Aggression Problems

[mybradypup]

Our 1 1/2 year old male Brady (15 lbs) has suddenly become aggressive towards other dogs including our 2 year old male Tanner (6.5 lbs). His aggression towards Tanner is intermittent at best as they are best friends one minute and the next Brady is attacking Tanner. Most of these attacks occur during play time. We are very careful when playing to keep their paths from crossing as we've had incidents in the past with one dog accidentally bumping another and setting off a fight. When Brady attacks he charges at Tanner from some distance out of nowhere.

Our vet had advised us to let them work it out on their own and keep a water bottle handy to break it up if it goes too far. Last night Brady attacked Tanner and we allowed them to go at it for a bit. However, when Tanner escaped and tried to run for cover Brady pursued him behind the couch and continued attacking him. He was not responding to the water at all - even when I just dumped it on him. I could hear Tanner screaming and we could not get Brady to relent. Eventually, after they took out a lamp that was on an end table they separated long enough for us to get ahold of one of them. Tanner is at the vet now getting checked out - He had a puncture mark on his forehead and his eye had blood in it and was all gunky this morning.

In addition to Tanner, I was told he tried to go after a standard poodle at the groomer last week, and I've seen him try to go after our friends' pomeranian and another friend's schnoodle.

I'm very concerned. I'm not sure what is causing this. I will confess that Brady very rarely gets walks, which I'm guessing has contributed to the problem. I've been dealing with a lot of medical problems the last 6 months and it has just slipped through the cracks. We've also been letting him sleep on the bed more often than not now that it's gotten cold. Additionally, we just found out I'm about 8 weeks pregnant and I wonder if he could be picking up on hormonal changes in me.

We are supposed to go visit my family this weekend and we had planned to take the dogs with us, but right now I don't know if I can trust Brady to be around my parents' two dogs which is where we will be staying. If I board him it is going to have to be at the vet where they keep them in wire cages all day b/c I don't trust him to board at the groomer where we usually board after last week's incident. I also worry if we'll be able to trust Brady around a baby come June.

I know it's not fair to Tanner to keep getting beat up on by Brady - this is the 2nd time in 3 weeks we've had to take Tanner into the vet b/c of injuries (though none have been too serious).

We have had some issues in the past with Brady and Tanner. We got Brady as a puppy from a friend of the family who is a breeder. Tanner didn't come to us until ~3 months later - he had been abused previously. They did go through a period of similar fights before, but they worked out the pecking order and we didn't have any more issues.

I really don't know what to do with Brady. I feel like I'm left deciding which dog to find a new home for.

Is there anything I can do to try and regain control of the situation? We've been through obedience training with both dogs already....

[Teresa Ford]

Hi, you have a lot going on. If you can do it, I recommend getting an in home visit from a trainer. He/ she can observe what triggers the behavior. And show you what to do.
Here are a few things that may help.
First get your dog off your bed and on the floor.
I would not spray water on a dog who was acting aggressive.
Touch is usually needed to break confrontational aggression. Stomp, clap, toss a rolled up ball of socks at the charging dog, while saying ENOUGH, or NO, No, No!
If the aggressive dog has the other dog down or is biting, pull them apart by the back legs. If you are not afraid of getting bit and can move very fast, you can grab the biting dog by the scruff of the neck and lift them straight up in the air. (We are talking about small Yorkies here, not a big Pitty or Rottie).
Time outs may help.
Start practicing Nothing in life is free ( you can google it).
Lastly you can muzzle your aggressive dog until you get the problem solved.
AGAIN I strongly suggest hiring an in home trainer. On line instructions, Books, videos are not the same as a hands on trainer.

[YorkieMother]

Well since I did most of my rehab work on my yorkie without the aid of a trainer and itmwas books and a couple of seminars I went I disagree.sometimes there just is not anyone around thatncan help or there is not the money or you run into dorks and I have meet more then my share that take over and do not let you work with your own dog to build the relationship needed. 9 years in on on old gal and I do have a new full time puo in house no problem.

I would not allow them to be together one out while the other is in a diffenrt room or kenneled and swap them.they may just need a break from one another and I look into Dr Mcconnlls and londons book on dealing with multiple dogs in the home Called feeling out numbered.

I would not deal with a trainer before seeing a vet with behavior as they are the only ones in the states allowed to diagnose and treat aggression by law.

JLC

[Evenflo09]

In my opinion, the aggressive dog is dealing with some insecurity issues. You said something happened recently at the groomers? Does the aggressive dog dislike going to the groomers? While I agree that a trainer can help, sometimes we cannot financially afford this option. I would definately take the dog to the vet and rule out any physical problems first. Also, are both dogs neutered? This can SOMETIMES improve their behavior, although it can take up to a couple months for them to calm down, and it doesn't always help. There is also the possiblity that there is a female dog in heat somewhere within your vicinity. This always makes an unneutered male become more aggressive with other males and even females. There are so many reasons this could be happening, you most likely will have to rule them out 1 by 1. If your looking for good reading material, check out books by Cesar Milan. I firmly agree with his training methods and understanding of dog behavior. Definately, watch the two of them when they are together, and whoever told you to let them work it out by themselves? In my experience of over 25 years of living with dogs, It will only get worse if allowed to keep going on, and that's something I wouldn't want with a new baby on the way.

[Evenflo09]

Oh, and about your trip this weekend. I don't know if I would take him if he is acting this aggressive, to a home where there are larger dogs. He might start a fight that he can't finish, and you will have a miserable time having to watch him every minute. Your family may be miserable as well. If you do have to take him, I would keep him crated more time than let loose, or in a room where no accidents can happen with the other pets. A trip to the doggie ER wouldn't be a nice visit either.

[mybradypup]

Thanks everyone! After having a long talk with a different vet at our clinic (one I more highly regard than the one who told us to let them work it out) the situation seems to be a bit better.

The aggressive dog is most likely suffering from some insecurity issues as someone suggested. Both dogs are neutered, but she said as they approach 2yo there are still hormonal changes in them that can make them a little nuts. Since he's also picking up on hormonal changes in me he's going through a lot right now. She said from the sound of it because our other dog has gotten a lot more clingy since I've been pregnant - Brady is probably trying to protect me. Which I can see

We have been reinforcing our dominance over them and the "pecking order" in the house quite a bit lately. Nobody gets on the furniture unless they are specifically invited, sleeping in their kennels, etc. We've always made them sit and stay before entering or exiting the house as well as before receiving meals & treats (plus an additional skill usually for food). We also put them in separate rooms for meals now. Anytime Tanner gets attention we make sure to give Brady attention too.

It seems to have made a difference. Brady (dominant) has become much more submissive/obedient to us and any issues that have started we've been able to break up with verbal commands such as "enough" "sit" and "leave it".

As for the groomer - they have both always loved the groomer. We use a groomer that allows the dogs to free play, and Brady has never had a problem before. They went to the groomer a week and a half ago again and we were told that Brady did have an issue with a puppy, but when we asked for more info they said the puppy had been in everybody's face all day and needed to be knocked down a notch or two anyway and that there hadn't been any injuries.

[mybradypup]

I had a nice long post typed out, but I'm not sure what happened.

Long story short, as was suggested above Brady has been dealing with some insecurity issues which we've resolved by reinforcing the "pecking order" in our house.

I also wanted to add that we did take them to my parents' house and had very minor issues. Mainly between their male who needs to be the center of attention ALL the time and our dominant - Brady. Now Brady is no standard Yorkie, he's 15 lbs and probably bigger than both my parents' shih-tzu's so him starting something he couldn't finish wasn't a concern.