Dog problems?

hannahsophia808

My dog has always been pretty good. Now, suddenly he's chewing things up, and growling at me when punished for it. Its out of character for him. Has this happened to anyone before And how do I handle this?

somewheresublime86

Agreed with @rsaj0807‌ - call a trainer. In a session or two, they should be able to help you identify the problem and help you put some good solutions in place.

We've got a very sweet rescue dog with some baggage (mostly separation anxiety), and have used trainers in the past. It's well worth it. He's much happier and confident since. We also use a dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) collar if we know that he'll be in a stressful situation. We'll definitely have one on him when baby comes home in April.

n0soup4u

Is the dog experiencing any kind of pain? Sometimes when they have something internal wrong that us humans cannot see, the dog can act strange. Could be as simple as a UTI. Maybe take a trip to the vet.

ASCrosby

Animals can sense pregnancy. Our cat started peeing everywhere, starting when I was about 8 weeks. The other cat has started acting like a guard dog and won't leave my side. This may be your dog's reaction to your hormones.

70point3

If he's not in pain or eating/getting sick, it may likely be something you're doing and don't notice. My rescue lab/Shepard mix and I suddenly got into it for a stint, but it's that I needed better training on how to teach and/or scold him. We're good now.

Agree with calling a trainer. Get that sorted before baby gets here or you'll be putting up one of those ads of having to choose baby over family pet.

Sargeantpepper

Has the dogs routine changed at all? Not as many walks, ect. I would talk to your vet and a trainer to see what they say.

Scarlettg

Our lab does this when he's bored.  Fortunately we took him to a trainer (ahem) and he hasn't acted up in months and months.  If you're at work for long periods of time, a dog walker can help with excess energy and is usually cheaper than replacing everything the pup destroys.  Trust me on this.  I also second what PPs have said about a trip to the vet.  If there's really nothing you can think of that's changed, it could be something medical.  

If he's growling at you, please don't procrastinate with this.  I'd hate to see growling progress to nipping and biting.  That's dangerous for everyone involved and, in some cases, is how good dogs end up getting destroyed.  

hannahsophia808

He's still my fun loving playful best friend, so he hasn't changed completly.Unless my dog hates Christmas, nothing has changed. I've read that dogs can sense pregnancy and act out it different ways, but I found nothing that tells me how to help him. I might definitely talk to a trainer.

edelat11

I would rule out medical, when was the last time your dog got a check up at the vet? If they're in discomfort or have a infection they can get cranky!

And like other pps have said, maybe something in the environment changed or call a trainer if all else fails.

emarsh0415

We have two dogs and the only times they act out is when they aren't feeling well, we've changed something (the Christmas tree freaked them out for a few days), or if they've been given a new toy and are very protective of it. I would take your dog to a trainer or try to see if the dog reacts differently depending on how you react to the situation. Dogs due sense pregnancy, but from what I've researched they tend to be more protective, not aggressive, at least towards you.

carter604

We also have a big rescue dog who has been a lot of work but is a member of the family and we wouldn't give him up for the world. Make sure you're still spending time with him the way you used to - I'm in the "what's changed?" camp as well. It is time to change up his routine and have dad take on more dog duties, as well as socialize him with as many kids as possible. I don't know if moving him to the basement is making him feel like an outcast - and agree that working with a reputable trainer now is your best bet!

somewheresublime86

DMarieSchneider said:

I feel your frustration. Since getting pregnant my Australian Shepherd has become aggressive. Not towards me, or my husband- he is being overly protective of us. It's everything and everyone else he feels the need to protect us from. I brought him to the vet yesterday, updated all of his shots, and spoke to the vet. She recommended we seek out a behavior specialist after discussing his naughtiness at great length. Unfortunately she doesn't think a behavior specialist will be able to help, and pretty much recommended me to just get rid of him before the baby comes. I'm not ready to give up. While waiting for the package in the mail from the vet with the behavior specialist recommendation and such, we are doing our own thing: long walks (2.5 miles x2/day) taking all of his toys, beds, etc from upstairs and moving it to the basement. Confining him to the basement to sleep (vs our bedroom floor), and if we leave during the day.

Speaking with my GF who is a vet today to see if she has any other insights as to what to do. I worked at Petsmart as a trainer for basic obedience so I know a few tricks, but it's not training related for me.

Hopefully you will have some luck!!!! Speak to a vet, trainer, etc. Having doggy issues is frustrating and saddening. Just remember- sometimes there is nothing you can do. Sometimes the situation cannot be resolved because of the dogs' relationship with you. The cycle can be hard to break and take a long long time. Although I am a firm believer in the thought that pets are forever, there are circumstances such as safety that change that rule-- especially if your dog is large enough to harm or kill your baby. If you can't give the dog the attention and training they need, sometimes it's best to find a place where that healthy environment can be fostered. Your dog will thank you.

There are lots of things you could try here! One that made a big difference for us was only feeding our pup after our meals were done. He has to wait. And his bowl is picked up in 20 minutes or so, even if he's not done. It helps to reinforce the pack order, since animals would eat based on their pecking order in the wild.

Murran131

I know that my poor pups are having a few behavior issues because they're not getting enough exercise now. I'm often too tired to take them for walks like I used to. Maybe that's the problem here?