AS IF to bite me , but he doesn't got to bite, its just a warning i know., and angrily snarls, barks and growls at me. It scared the crap out of me!!. I am not sure what the problem is.  He is used to me doing this, it was never a problem before. He just got his yearly check up from the vet, and he is healthy, no problems whatsoever.

Is it just that he is getting older, and not as tolerant? I can't be hurting him when i comb him, i am very very gently and slow in my actions. He does have a few skin tags/nubs on his skin that we have had the vet look at several times because they worried us, but she says they're nothing and don't seem to bother him. Do you think they could be bugging him now, all of a sudden?

and does anyone have any suggestions on how we can do this, without worrying bout his reaction. ? This is so absolutely unlike him!!!

thanks for any help anyone can offer
pattsi

I would take him to the vets and tell them all you've told us, take a print out if you need to.  Changes like this could have a medical cause and the vets is the best place to find out ;)  If it is the skin tags etc causing it perhaps using a rubber hound glove would be more comfortable for him, but best get him checked by a vet first  ;)

Regards
Dill

If it makes you feel any better our Rottie was a little like this when he came to live with us, except that he didn't like being touched at all !
Our first port of call like Dill said was to take him to the vets, i knew there was something not quite right with him & it seemed to me that his problems lay with his back. He had full spinal xrays which didnt show a thing up ! So with the vets permission i took him to a chiroprator & we havent looked back, he is an absolutely wonderful teddy.
I'm not suggesting in anyway that this is what is happening with your boy.
It does sound as though he's finding it uncomfortable in some way, if he's been enjoying it so much in the past. I'd take him to the vets too.
Good luck

It sounds as if he's hurting somewhere - maybe he's pulled a muscle? How does he react when you groom him with a brush or something for short-coated dogs? It could be that a comb hurts him.