Tazar

Gorgeous looking girl, I so love Labs :)

Don't change your behaviour, she will have no idea why you are acting differently, unless you can catch or mark a behaviour within a second and a half it is totally pointless. Just avoid those situations, car & bed, where you have had grizzles..... Keep us posted on how you go too :)

Agreed that you need to see some one profesional ASAP, as the behaviour will escalate further if lefted unchecked. The bed cuddles are over now, even when you are away. When you first moved her off the bed, she growled and nipped you, you continued (as is absolutely your right) to push her and she has upped the anti as a result. How did you eventually get her off the bed? Put her in the laundry at night until you can get further advice and don't do anything to push her buttons IYKWIM. A vet check may be in order and a Dr visit for you is a MUST! Good luck and don't give up on her, she just needs to know the rules as it sounds like she has no boundaries.

My understanding is that a person must be able to get your front door without coming into contact with your dog. So if you have a door bell at the gate and the owner can come out, that is ok. Has anyone else heard this? I am trying to remember where I heard it.... Guess it would be considered an offence if dogs at houses without bells at front gates are loose in the front yard???

mantis, on 26 October 2012 - 05:25 PM, said: And people wonder why I like animals more than most humans. + 1 +1

That is pretty full on behaviour. I guess there isn't much you can do if your OH is happy as he is. I am guessing he (OH) won the battle on the couch. The research I have done indicates that desexing makes a positive or no change in behaviour more often than making it worse. I know of a dog who was threatening all the members of the family, standing over then if they were on the ground or in bed growling and snarling flat out and was 8 years old. He was desexed and they never had another problem with him. You just never know.....

I am doing the policing, don't worry but my dog NEVER behaves like this, it is so strange...

acts like neutering the dog will somehow affect the health of his own junk... There are so many men who think the same....... Sounds like you have your hands full, I was going to ask how you went with male and female entire dogs in the same house!

No problem BlackJaq :) it would be great if there was a definitive answer but there is not. You can certainly castrate a 5 year old dog. I have heard of dogs that have changed completely, dogs where there has been minor changes, dogs with no changes and dogs who have gotten worse. If he is castrated he won't get testicular cancer so that's a plus.

no the point is more 99% of people like to think that aggression is fear based, makes the whole thing seem more softy wofty and less real that a dog would actually WANT to bite a person through any other reason.Why is your dog growling to make it get down from you? That is NOT your dogs place to do that. Your dog follows the pup everywhere because you allow it and it's something new to try and corral around the house because you have not taught it otherwise.Aggression in labradors is not totally unheard of, I know of one labrador male that almost ripped the door off a delivery truck on its property. This pup needs a proper assessment as well as learning NOW what the right thing is to do. Your veterinarian is not a behaviorist and frankly should not be putting a BABY on medication. If needs be I'm happy to take the pup for a few weeks, see how it goes in a pack situation and learn from some other dogs. Gloves, meds and castration is not how to handle a puppy like this at all. Growling may not have been the right word, he makes a noise (not a nasty type of growl) and noses the pup (who is now 17 weeks old) kind of like 'get down'. It has only happened a couple of times. My dog is not following the pup everywhere or corraling it around the house as the pup is off doing puppy things like playing with the other dogs and having a great old time. I can stop my dog from doing it quite easily and have done so. I just think that my dog is paying more attention to this pup when he is around me, hence my question. Thank you for your offer, I will pass the information on the owners.

She is a very beautiful girl :) and you take great photos too!

Thank you for the feed back. The pup is not deaf or blind, no obvious signs of any abnormalities. It really is a wait n see till the blood work is completed which will be early next week. The little guy is staying with me for the weekend :) Another question - has anyone had experience with another dog behaving strangely around a pup they have subsequently found to be sick or not quite right? My GSD is VERY interested in this pup (he has been here before today and was the same then too). When the pup is near me the GSD is right there to, everytime. (My dog was warned off and retracted immediately so is not following the pup around). On two occasions (when the pup first arrived at my place and this is his second visit) he gave the pup a little 'get down' kind of noise/growl (which was not aggressive) if he jumped on me. Very strange as he has never behaved like this so I am wondering if he senses something? NB have lots of different dogs various shapes/sizes/ages visit so he is very use to it. Appreciate any feed back thanks Edited to avoid confusion :)

When my gorgeous boy was alive my Dad would say "that dog would eat S*&T with sugar on it". I had to call him up one afternoon, as my pooch just waited at the rear of my cat and then polished it off, and said "Dad, he will eat S*&T without sugar on it" RIP to them both Anywho, Labs love most things, he especially liked hot dog sausage chopped into pieces to make them last a bit longer :)

Yes!Yank both around one of your thighs to check ;) Yep try it if you can, no pain on a prong collar (and yes I have done it :laugh: )

But you just never now if/when a child will go near him when he has that beloved toy or a tid bit to eat....

Yes he is Persephone, he is wonderful. No issues with other animals, kids, cats, chickens. He behaviour was escalating but it is just the odd toy and his food that remain as issues since he started training.

Why was he purchased from a BYB? There are still lots of people who know nothing about this stuff and when they lost their beloved dog within a week of him being diagnosed with cancer, they looked for a pup to replace him. They are not experts and are doing everything they can to see if his problem can be fixed and are fully aware that he may need to be PTS. This is heart breaking for them as they love him dearly. The vet recommended desexing and the blood testing and even medication. They don't want the meds as they feel it will mask the problem and don't see it as a long term solution. They have engaged a dog trainer who has explained the best and worst possible scenarios and has worked with them and made significant progress. They are taking each step as they go. They are looking for answers that I don't think anyone can definitively supply (unless it is a medical problem that can be diagnosed).

Yes Nekhbet I agree that's why I said it can change a behaviour, not does or does not as it may make no difference at all. Steve I hope it is testosterone based and that his behaviour changes significantly but I am not confident given how early the aggression started and hence, further testing is taking place. Robert Holmes consult will be booked if they are inconclusive or show nothing at all. ok now understand why Lilli said what she said :) thanks for the feedback.

Everytime you do this you teach him success.I have no idea what you try to achieve by feeding the dog with one hand and then being unpredictable (from the dogs point of view) and patting it with a gloved.Two of my own dogs would take my arm/hand off for that. I can go near them when they eat of course, but I cant be a banana and introduce random objects into what they regard as a very serious time. of course...There are a few things you have written, the way you describe what is happening and what you see in the dog, which to me indicate you need an objective assessment (ie professional intervention) of what is actually going on. Don't assume the dog is nuts and its eyes are glazing over. Usually what you see is not a blank meaningless stare, but a blank stare of intent. Be careful.And seek professional help from someone who is experienced working with HA in dogs.(and get rid of the glove). The gloved handed prevented injury and the dog did not get away with the behaviour. It, the gloved hand, did not move away therefore there was no win for the dog. It was fed out of one hand and patted with the other, this was done twice over two days (using heavy gloves). From this time on the dog was hand fed and patted with different gloves, then no gloves, without further incident. Sorry but I don't understand why your dogs would take you arm/hand off for that I must be missing something... I have never used the word nuts but have witnessed the glazed look and I do not believe it is meaningless either.

Thanks for the input. IMHO desexing can change the behaviour of a dog beyond sexual based aggression and know I am not alone in that thinking. The dog is growling at everyone so it is not a single relationship we are talking about here. Perhaps the behaviour is in its base nature. It is very severe re activity if that is what the issue is. The puppy is a labrador. The puppy is having further testing done to rule out any medical issues that may be causing or contributing to the behaviour.

Thanks for the replies. He guards things he steals or toys so if you try to take them from him he growls and if you persist he attacks you (yes attacks - lunges, bites, non stop). If you touch him when he is eating he stiffens, then growls then attack and he remains angry for 1/2 hour or so, meaning when he finishes his food, you cannot get near him as he attacks. If you hand feed him he will attack the hand you are feed him from, eat the food then continue attacking the hand (the hand is heavily gloved of course). If you give him food then try to pat him with the other hand he will attack that. If he is sleeping and is disturbed, same as above, growl then attack. When he humps his blanket, bed etc, it goes for a long time and he gets a glazed looked. He will stop mid way and almost be frozen in the moment, totally blank, eyes glazed. Sounds ridiculous, extreme, etc, I know..... This behaviour started the day he was picked up so 8 weeks old and has gotten worse. He was from a 'one-off' BYB and the breeder (?) said he is 1 of 8 puppies and there have been no problems with the others. Always had food and was whelped in the barn. He was the last of the litter left. Improvements have been made, was only guarding some items he steals sometimes, he can be hand fed and patted, still stiffens if touched when he is eating out of his bowl. (he doesn't just eat he hoovers his food, without coming up for air, so to speak.) Recovery from aggression is now in seconds as opposed to 15-30 minutes. Given his development the vet said he would desex him which was last week. I don't believe his hormone levels have ever been tested. He behaviour has apparently reverted back and in some cases is worse. (this may be because he is sore and sorry for himself and he has been given a little slack}. This is why I am seeking other DOLer's experience with testosterone levels and behaviour changes. Thanks for the info so far, I guess we are looking at up to 3 months for changes from the desexing, IF this is a significant contributing factor to his aggressive behaviour.....

Seeking experience in similar circumstances. I hope there will be good but know there will be bad...

Behaviour mod consists of the usual, teach basic obedience (very basic given the age, sit and bed stuff but will build gradually) and letting the dog know what is appropriate behaviour and what is not. So young to have such problems

Hi, Looking for additional information on testosterone levels after desexing puppy, 15 weeks old, and subsequent experience on changes in aggression levels as a result. Have reseached with average saying 2-6 weeks for levels to drop and 50-60% resulting in change in aggressive behaviour. Puppy displaying severe resource guarding issues since at least 8 weeks of age (eyes glazed minimum, 1/2 hour recovery time) and was very well developed sexually, hence early desexing. A behaviour modification progam has been in place for the last 3 weeks with significant changes but underlying issue still there, very unpredictable and again escalating since desexing Behaviour modification to continue with the assistance of medication at vets recommentaion for maximum of 4 weeks. Just looking for anything further anyone may be able to add to help this little lab guy out. thanks in advance :)

I'd go for a rescue from a reputable place, you can let your Goldie meet a few are see how they go together :) It could help the transition of the move, which can be quite stressful for some dogs, if you got the new addition just before you go so that they have each other from day one.