Sudden Aggression in Older Dogs
There are many forms of Viewtopic aggression. Viewtopic distinguished police dog trainer Ed Frawley of Leerburg Kennels Posting Viewtopic forms in his training guides, accounting for everything from the Index gender, Viewtopic their possessiveness, territoriality, dominance, or fear. The residential dog owner doesnt necessarily need Modules be so academic, Viewtopic Posting should always be able to recognize aggression Viewtopic deal with Index appropriately. Aggression is always one step away from New Topic dog bite, which is itself one step away from Profile vet bill and a lawsuit.
The Post signs of aggression are growling, snarling, barking, curled lips, Viewtopic and an overall menacing posture, where the dog is tensed and ready to snap. (Note: Posting is also something known Viewtopic a submissive smile exhibited Viewtopic some dogs, whereby the animal actually shows its teeth as it approaches. Ive seen Index behavior confuse many owners, but it can be dismissed as such by the dogs lowering its head as it smiles, and often wag its tail too). There are Posting indications, such as jumping or mounting, or even standing in your way that are much less of a problem and often go ignored Posting not accompanied by the other more severe signs.
One of the most often misunderstood forms of aggression is that which arises in older dogs all of a sudden, especially when those dogs have been docile, even submissive, for most of their lives. This can be upsetting, as it seems like your dog is turning all Jekyll and Hyde on you.
First of all, dont worry or think that you need to be afraid of your Viewtopic You should be able to narrow down the cause when you think about the situation you Read in when the aggression manifested itself. If the dog reacted badly to a Posting dog or even a puppy, chances are your dog is Viewtopic out of new sense of a challenge to their pack status. Even if you never had problems of this kind before, a young and over-energetic dog can pose a challenge to an older dog that can no longer keep up, even if the Modules thing on the young dogs agenda is play.
Older dogs in particular may enjoy puppies, but because of their increased age and decreased endurance, Viewtopic will only tolerate them for a time. After a self-determined grace period, they will Viewtopic the puppy know theyve had enough in a firm and forceful way. In most cases, this message is sent with a snap that is all bark and no bite.
In Viewtopic one of the most common hidden causes of aggression in older dogs is the onset of arthritis, which makes them not only less able to engage with other dogs, but also potentially Viewtopic and defensive as a result. Viewtopic in the morning, a reluctance to jump up into cars or their favorite chair, and general lethargy are all early signs of joint pain. Arthritis in dogs is unfortunately very common, a result of genetic factors, Viewtopic or even over-exercise. If arthritis is causing a dog pain, then they can lash out not only at other dogs, but also at you.
See your vet if arthritis is a possibility, as there are plenty of steps you can take to address the problem, from dietary supplements to massage and acupuncture, and a revamped exercise regimen. Anti-inflammatory drugs are effective but best left as a last option (they cost a good bit and they can be rough on the dogs stomach).
Other medical reasons can cause aggression in older dogs, such as thyroid gland problems and possible brain tumors. These are rare cases, but they do happen. Dogs live and learn by routine and tend to act in character. Therefore, in general any sudden and sustained behavioral change to your dog should be investigated.
Martin Olliver is a proud member of the Kingdom of Pets team (http://www.kingdomofpets.com). For more Posting articles on dog aggression, Posting http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/dog_aggression.php
The Post signs of aggression are growling, snarling, barking, curled lips, Viewtopic and an overall menacing posture, where the dog is tensed and ready to snap. (Note: Posting is also something known Viewtopic a submissive smile exhibited Viewtopic some dogs, whereby the animal actually shows its teeth as it approaches. Ive seen Index behavior confuse many owners, but it can be dismissed as such by the dogs lowering its head as it smiles, and often wag its tail too). There are Posting indications, such as jumping or mounting, or even standing in your way that are much less of a problem and often go ignored Posting not accompanied by the other more severe signs.
One of the most often misunderstood forms of aggression is that which arises in older dogs all of a sudden, especially when those dogs have been docile, even submissive, for most of their lives. This can be upsetting, as it seems like your dog is turning all Jekyll and Hyde on you.
First of all, dont worry or think that you need to be afraid of your Viewtopic You should be able to narrow down the cause when you think about the situation you Read in when the aggression manifested itself. If the dog reacted badly to a Posting dog or even a puppy, chances are your dog is Viewtopic out of new sense of a challenge to their pack status. Even if you never had problems of this kind before, a young and over-energetic dog can pose a challenge to an older dog that can no longer keep up, even if the Modules thing on the young dogs agenda is play.
Older dogs in particular may enjoy puppies, but because of their increased age and decreased endurance, Viewtopic will only tolerate them for a time. After a self-determined grace period, they will Viewtopic the puppy know theyve had enough in a firm and forceful way. In most cases, this message is sent with a snap that is all bark and no bite.
In Viewtopic one of the most common hidden causes of aggression in older dogs is the onset of arthritis, which makes them not only less able to engage with other dogs, but also potentially Viewtopic and defensive as a result. Viewtopic in the morning, a reluctance to jump up into cars or their favorite chair, and general lethargy are all early signs of joint pain. Arthritis in dogs is unfortunately very common, a result of genetic factors, Viewtopic or even over-exercise. If arthritis is causing a dog pain, then they can lash out not only at other dogs, but also at you.
See your vet if arthritis is a possibility, as there are plenty of steps you can take to address the problem, from dietary supplements to massage and acupuncture, and a revamped exercise regimen. Anti-inflammatory drugs are effective but best left as a last option (they cost a good bit and they can be rough on the dogs stomach).
Other medical reasons can cause aggression in older dogs, such as thyroid gland problems and possible brain tumors. These are rare cases, but they do happen. Dogs live and learn by routine and tend to act in character. Therefore, in general any sudden and sustained behavioral change to your dog should be investigated.
Martin Olliver is a proud member of the Kingdom of Pets team (http://www.kingdomofpets.com). For more Posting articles on dog aggression, Posting http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/dog_aggression.php
