Sorry if this is a bit long - i hope someone can help.

We have two small dogs, both recently two years old, a spayed bitch and an entire dog.  We have had the dog since he was 10 weeks old and the bitch since she was 7 months. Both dogs get along famously, are well behaved and very loving.

The dog has always been wary of strangers coming into the house.....he backs away and takes a while before he comes over and sniffs the person, if they were to move too quickly or try to touch him he backs away before slowly coming forward again, he doesn't do this with EVERY new person, some people he loves immediately. After a short while though he is ok and is then fine. The bitch loves everyone and will immediately go say hello to anyone.

About two weeks ago both dogs were having their dinner and my daughter (age 13) came in through the door, touched the dog as she walked passed and said a quick hello to him, she has done this on hundreds of occasions and there has never been a problem, neither dog has ever shown signs of food aggresion however this time he let out a growl.......we took no notice thinking maybe he was just startled by someone touching while eating and let him carry on.

Forward a couple of days and my daughter went to stroke the dog who was laying across the arm of the sofa as he often does....as she touched him he again growled. I was now upset by this so after a few moments went over to my dog and said hello to him and went to stroke him.....he growled at me - I immediately told him off by saying a kind of growly "no" and also slightly moved him.....he put his head down and I walked off and left him. About 30 minutes later I called him over to me, he came and I said good boy and made a fuss of him.

All this has now escalated to him growling at me, my husband, my daughter and my grandson. My grandson aged 4 has always played happily with the dog.....he runs in the garden and the dog just runs by his side......he also used to hug the dog - 4 days ago he went to hug the dog as usual and i head an almighty snarl and the dog went for him.

Obviously this can't continue........I have no idea what we are doing wrong :(  the bitch remains as happy and friendy as usual.

It all came to  head yesterday as my dog who always sleeps under my feet while at the pc had a go at me when i tried to stroke him - he was awake, lying on his back and looking up at me when i did this......he got up and continued to growl.....i told him firmly to get into his crate, which he did.

Just to add he was taken to the vet for a full check over last week and nothing could be found..he was fine with the vet, no signs of aggresion at all.

Should I just call a behaviourist? i've had various suggestions from friends but non i'm too happy with, such as picking him up by the scruff off of his feet when he growls..........surely that will just frighten and hurt him? 

I hope someone can suggest the best thing to do....I just want my lovely little boy back but we are obviously doing something to make him wary of us, but what?

Definitely not scruffing him or lifting him off his feet, that will make things worse. Get a behaviourist in, one that uses positive methods, so they can see all the body language us normal people miss! Beyond that, I'm not sure - but the experts will be here soon I'm sure!

It could be he is in pain.  I would take him to the vets to be checked over.

He was taken to the vet and came away fine, I have also myself touched him all over when grooming him and he doesn't flinch or seem to be in pain of any sorts. he had a bath a couple of days ago and was fine with me, i used the clippers on him and scissors to trim round his eyes and all was well , no growling or aggresion.

Oh i see.....sorry i didn't notice you had already had him checked at the vets.
I would ask a Behavourist to come into the home to observe & take it from there.  Please do not try your friends suggestions, it could make him frightened & certainly will not help.

Not really any useful advice but while you are waiting to get hold of a behaviourist bear in mind what someone had as a signature, 'why bite when a growl will do', he is obviously not happy about something and is warning you. if you tell him not to growl he may go straight onto the next step and bite.
Chris

If this is sudden onset and I was sure nothing had happened like a child falling on the dog I would be wanting the vet to have another look. Checking for pain and eye sight also hearing. It seems this dog is unnerved by someone touching or threatening to touch him without him being prepared for it.
Has he changed in any other way, is he more or less noisy, is he more or less greedy, is he paying the other dog more or less attention. Have any of your neighbours changed or acquired a dog. If not health something must have caused this change and if you can pinpoint it you may be able to sort it.

Should I just call a behaviourist?....

My advice would be to call in a reputable professional - try here: http://www.apbc.org.uk/help/how but whatever you do, make sure the person is suitable qualified and uses modern, kind methods based on an understanding of how dogs learn and their normal behaviour :)

They will work with your vet if necessary and work to find the cause and the treatment. When you went to the vet, did he do any blood tests? Some vets will do what i call a "once over" but not do any further tests. Others will do blood tests and check for the more hidden health problems :)

Usually with an adult dog, a change in behaviour without obvious cause can mean a medical explanation.

I have tiny alarm bells ringing re. the hug from your son - I wonder if it's possible that he actually doesn't like/has never liked hugs, but is now, now he's maturing, able to show this by warning growls... if this is the case, the behaviourist will find this out and still be able to give a treatment programme for you :)

I feel for you as it must be worrying, what breed or cross is he if you don't mind me asking? By the way, don't tell him off for growling - better than a bite! It's just communication, and if you punish growling he may not growl any more but snap or bite instead :)

Meanwhile, avoid stroking/hugging etc until the answer is found.

Best wishes and please do let us know how you get on

Lindsay
x

Checking for pain and eye sight also hearing

I'd second that advice, particularly the eye sight ... it's surprising how a change in a dog's vision can change normal behaviour.

> it's surprising how a change in a dog's vision can change normal behaviour

How very, very true.

Over 40 years ago (have learned a bit more about dogs since), I had a dog that suddenly turned nasty.  The vet advised castration.  Yeah, I know now, but didn't then.  It was only after the castration that we found he was going blind.

I agree with all above but also his age at two yrs depending also on the breed is when they are maturing and sometimes try to push it a bit.

I have had boys in the past and once they reached 2 we saw a change although I note you also have a bitch ..at the time we had other male dogs.