HAd an email from one of my owners, can any one give me some good advice to give to them,
Billy is 2 and half years old and has been castrated and been round dogs cats and people since 8 weeks old

We've been having problems with Billy with aggresion towards people, the first incident was finishing a lovely walk in Buchan Park.  Billy was back on the lead, heading to the car park when a guy in combat trousers with a hard hat and ear protectors on walk past us and Billy nipped the back of the guys leg, ripping his trousers.  He did this with no warning, growl, bark etc. 
We sort advice from the vet to see how the situation was to be handled, luckily the guy was very nice about it but the vet was concerned that firstly that this had happened but secondly that Billy gave no warning to this behaviour.  We were advised to keep him muzzled when out on walks.
This morning we have had a guy come round to fit a digital ariel in the attic, Billy has taken an instant dislike to him (the guy has his own dogs) and has tried to bite him several times, even though he will take treats off of him. 
Mum is very concerned and deeply unhappy that this is happening, even in our own home and is even considering having puting Billy to sleep as we feel this cannot go on and is becoming dangerous. 
We thought we'd email you to see if you have any suggestions?

I am sorry, I have no advice and it seems nobody on here is willing to offer an opinion! That too is quite worrying.
It seems like they have to speak to the vet.
I hope things turn out okay...
Karen

Perhaps you could recommend that they ask their vet for referral to a reputable behaviourist?

Until such time as they can get a proper assessment of this behaviour, they need to manage Billy (eg put him behind a stairgate when workmen come to the house), so that he is not given the opportunity to nip anyone.  I don't understand why, if they saw that Billy had taken an instant dislike to the man fitting the aerial, they allowed him to have several goes at biting the poor chap!

Hi,

I would be careful of getting visitors he is clearly uncomfortable around or afraid of to feed him treats for two reasons, firstly, the food may distract him from the fear of the person but once the treats are gone the dog is up close to the person and the distraction of the food isn't there any more he is more likely to nip. Also if the stranger is feeding him whilst he is clearly uncomfortable it may actually just reinforce that he is feeling the right way and capture the emotional state that he is in.  It may be better for your mum to keep him at a distance form the person so he feels relaxed and safe and feed him treats from there, so that he begins to associate the presence of strangers with good things.  I would also suggest that a check over at the vets and a referal to a behaviourist would be the best way to go as your Mum may be missing warning signs that someone else could point out and it is always helpful for someone experienced to meet and access the dog.

Karen

Oh my goodness they are a bit quick to have him pts. :-(

If a dog of good character after 2 and a half years suddenly started nipping and biting people, are they not looking into a medical reason for this? Is it just men that he is going for? Have his eyes been checked?

A man all in combats with ear muffs may have looked like a strange creature to him, the attempeted biting of the ariel man may be territorial, does your friend have any men in the house the dog can relate to? Has he only recently been castrated a lack of testosterone can sometimes affect confidence, perhaps this is causing him to react in this way. Can he not be refered to a behaviourist to find out what is causing this and if it can be helped firstly.

And is it not liveable with?  I am very conflicting myself when it comes to dogs showing aggression some are workable with and some need to be pts before they cause real harm. A whippet at this early stage I personally would work with. Muzzle when out, and put behind a dog gate when the owner has company, that is workable for a breed like a whippet, and call in a behaviourist to try to find out the reasons behind this, he is certainly taking his other known name of snapdog to the limits!

Many people take on greyhounds, (I know not whippets but near enough) who are ex-racers some of whom may nip and bite if not muzzled and they live perfectly happy lives, I know it is worrying for the owner and if she has a child then the worry is a real one, but I think she can work with this otherwise.

thanks very much for you replies had this email from them today

Obvously we would not doing anything rash as this is totally out of character with Billy.  We will of course keep you posted with the situation.  Billy is and has always been the most sweetest dog and we love him to bits, which makes it so difficult.  We are sorry if we worried you, we will of course listen to any ideas that would help

I would make sure Billy was muzzled when out and obviously kept under close control if any 'strangers' visit. I think he was probally spooked by the  hard hat and ear defenders. It may be worth finding out from the owners if Billy had at any time in the past had a fright from a workman, either loud bangs, shouting etc when out. What seems to us as nothing can be very unsettling for a dog. One of my puppy owners had problems with bin men and their dog. It transpired that when the bin men were emptying the bins one day and she was out with him a bin fell off the back of the truck, the bin man shouted at the driver, the dog was a little perplexed at the time but nothing to mention. The next time he saw a bin man he went ballistic, barking, growling etc. They finally overcame this after exposing him in a controlled manner to bin men, now he walks past without a bakwards glance.

I think something has happened in Billy's past that they need to look back on and get the advice of a behaviourist to help them and Billy overcome his fear.

Good luck with him