Hi all,

I just wanted a bit of reassurance here....

I've posted previously posted about Roxy growling at someone about 6 months ago - since it was a kid we took steps to make her feel happier around children (borrowed the neighbours kids to approach her slowly with lovely treats etc) She's walked round the park where there are children etc.

I've also posted about her recent attack by a dog whilst on her harness, and there appeared to be no immediate problem - happy round her doggie friends around the park etc.

However it's becomming increasingly clear that there's an issue when on lead. She's become timid and skittish around people a where a few weeks ago she'd happily let anyone approach her with a big grin and a wiggly bum!! Two people have approached her recently and she's growled very convincingly - at one point hidden behind me and another lunged forward. :( :( . With other people she's absolutely fine.

In what seems the last 2-3 walks she's on two occassions become almost uncontrolable when she spotted another dog - whether the dog is on or off lead - growling and lunging. She has off lead playtime with dogs every day, but sometimes we have to keep her on lead where other people have thiers on lead (there are a few rescues being rehabilitated and need thier space). She seems to read uninterested dogs quite well and is OK, but if the dog looks at her she goes nuts.

Finally this morning on an unusual walk (need to find a good long road walk for when Roxy's in season - which could be any day really) she growled at someone - totally unprovoked - who simply was walking towards us. I'm very worried. I mentioned the above (not about today) to the Vet last week who said she'd get some info for me for the next visit (Friday). I know we're going to have to go down the route of a behavourist, but will she get over this? Off lead she's exactly the same, very confident and playful around other dogs and people, so is this a blip and will my lovely confident puppy come back. (she's 15 months now BTW).

I was talking to a black lab owner the other day, and asked if I could stroke the dog and he was so lovely and friendly it just marked at just how different Roxy has become so very quickly. :(

We're due to start classes again on Sunday (if no season obviously) - and have discussed her nervousness with the lady who runs the class and she seems happy to let her come along to observe her behaviour. Do you think this would be OK?

Thanks all for even getting to the end of this looong post.

Karen

Hello Karen

I think a nasty incident (sorry, didn't see the thread about her recent attack, but I'm guessing it was nasty!) can really shake a dog up and temporarily put them into a higher state of anxiety, from which it may take some time to come back down.  Situations similar in some way to that of the attack could give rise to defensive reactions but hopefully a behaviourist can help you work on this.

Also, I don't have personal experience of it, but perhaps someone else could say whether anxiety levels in a bitch might rise immediately prior to a season?  My bitch had a dramatic rise in anxiety during a phantom pregnancy, so a hormonal link must be a possibility.

If Roxy is happy back in class, then it could be a good source of positive experiences around other dogs.  However, there is a chance that she may growl and lunge - you will need to have a plan for this eventuality - a class full of other on-lead dogs might be too much at the moment.

>will she get over this?<

You are concerned, taking responsibility, prepared to seek advice and willing to invest time in your dog.  I'd say those were the best possible signs for recovery!

Your comment about her possibly coming into season struck a chord with me, my bitch was previously friendly until a couple of days before her season she growled and barked at someone wh approached. Lo and behold it was caused by her coming into season a few days later. Even though she has now been spayed she still has mood swings around the time that she would be due in season. She too has issues on lead, shes now bad off lead, although her eyesight is not brilliant so she can be a little vocal sometimes.

I have a male dog and he isnt good whilst on the lead unless it is one of the dogs he has met many many times...... 

If he is on his lead and a dog approaches on lead I have to make sure I put enough distance between them.  If it is an off lead dog I have two choices either let mine off the lead too or get the owner to call their dog away...

Maxine

i think with her it all the do with homones.bitches can with tempemental be the season dueing then false pegencanys.

so the lead is another issues when she unbalance with this homones.

would you not considere spaying her

yes - we're having her spayed mid way through the next cycle.

TBH I didn't know they could get so moody....:(

You are not the only one having these 'aggression' problems, and much as I wish I wasn't in the same boat I am afraid I am :-(  Tansy was fine when she was a pup, jumping up at people etc as they do until she learned not to. Coming up to her first season she became scared of everything ...bin bags, shopping trolleys...you name it. She seemed to be getting better, but still shied away from people. A few weeks back, two shihtsus (spelling?) jumped over their low wall and attacked her.Tansy was on lead on a busy major road, so not alot I could do (she is only a little'un herself). The owner was frantic and useless, but between us we managed to avert bloodshed. She has been 'had a go at' by off-lead alsations on the beach too, on separate occasions.
Last week I took her to the beach and a mongrel came over, tail wagging. Suddenly I heard snarling and growling and thought 'Not again!!', but it was Tansy! She has since tried to nip a joggers ankle, and acts in a threatening manner to other dogs on lead when road walking. She will not allow people near her and is petrified of children for some reason. I am at my wits end frankly, and I sympathise with you. Dogs eh?

It sounded like Tansy has had a rough time of it.....no wonder she's reacting...

I was talking to someone the other day they pointed out that it's all part of dog ownership. I get all the joy and fun and love from Roxy but sometimes it's not easy and fixing these problems is as important as something like feeding her etc....

Just a quickie, some bitches can become very peculiar when due in season but this seems to be more than that though. Get a good behaviourist in if you can and good luck with your girl