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Rocky suddenly biting out of the blue Hi, last night I was reading the paper on my bed and out of the blue my yorkie, Rocky, jumped up and bit me on the upper arm. I was not doing anything to provoke this. His food was near him but I was nowhere near it and he was not eating. I was just reading the paper. My new dog, Gigi, was on the other side of me but nowhere near him. He is 15 years old, blind and deaf. I have no clue what provoked this. This is the third time in recent weeks that he has done this. I am wondering if just having the other dog anywhere around when his food is there set him off. He was just to the vet and appears to be in good health. He likes to snack on the bed. Any input is appreciated. Thanks! |
It's probably his age and being deaf and blind. Maybe he thinks he senses something, or he is startled in some way. Hopefully someone with experience with seniors can give you more insight. |
erika, Yorkies have the best noses of any little guys out there ! I bet he smelled something on the Paper (some person touched it) and he thought that person was close to you, and was actually trying to protect you. He may be deaf, but he can "feel" your voice. Approach him, pet, speak to him in your "reassuring" voice, and move things like that up where he can smell them, while you're right there and showing him that's ok. You can still verbally communicate with him, just use simple direct and consistent phrases. |
Rocky biting out of the blue I am really getting concerned because this is becoming more frequent. I wonder if he smells the other dog on my clothing or senses that she's nearby even though she is not right next to him. I was hand feeding him this morning and he started snapping although she was down on the floor. I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. Did not know what else to do since I don't want to give him a smack. Not sure how to communicate to him that this has to stop. My previous dog, a poodle, was sick with congestive heart failure and hid under the bed the last 18 months of her life but no matter how sick she felt, she never bit. I have no experience with unprovoked biting. |
if he is blind and deaf,maybe he smelled your new dog near you and meant to get her or thought he was lunging at her? :confused: |
Maybe having the other dog on the bed with his food is the problem. |
No more food on the bed would be my advice |
Rocky biting out of the blue You're right about the food on the bed but it is so hard to change his routine at his age. The other dog gets plenty to eat but unless I hand feed him he doesn't seem to smell the dry food and he really likes it as his snack before bedtime. Yesterday he went to bite me twice when he didn't like the way I was holding him on the chair. No food was even involved. That is what is so unnerving - I never know now when it will happen. I have to be really careful - I feel like I need to wear armor! |
sounds like he is in pain? or mayybe afraid of things because he is blind and deaf and is defensive? |
Rocky biting out of the blue He does take Cosequin DS for arthitis. I don't think he likes having another dog around although most of the time they are getting along pretty well. He was raised with a female poodle and my new dog is a poodle mix around 8 years old. Once in awhile when my Elvira was alive, he would suddenly leap across me and bite me as he was trying to get to her. This would happen out of the blue also if she just stared at him. I was hoping this would make his last couple of years happier as he is alone all day while I work but beginning to wonder. The new one, Gigi, has been with us around 8 weeks now and she is a real love bug but since she was a stray she is always wanting food as though she doesn't know where her next meal is coming from. Except for the bedtime snack I always feed them separately and make sure she cannot get to him while he is eating. I guess the bedtime snack is going to have to go although I know he will be looking for it. |
[QUOTE=mom2two;3781413]sounds like he is in pain? or mayybe afraid of things because he is blind and deaf and is defensive?[/QUote Wonder if there is a medical issue..maybe the vet could do some blood work? |
dont have to give up the snack ,just feed them in different places:) |
Rocky biting out of the blue I eliminated the snack on the bed last night and that was fine. This morning I was hand feeding him his dry food up on the chair where I keep him separate and he tried to snap a couple of times. She was down on the floor and nowhere near him so I guess I just have to be on my gurard whenever food is involved no matter how far away she is. He must be able to sense her. |
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