hi everyone wondering if anyone had any ideas.ive got a 3 and a half year old collie springer cross breed who in the last few months has undergone a serious personality change. he grows at our youngest daughter(20 months old) whenever she goes near him also growls at our 7 year old son but not as badly. also when he starts he will growl at me and my misses when we stroke him he will even be on his back all submissive and when stroking his belly he growls like mad. took him to vets couldnt find anything pyhsically wrong with him. she recommended some form of pherome release plug in to calm him down but im not happy as would like to get to why he has just suddenly turned like this. it started about a month before we moved and has got worse since we moved into our new home. we are considering going to a dog behiourist to get him checked out. also have just recently found out that collies arent the best dogs with small children due to the eye contact thing and was wondering if this is the catalyst in all our troubles. help!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hallo

A sudden change in personality should be checked out by a vet, which you have sensibly done. Can i ask, did she actually give him a thorough check, for example take blood tests, or just give him a quick once over? As he really needs some in-depth checking just to make sure as several phusical conditions can cause aggression, even to different people.

It could also be that your youngest child is more active and the dog is stressed - what happens at home, are the kids constantly trying to play or stroke, or do they leave the dog alone?

It's strange that he is on his back (does he do that for a reason?) and growls when you stroke him - this indicates much conflictn within him which does need to be addressed. He sounds frightend, could that be possible?

I don't believe eye contact would be the problem so much as body language in general, and young children not necessarily understanding purely because they are young. Yes, the DAP is meant to be good, not had experience of it myself but some have on here and feel it helps, but if the problem is not due to health problem, then i agree, get in a good and reputable behaviourist - your vet may be able to refer you to one.

lindsay

the kids do generally leave him alone.and i think the vet did give him a good check did his hips legs etc. the dog is very subbmissive to me he will cower and everything if you didnt know you think he was shit scarred of me but i have never hit him once he has always just been like that with me.
earlier on today we were letting our kids feed him scraps after dinner and hes fine with them then the youngest stroked him and he really showed his teeth at here.
we really need to get this sorted as with little kids its really worrying.
he has only just gone like this in the last few months and dont know why!!!!!!!!

There are many medical problems which can cause behavioural problems - not least thyroid malfunction which can only be dignosed by a comphrensive blood test. He obviously feels very vulnerable - vulnerable enough to risk challenging his 'family' - I own a bitch of the same cross breeds - and while she can be 'feisty' for an 11 year old dog - the only person she has ever bitten is my oldest son - and that was when he picked her up when she had a broken elbow :( Please see if your vet can refer you to a UKRCB, APBC or APDT member with an interest in behavioural issues. It would be irresponsible to advise (or to take advise) on the 'net with no view of the dog and the circumstances......