Aggression
English Bull Terrier on High Octane Fuel
He gets manic bouts of frenzy, flying around and going for the two men, like he’s fired by high octane fuel. The young man then physically pins him down to prevent someone getting hurt.
arousal, excitement
‘Unpredictable’ Vizsla
Toffee is a beautiful fifteen month old Vizsla – quite petite for the breed. She is a nervous dog – and has been since she was a puppy. An obsessive shadow chaser, she was (very unusually) already doing this at eight weeks old when they brought her home. Her mother Read more
Aggression
Stress like a pressure cooker waiting to blow
I have just visited two more dogs living together that on occasion fight. Harry and Star, both terrier mixes, have always had a volatile relationship. They are both in their third year, and were adopted as puppies. Star must have some Border Terrier in her, and Harry is mostly Tibetan Read more
Aggression
Fergus and William, no aggression anymore
Just under four weeks ago I visited William and Fergus – Whippet brothers that fought. Walks were a nightmare as the excitable William would redirect his stress onto Fergus, especially if they came across a cat – to such an extent that they were muzzled on walks. Both dogs would Read more
arousal, excitement
Border Collie and Kids on Scooters
Sky is a beautiful Border Collie. She is friendly and well-behaved but with one problem that is making her life less happy than it should be and worries her owners. Kids on scooters Sky is scared of metallic noises and wheels – especially kids on scooters going past her garden Read more
arousal, excitement
Red Setter Meltdown
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Red SetterIt was quite exhausting being with poor Archie, a three year old Red Setter.
It took an hour for him to settle down – briefly – before he was on the go again, catching imaginary flies and lick lick licking the sofa.
Toileting indoors is also part of the picture. Energy rushes where he tears all over the place, over the sofas and dangerously near to knocking over their toddler.
Aggression
The devastating fallout from stress
Bit by bit the bucket fills until it is near overflowing and just one more drop will cause it to flow over. The slightest thing can then cause the dog to fly off the handle. This is why some dogs seem ‘unpredictable’. How they handle something they may meet one day when the bucket isn’t full to overflowing will be different to how they react to the same thing another day when it’s brim full.
Fear
Weimaraner panics when home alone
He felt absolutely terrible when he discovered that all the mess wasn’t done by Chloe. They had had a break in and poor Chloe was traumatised. Where before she was distressed at being alone, now she was also terrified of her owner coming back.
arousal, excitement
Manic after walks
When she gets home it takes her a long time to unwind – she is even more manic than when she started out. This is a clear indication that the walks are doing her no good at all. It’s a case of ‘less is more’ for the time being.