 I need advice badly.
I apologize in advance for the length of this.
I have three dogs. Spike 8 (Yorkie) – Cosmo 3 (Boston Mix)- Bella 7 months (Yorkiepoo). In August my dear Nala 5 (Yorkie) died. Spike and Nala were best friends. They really adored each other. When we brought Cosmo in Nala took the role of mother to Cosmo, she adored her. Spike did not share the sentiment. Initially he chose to ignore Cosmo, he would not even look at her. Eventually he would assert himself as the leader from time to time only when Cosmo was involved. Sometimes he would not allow her to eat or drink. He would just stand near the dish and glare at her. After some time he seemed to get used to having her around.
After Nala died in August my daughter brought Bella home to me. Almost immediately Spike my handsome sweet Spike began getting aggressive. First he started going after Cosmo with food, and then toys and bones. Sometimes he just stares at Cosmo as if to tell her “don’t move a muscle”. Poor Cosmo starts to tremble and cry. She is twice his size and terrified of him. At the same time that all this was transpiring my daughter and her husband moved in with us until their house was finished being built. Spike adores my son-in-law and had been spending weekends and vacations at their apartment before they moved in with us. Spike technically belongs to my daughter but had always lived with my family, she got him before she was married 2 years ago.
Now 6 months have passed, my daughter has moved into her own home and Spike is really becoming a problem. My daughter has taken him to live with her and he seems very happy there. We all (skin and fur) get together every Sunday usually at my house. This past Sunday (Superbowl) we went to her house and it was awful! Spike attacked Bella when she walked past the coffee table. We think it was because of all the food on the table. Then he attacked Cosmo as my daughter was petting her. He goes right at their faces. I am so very upset, the attacks are getting more and more vicious and I am fearful that someone is really going to get hurt. It is so awful because the two girls love Spike and are so excited to see him when they have been apart. He too acts like he is happy to see them and then without warning it's like something inside him just snaps.
I am really a wreck because my daughter is a teacher and a softball coach and next month Spike is supposed to come back to stay with me during the week so that he will not be alone all day while they are at work. I am getting sick with worry and don’t know what to do. i don't want him to be alone for so many hours but then I have to worry about his behavior when he is at my house.
I do think part of this is that he is acting out because of all the changes that have taken place over the past few months.
I hope I haven’t jumped around too much but I trying not to leave anything out.
Help!!!
~Debbie |