Hi, all! I wonder if anyone can give me advice for a friend of mine (she can't seem to find the champdog site on the web!!)
She has a little 6 month old puppy who's a Yorkie/Westie cross and is absolutely adorable and Mikey's best friend.
However, though he's sweet and loving 90% of the time, recently he's become super-aggressive towards certain people and dogs. Whilst he plays with little dogs like Mikey brilliantly, he saw a German pointer puppy recently and before we could do anything, started snarling and going for the other dog who hadn't done anything aggressive and wasn't even near him. Luckily this pointer hasn't gone for him yet.
He also suddenly snarls and lunges for the odd human he doesn't like the look of in the street when he's on his lead and always makes a bee line for cyclists, trying to snap at their wheels etc..
My friend is very worried - she's endlessly training him - he's been to classes and she's trying to adhere to Jan Fennell's methods but as she has 2 kids, I told her to get some advice before he turns on them.
I cuddled him the other day and made the stupid mistake of putting my face near his which I can safely do with my gentle Mikey and he tried to bite my face and did his snarling bit. He's normally very affectionate with me and looks on me and Mikey as part of his pack.
Presumably this aggression is simply fear but what can my friend do about it? She tries to distract him with treats etc before the problem arises but it still happens before she has time to control him.
And is she right to worry? Or is it normal terrier puppy behaviour?
I agree with her that sometimes people expect their dogs to be too perfect but what worries me is if the problem gets worse and he goes for one of her children one day - he's terribly affectionate but is inclined to turn suddenly and we're really not sure why.
Also the other night he woke her up crying and had wet his bed - he drinks copiously every day so I wondered if it was partly a health problem and told her to see a vet..
As I don't know terriers, I'd be grateful if anyone could pass on some useful advice for me to give her! I think she's terribly worried she might have to find him another home or something as he's a darling and we all adore him!
Thanks!
Alison

Before anything else , I would take him to the vet and get him checked over to make sure there is nothing physically wrong that could cause him to suddenly *snap*

Melody :)

Thanks, Melody! I've already told her I think it best to get a check up at the vet... if it were me, I'd have been there like a shot! Her trouble is she gets little or no support from her partner who doesn't like dogs and she has a full schedule with work, kids etc..
I might offer to take her and charlie...
alison xx