My five year old male has become aggressive toward my teenage daughter - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Jasperjaxx · 05-06-2014, 05:42 PM

Hi everyone... I have been following this community since I adopted my Jasper at eight weeks old over five years ago. He has been a joy to our family, and it's because I was able to raise him using the valuable input from this site.

But the past two days he has been attacking my 16 year old daughter for seemingly no reason (at least on the surface). He has always had a bigger bond with both her and myself than my husband or our 12 year old son and 6 year old daughter. Now suddenly he just seems to have turned on her and both she and I are very troubled by this. We want to fix it, but haven't a clue what's going on with him. Since it's only her I am only presuming it's likely not any sort of health issue. He has not been neutered. The only other pet we have is a male cat. When he attacks her he doesn't just snap but actually bites and breaks the skin; and he also pants quite a bit which is uncharacteristic of him. I don't know I this is related but he's also been humping our cat. She reacts with fear which I'm sure doesn't help... He actually backs her into a corner... And she is very nervous around him after basically 36 hours of aggressive behavior which I'm certain he senses. I have read to place him on his back and sternly tell him no until he calms down but he really fights this. She carries around a water spray bottle when I'm not home to keep him at bay just to get to the bathroom.. I don't know if this is helping or hindering. I wonder if it's his male hormones and if I should consider getting him neutered even with his age. Even as I am typing this she is on our couch petrified to move and he is staring her down almost daring her to flinch. Meanwhile my other two children are jumping and playing and he isn't bothered by them at all.

I'm at my wits end and I would go be so much happier if none of us had to go another 36 hours of dealing with this behavior. Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

Rhetts_mama · 05-07-2014, 05:58 AM

Sudden behavioral changes always warrant a vet visit to rule out a physical cause. Even though it's only towards her, it could still be physical because he may feel safe to lash out at her or she may pick him up/pet him in a spot that gives him pain.

Once that has been ruled out, start looking for other things that may have triggered this about face. A change in hours/routines may be upsetting him. After ruling out everything else, go back to the basics with training. He appears to have decided that he is dominant over her and needs to learn that she is not a litter mate he can bully. Consider going back to obedience classes with her taking the lead in his training. Personally, I would also put away the spray bottle, it may antagonize him even more.

In the mean time, for both of their safety, keep them separate. If that means confining him to another room or penned area when they are both present, so be it. You can't let him hurt her and you can't let her be afraid of him.

Good luck.

megansmomma · 05-07-2014, 06:36 AM

I totally agree with Rhetta_mama and I'd also add that you need to get him under control when he's behaving this way and rolling him onto his back IS NOT THE WAY TO DO THIS! It will only cause more issues. Instead I think that you should keep him in a harness and leash at all times so that you are able to stop him quickly by either stepping on the leash or removing him from the situation without chasing him around. Additionally, I would probably keep him tethered to your side at all times and not allow him freedom. Please make that vet appointment ASAP. Good luck!

Jasperjaxx · 05-07-2014, 06:09 PM

Thank you both so much for the advice. We have a vet visit scheduled for tomorrow just to rule out any underlying physical or neurological causes of his behavioral issues.

On a more positive note things have tremendously calmed down today. The past two days she was wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt and sat out in the driveway talking to the neighborhood kids for a couple of hours; both of which were not necessarily "routine". After I read her the replies of advice we got she put the sweater in the top of her closet and stayed in the house this evening. Everything (for now anyway) seems to be back to normal with Jasper and he has been the lovable guy we are all accustomed to. This leads me to believe that this may be more of a dominant attitude towards her.

Nonetheless, I'm still keeping the appointment with the vet just to be sure he's otherwise; after we get the all clear on his health, if he shows any more signs of this dominance aggression we will head back to the days of obedience training.

Silver Lace · 05-08-2014, 11:18 AM

This is just an opinion of mine from something you said. You said your daughter was wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt for a couple of days and that is when this started. If I read this right I am wondering if there is a smell on the shirt that caused him to go after her. You said he was back to being his loving self after she put the sweatshirt away in a drawer. A possibility? I am sure you still need to see the vet.

Sukey · 05-08-2014, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Lace

This is just an opinion of mine from something you said. You said your daughter was wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt for a couple of days and that is when this started. If I read this right I am wondering if there is a smell on the shirt that caused him to go after her. You said he was back to being his loving self after she put the sweatshirt away in a drawer. A possibility? I am sure you still need to see the vet.

I was thinking this as well.
Hope you figure it out!

windwalker · 05-08-2014, 12:15 PM

Take it in small steps, if Vet finds no obvious cause. If its the sweat shirt, why, boyfriend ok with dog, boyfriend has pet that left scent on shirt, big floppy shirt, daughter break up a fight with cat. If they were/are bonded 5 years, its unusual, could be she made a sudden or scary move that dog snapped at and then had a subconscious fear around dog for a few days. Guessing he's a type "A", who does he listen too unquestioning? My guess is it was a quirk and went away but be watchful. I used to do a dominance thing with my Dobbies and Rotties, but would not advise this to most people as you can get into a biting situation if you don't convince him your the pack leader.

Rhetts_mama · 05-08-2014, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Lace

This is just an opinion of mine from something you said. You said your daughter was wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt for a couple of days and that is when this started. If I read this right I am wondering if there is a smell on the shirt that caused him to go after her. You said he was back to being his loving self after she put the sweatshirt away in a drawer. A possibility? I am sure you still need to see the vet.

I wondered that, too. Has your dog met the boyfriend? If so, how does he react around him? Any aggression, standoffish? Just remember that dogs can be outstanding judges of character...Not saying there is something wrong w/ the boyfriend. It's just another avenue to explore. Even something as simple as him being in close proximity to the 2 of them arguing might be enough for him to form a negative association with the boyfriend's scent.

Jasperjaxx · 05-08-2014, 02:49 PM

Well the vet told us he didn't see any signs of a neurological disorder or any other health issues. He did say we should seriously consider getting him neutered and told me that his age would would most likely help him tolerate the amnesia better.

I really am thinking that there was some sort of scent on that sweater that set him off or maybe she just looked different in it and he didn't recognize her... and she could very well have unknowingly spooked him and he was harboring a "grudge" for a ccouple of days. I don't know if it's a Yorkie tendency but he seems to have a better memory than any dog I've ever known. I think this weekend will break the sweater back out to test my theory, for now I am content with the calm. I will definitely keep y'all posted.

JuanRamos · 05-08-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasperjaxx

I really am thinking that there was some sort of scent on that sweater that set him off or maybe she just looked different in it and he didn't recognize her... and she could very well have unknowingly spooked him and he was harboring a "grudge" for a ccouple of days. I don't know if it's a Yorkie tendency but he seems to have a better memory than any dog I've ever known. I think this weekend will break the sweater back out to test my theory, for now I am content with the calm. I will definitely keep y'all posted.

Does her boyfriend have a male dog? I've noticed that sometimes others dogs would approach me to sniff my clothes if I got the scent of my dogs on them, but I've yet to see one act aggressive towards me.

Back when she was a puppy, my golden once got scared when I arrived home with a different sweater after a long trip. She cried and ran around before realizing that it was just me. Thankfully it was an incident that didn't happen again.

Verbena · 05-09-2014, 07:32 PM

Has the boyfriend been around jasper ?

05-06-2014, 05:42 PM	#1
Jasperjaxx YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alexandria, LA United States Posts: 3	My five year old male has become aggressive toward my teenage daughter Hi everyone... I have been following this community since I adopted my Jasper at eight weeks old over five years ago. He has been a joy to our family, and it's because I was able to raise him using the valuable input from this site. But the past two days he has been attacking my 16 year old daughter for seemingly no reason (at least on the surface). He has always had a bigger bond with both her and myself than my husband or our 12 year old son and 6 year old daughter. Now suddenly he just seems to have turned on her and both she and I are very troubled by this. We want to fix it, but haven't a clue what's going on with him. Since it's only her I am only presuming it's likely not any sort of health issue. He has not been neutered. The only other pet we have is a male cat. When he attacks her he doesn't just snap but actually bites and breaks the skin; and he also pants quite a bit which is uncharacteristic of him. I don't know I this is related but he's also been humping our cat. She reacts with fear which I'm sure doesn't help... He actually backs her into a corner... And she is very nervous around him after basically 36 hours of aggressive behavior which I'm certain he senses. I have read to place him on his back and sternly tell him no until he calms down but he really fights this. She carries around a water spray bottle when I'm not home to keep him at bay just to get to the bathroom.. I don't know if this is helping or hindering. I wonder if it's his male hormones and if I should consider getting him neutered even with his age. Even as I am typing this she is on our couch petrified to move and he is staring her down almost daring her to flinch. Meanwhile my other two children are jumping and playing and he isn't bothered by them at all. I'm at my wits end and I would go be so much happier if none of us had to go another 36 hours of dealing with this behavior. Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

05-07-2014, 05:58 AM	#2
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	Sudden behavioral changes always warrant a vet visit to rule out a physical cause. Even though it's only towards her, it could still be physical because he may feel safe to lash out at her or she may pick him up/pet him in a spot that gives him pain. Once that has been ruled out, start looking for other things that may have triggered this about face. A change in hours/routines may be upsetting him. After ruling out everything else, go back to the basics with training. He appears to have decided that he is dominant over her and needs to learn that she is not a litter mate he can bully. Consider going back to obedience classes with her taking the lead in his training. Personally, I would also put away the spray bottle, it may antagonize him even more. In the mean time, for both of their safety, keep them separate. If that means confining him to another room or penned area when they are both present, so be it. You can't let him hurt her and you can't let her be afraid of him. Good luck. __________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.

05-07-2014, 06:36 AM	#3
megansmomma Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL Posts: 12,235	I totally agree with Rhetta_mama and I'd also add that you need to get him under control when he's behaving this way and rolling him onto his back IS NOT THE WAY TO DO THIS! It will only cause more issues. Instead I think that you should keep him in a harness and leash at all times so that you are able to stop him quickly by either stepping on the leash or removing him from the situation without chasing him around. Additionally, I would probably keep him tethered to your side at all times and not allow him freedom. Please make that vet appointment ASAP. Good luck! __________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

05-09-2014, 07:32 PM	#11
Verbena Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: with my flying monkeys Posts: 15,620 Blog Entries: 7	Has the boyfriend been around jasper ? __________________ Teri . . . Galen Jameson Frazier Seraphina Luna Rosencrantz, Saber Tooth Tiger, Pussy Willow Pandora Guildenstern

05-07-2014, 06:09 PM	#4
Jasperjaxx YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alexandria, LA United States Posts: 3	Thank you both so much for the advice. We have a vet visit scheduled for tomorrow just to rule out any underlying physical or neurological causes of his behavioral issues. On a more positive note things have tremendously calmed down today. The past two days she was wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt and sat out in the driveway talking to the neighborhood kids for a couple of hours; both of which were not necessarily "routine". After I read her the replies of advice we got she put the sweater in the top of her closet and stayed in the house this evening. Everything (for now anyway) seems to be back to normal with Jasper and he has been the lovable guy we are all accustomed to. This leads me to believe that this may be more of a dominant attitude towards her. Nonetheless, I'm still keeping the appointment with the vet just to be sure he's otherwise; after we get the all clear on his health, if he shows any more signs of this dominance aggression we will head back to the days of obedience training.

05-08-2014, 11:18 AM	#5
Silver Lace YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Hampton,Virginia Posts: 683	This is just an opinion of mine from something you said. You said your daughter was wearing her boyfriend's sweatshirt for a couple of days and that is when this started. If I read this right I am wondering if there is a smell on the shirt that caused him to go after her. You said he was back to being his loving self after she put the sweatshirt away in a drawer. A possibility? I am sure you still need to see the vet.

05-08-2014, 12:15 PM	#7
windwalker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Tucson,AZ Posts: 244	Take it in small steps, if Vet finds no obvious cause. If its the sweat shirt, why, boyfriend ok with dog, boyfriend has pet that left scent on shirt, big floppy shirt, daughter break up a fight with cat. If they were/are bonded 5 years, its unusual, could be she made a sudden or scary move that dog snapped at and then had a subconscious fear around dog for a few days. Guessing he's a type "A", who does he listen too unquestioning? My guess is it was a quirk and went away but be watchful. I used to do a dominance thing with my Dobbies and Rotties, but would not advise this to most people as you can get into a biting situation if you don't convince him your the pack leader.

05-08-2014, 02:49 PM	#9
Jasperjaxx YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2014 Location: Alexandria, LA United States Posts: 3	Well the vet told us he didn't see any signs of a neurological disorder or any other health issues. He did say we should seriously consider getting him neutered and told me that his age would would most likely help him tolerate the amnesia better. I really am thinking that there was some sort of scent on that sweater that set him off or maybe she just looked different in it and he didn't recognize her... and she could very well have unknowingly spooked him and he was harboring a "grudge" for a ccouple of days. I don't know if it's a Yorkie tendency but he seems to have a better memory than any dog I've ever known. I think this weekend will break the sweater back out to test my theory, for now I am content with the calm. I will definitely keep y'all posted.