Updates on Sadie's aggression.

[jrsygal37]

I'm sorry you are going through this. How old is Sadie and how old is Bentley? Assuming she was with you first, did she get along with him at first and how long after did it start? I'm sorry, I have not been on YT too much following the threads. Although, my situation is different then what is happening here I went through a similiar. My Jersey, out of the blue began attacking. Her attacks were mainly focosed on Lilly, but then they soon started with the others. We had her to the vet over and over and was told that she needed training and then it was that some dogs just don't like other dogs. It didn't make sense to me, since they grew up together playing and loving each other. Jersey was a strange puppy, always liking to be alone more then in with the others. Just certain behaviors I found strange and this was why we took her to the vet often to be checked. I had concerns from the beginning at 10 weeks of age, and should have listened better to what I was feeling. The aggression with Jersey started at about 16 months old. We finally came to a decision to try and rehome her without other dogs, and was set to work with a rescue in placing her with someone on their waiting list. Our neighbor who was great with animals, and had none had an interest in adopting Jersey. She has a 10 year old daughter and we decided to take walks with her and see how she did. The first night, her daughter had Jersey on the leash, Jersey turned and charged toward the little girl aggressively. I was in tears. During her aggression she would get a blank look in her eyes and if you tried to intrupt or stop it, she'd turn on you. It was getting very bad. The ending point was when she turned to grab the little girl. i took her back to the vet, but used another vet. Jersey was diagnosed right away, with an issue with a brain abnormalty and possible Liver Shunt. In between the incident and the vet visit, she also fell a couple of times, jsut fell over and started screaming in pain. This was a first. It came out of the blue. Ending, was that we were told we can go through thousands and never be able to cure or fix her. We were told the most humane thing to do would be to put her down. it was horrrible. We had just put our 10 year old (Our first Yorkie) down a year to the day ealier. Jersey, my husband got for me to help me through losing Newman and now we had to put her down. This is the first I have been able to talk about it without breaking down. As I look at her pictures over the 17 months we had her, I noticed or really my son noticed that Jersey's eyes changed. Right before we lost her, there is a picture of her and her eyes look dead. They do not look bright and vibrant as they had. It was tough, 17 months old. I don't know evne now for sure what happened, I know I spent months and months after on the internet looking for answers and crying not sure i did the right thing. Sometimes I'm still not sure, but I do believe through the reading that Jersey may have had Hydrocephalus, maybe through a trauma when she was young before we got her. She had classic symptoms that at the time i was not aware of, and maybe if I had been we could have prevented this and she'd still be her. I would exhaust all options and medical possiblities before making a decision. I'm sorry again you are going throug this. Elaine

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

She bites at his face, pulls out his hair, snarls and attacks him repeatedly until i pull her off him. he just sits or lays there completely submissive and yelps and cowers down. it's over nothing at all. it's usually when Bentley is waking up all sweetly, or he's cowering in the corner or he's frightened by something and she nails him. no blood but she has pulled out his hair. he yelps. it's never a flash fight. i have to pull her off of him each time and she still wants him. it's horrible. the worst part is it's not like she's growling or prowling towards him. she's always around him and then one min she just nails him and attacks.

Sound very much like my situation that I have. But eventually the one who was getting attacked (Brandi) started fighting back. That made it much worse and harder to separate them.

I have found that the aggressor is also triggered by excitement... which we have been working on for the past four weeks or so and she is getting better. She would attack Quincy who is just standing there barking at the sweeper. That is almost non existent now, still working on it!

Just try, try, try to nip it in the Budd... Try "Leash training" with the aggressor. Have her by your side at all times on a leash. That way you can be very aware of every move she makes. Correct her before she even gets a change to react ....... if you could do that for a few hours a day a couple of times a day I 'm sure you would see the beginnings of a change in her.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

the first time it ever happened i was bitten because i didn't know how to break up a dog fight the proper way. now i just pull her from behind her hips area to get her to stop. she doesn't listen to me hollar at them or clap my hands anymore. she ignores everything but biting his face off.

Very dangerous, they can still reach around and bite you doing it that way.

That dont work for me... plus my son has gotten bit trying to break them up just by trying to pick the little one up. So, I just grab one or both of them by the scruff of their neck and take the aggressor to the cage and put them on a time out.

[AbbysMom08]

So sorry you are going through this.
I don't have any suggestions as I have no experience with that type of situation.
I hope this gets better and I will keep you and your furbabies in my prayers.

[DvlshAngel985]

I'm so sorry Rachel! I hope you find a solution and bring back harmony to your home.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by jrsygal37

I'm sorry you are going through this. How old is Sadie and how old is Bentley? Assuming she was with you first, did she get along with him at first and how long after did it start? I'm sorry, I have not been on YT too much following the threads. Although, my situation is different then what is happening here I went through a similiar. My Jersey, out of the blue began attacking. Her attacks were mainly focosed on Lilly, but then they soon started with the others. We had her to the vet over and over and was told that she needed training and then it was that some dogs just don't like other dogs. It didn't make sense to me, since they grew up together playing and loving each other. Jersey was a strange puppy, always liking to be alone more then in with the others. Just certain behaviors I found strange and this was why we took her to the vet often to be checked. I had concerns from the beginning at 10 weeks of age, and should have listened better to what I was feeling. The aggression with Jersey started at about 16 months old. We finally came to a decision to try and rehome her without other dogs, and was set to work with a rescue in placing her with someone on their waiting list. Our neighbor who was great with animals, and had none had an interest in adopting Jersey. She has a 10 year old daughter and we decided to take walks with her and see how she did. The first night, her daughter had Jersey on the leash, Jersey turned and charged toward the little girl aggressively. I was in tears. During her aggression she would get a blank look in her eyes and if you tried to intrupt or stop it, she'd turn on you. It was getting very bad. The ending point was when she turned to grab the little girl. i took her back to the vet, but used another vet. Jersey was diagnosed right away, with an issue with a brain abnormalty and possible Liver Shunt. In between the incident and the vet visit, she also fell a couple of times, jsut fell over and started screaming in pain. This was a first. It came out of the blue. Ending, was that we were told we can go through thousands and never be able to cure or fix her. We were told the most humane thing to do would be to put her down. it was horrrible. We had just put our 10 year old (Our first Yorkie) down a year to the day ealier. Jersey, my husband got for me to help me through losing Newman and now we had to put her down. This is the first I have been able to talk about it without breaking down. As I look at her pictures over the 17 months we had her, I noticed or really my son noticed that Jersey's eyes changed. Right before we lost her, there is a picture of her and her eyes look dead. They do not look bright and vibrant as they had. It was tough, 17 months old. I don't know evne now for sure what happened, I know I spent months and months after on the internet looking for answers and crying not sure i did the right thing. Sometimes I'm still not sure, but I do believe through the reading that Jersey may have had Hydrocephalus, maybe through a trauma when she was young before we got her. She had classic symptoms that at the time i was not aware of, and maybe if I had been we could have prevented this and she'd still be her. I would exhaust all options and medical possiblities before making a decision. I'm sorry again you are going throug this. Elaine

What a story, i'm so sorry for what you went through. I have been researching that very disease as well as thyroid issues just in case and have found not a single other symptom of either to match her to one. It also started when I got pregnant so we're pretty sure it's hormone related. I had a lady suggest a pheremone collar which mimicks the mother's scents to calm puppies. Maybe having that on will help soothe her and mask the smells i am putting off to freak her out. Also thought about trying her thundershirt all day long to calm her, seems like with it on she's a happier dog. May start that today.


UPDATE: Both dogs slept in their own crates last night. Sadie was silent and I think slept okay and Bentley panted all night but didn't whine for once. He's the seperation anxiety dog so it's harder on him even with his crate literally right beside me. He made it to 4am and both got a drink and potty break and came back to my bed with me while DH went to work. They slept all morning with me.

It's not that i mind them in our bed, but it's nice to be able to snuggle each other for once without dogs in between. and it'll be helpful with nursing to have the dogs in their own "safe space" where they aren't woken up as much by our up and down for feedings.

Also have a few holds at the local library on introducing and preparing dogs for babies and other training books suggested. If you have any suggestions on great books let me know.

[dottiesyrky]

I too went thru every medical test when my little one became suddenly aggressive, but now I am sure it is probably due to our reaction to all the stress of moving house, some unknown trauma at the groomers, and/or his sudden eye disease etc etc. Our emotions do seem to affect dogs so much more than we know. Usually I am here 24/7 for him but while all the move was going on he did not get so much time. He is a 'needy' dog, probably due to his several homes before we adopted him, and does not like being ignored. Now post-op he has my undivided attention 24/7 and is happier with that, with very few signs of aggression!
I used the DAP collar and home diffuser together with the Thunder shirt, and both seemed to calm him. I can honestly say I do not know for certain what caused the aggressive moments nor what stops them???? It is interesting that you think it is hormonal, and it sure looks like the incidence of aggression coincided with your pregnancy onset.
As for sleeping, I keep my dog in a small flexible and very light foldable nylon 'crate' from Target (for $20) which is very portable. He sleeps most of the night in the crate by my bedside, but early around 4-5 am he gets lonely and I just lift the crate + him onto the bed and he is happy. (It easily fits between 2 people in a king bed) He really loves the crate and finds safety and comfort there. I do not like having him sleep on the bed directly as he may jump in the night and break something!
Good Luck with the pregnancy and with your furbabes.

[Harrysmum]

Because of your pregnancy - probably, yes.

But I really, really feel for you, as now is the time that you need peace and contentment within, for your unborn baby's sake.

I pray you resolve this quickly. Sally + Harry x

[Bentleys Momma]

So sorry to hear this. Will keep you all you in our thoughts and prayers. I cannot fathom how hard what you are going through is. I am sure you are devastated!

Best wishes and keep up posted.

[RachelandSadie]

Update: This morning Sadie really attacked him good and for once I kinda held back breaking them up to analyze it more. Bentley fought back big time. they both fought teeth baring and mostly just all noise and legs and movement. but i'm sure a few good bites too. i pulled Sadie back and held her away and bentley came close to sniff her and she lunged at him so i took her into time out in the bathroom to calm down. she's whining in there now and he's with me. maybe he needs a time out too if he's fighting too. the huge issue is after breakfast when it's time to go outside he cowers around his bowl for some stupid reason instead of being confident and just going outside like we used to. and she takes the time to throw her cheap shots at him.

this is really getting old fast. it's like 4-5 times a day and i'm sick of it. i hate these dog fights and i hate that i'm not good at controlling them. please more advice on stopping it.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

Update: This morning Sadie really attacked him good and for once I kinda held back breaking them up to analyze it more. Bentley fought back big time. they both fought teeth baring and mostly just all noise and legs and movement. but i'm sure a few good bites too. i pulled Sadie back and held her away and bentley came close to sniff her and she lunged at him so i took her into time out in the bathroom to calm down. she's whining in there now and he's with me. maybe he needs a time out too if he's fighting too. the huge issue is after breakfast when it's time to go outside he cowers around his bowl for some stupid reason instead of being confident and just going outside like we used to. and she takes the time to throw her cheap shots at him.

this is really getting old fast. it's like 4-5 times a day and i'm sick of it. i hate these dog fights and i hate that i'm not good at controlling them. please more advice on stopping it.

What about forcing Sadie down to the ground and making her lay in a submissive position instead of putting her in the bathroom? She probably feels you are playing favorites and she is becoming aggressive ("she is in the bathroom and he's with me").

I'll do a little research.

[gidget529]

Just a thought as I read your post, maybe Bentley is anticipating another attack so he starts to cower. Is there any way you could feed him in an x-pen of some kind by himself so he feels secure? I feed Gidget in her pen even though she is an only dog. At first I did it to help her learn pee pads in her new house. Now she asks to go in it to eat.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by gidget529

Just a thought as I read your post, maybe Bentley is anticipating another attack so he starts to cower. Is there any way you could feed him in an x-pen of some kind by himself so he feels secure? I feed Gidget in her pen even though she is an only dog. At first I did it to help her learn pee pads in her new house. Now she asks to go in it to eat.

yes going to start feeding them in their own spaces. seperate them all the time for food stuff. also going to keep Sadie on a tether leash so she has to mind all the time as well.

[AllDogBoots]

Rachel, you can do it. You just have to focus. If I can do it, you can do it. I'm dealing with different issues with my dogs but they both center around obedience. It now takes us 25 minutes to go out the back door because I'm making them sit patiently and wait. If they can't, they can't go out. I think that if you just set your mind to "this is what has to be done" then you can do it.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

Rachel, you can do it. You just have to focus. If I can do it, you can do it. I'm dealing with different issues with my dogs but they both center around obedience. It now takes us 25 minutes to go out the back door because I'm making them sit patiently and wait. If they can't, they can't go out. I think that if you just set your mind to "this is what has to be done" then you can do it.

i know i can. i just have to get these hormones out of my way. they are causing me to feel hopeless instead of just bucking it up and going for it. i'm going to try to have a new attitude and if the dogs are causing me stress they can sit in their crates. and if they relax and i relax we can enjoy it together. time to set more ground rules in my house and restore order and take back my dominance.