Why does Benson react so explosively when woken — and can an automatic “attack first” response really be changed? Benson is a stunning Show Cocker Spaniel, seventeen months old. He’s fun, clever and, mostly, cuddly. But Benson bites when woken suddenly. Also on a couple of occasions he has bitten Read more
When a normally gentle dog suddenly snarls and guards objects she has picked up herself, is it true resource guarding — or a game driven by excitement and stress? The adorable little dog, usually loving and gentle, snarls. Yesterday she bit the lady. Coco is 16 months old and the Read more
Merlin snaps, they feel aggressively, at their teenage son. He snaps at his hands; he chases and snaps at his feet.
Why would a young dog suddenly become angry and snappy at people — and could pain or breathing problems be part of the cause?
Buddy’s angry behaviour has escalated in the last few weeks.
The ten-month-old French Bulldog snorts and gasps. His common Frenchie breathing problem (Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome – BOAS) must make normal life a constant struggle.
If he were an adolescent human struggling to breathe, Buddy could well have a very short fuse, ready to hit out, angry at the smallest thing. (more…)
Why would a previously friendly dog suddenly become scared of hands and snap when someone tries to touch him?
Jack Russell Chihuahua mix Rollo is scared of hands. Until a couple of years ago he was a friendly little dog who enjoyed gentle petting from most people.
Then something happened. (more…)
Why does one dog suddenly attack another dog in the home when excited or aroused? When someone new comes to the door, they shut the two Dalmatians behind a gate. They will be barking loudly as the person enters the house. Lincoln is barking with excitement. Lucas’ excitement quickly spills Read more
A few days ago he leapt up and bit the lady’s mother on the chest. He had nicked a poo bag and, without thinking, she reached to get it out of his mouth. This was the worst bite so far and he broke the skin. She recoiled. Angry, he followed her and flew at her again
Both having him in the garden unsupervised and barking at people from the windows mean that he is rehearsing the very behaviour that they don’t want. It’s being constantly practised – so it can only increase.
Imagine, how a Romanian puppy of about four months old must feel, being flown across Europe in a crate. Then, after a long drive in a car, the puppy is dumped into an alien environment, a home.
This person had done something the couple, Alfie’s owners, had fortunately never done. As many other people would have done in the circumstances when a dog won’t give, this person looking after Alfie would have none of it and used force.