advice- aggression

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Hi all,

After some advice please with my JRT. We have had him since a pup, but he was a rescue and we don't know his breeding.

He is now 3 years old and a year ago fractured his spine/bruised his spinal cord when he slipped and fell onto his back. Tests, X-Ray and MRI images showed that due to poor genetics he has a degenerative bone disease in his neck/spine. He was unable to walk at the time but after physio is now able to get about pretty normally, albeit a bit stiff and his front legs still cross over due to the bruise. At the time he spent a week at the AHT in Newmarket and they said the only treatment was the physio and pain control was not necessary.

Just before the fracture, we had two seperate incidents where he snapped at children, one was food related (the child tried to pick up his bowl) and the other was when a child walked up behind him and touched his tail whilst he was eating something from the floor.

Since the fracture, he has been increasingly "Jeckyll and Hyde" with his aggression, he will snap when someone tries to move him from sleep/chairs/ picks up his food/toys and with strangers he will snarl and try to bite if they try to come up to him and if he doesn't know them. He has actually bitten and drawn blood, but never too badly. He is the same aggression wise with other dogs, the only one he will not be like this with is my mum's dog who he has known since a puppy.

The only people he hasn't been like this with is me and my hubby, my mum, and hubby's parents, all of whom he has known since we've had him.

After two incidents yesterday of agression we are now wondering if the right thing to do is to consider pts. We have sought help from behaviourist who said that he is just being a dog and the aggression is more than likely triggered by pain. Whilst this helps us to understand cause and potentially make excuses, it doesn't really help matters

The other thing to mention is that when he had MRI at AHT they found two symmetrical almond shapes on his brain, they didn't know what they were or do any further investigation but said to keep an eye on any changes, so that may be a cause as well.

So, what would you do?? He is the sweetest dog with us but it is just so difficult to know what is for the best...

Finally, I have had many dogs in the past as has hubby and family so please don't think this is a novice dog owner being ignorant!

Thanks in advance,
 
Poor little mite:( So sorry to hear of his troubles.

Might be something you have covered, but can the vet offer any pain relief for him?
 
It does sound as if he is pain doesn't it? :(

ie comfy on a chair but being moved might give him twinges - hence the snapping.

I agree with Spudlet above, perhaps ask your vet if there is anything to relieve him (if that's what it is of course) and take it from there maybe.
 
Thats a tricky one :( I would be in agreement that the aggression is more than likely pain related...or fear of pain (ie. dont touch me its gonna hurt) Is trialling him on some pain meds a possibility to see if it improves matters?
 
Some of the aggression sounds anticipated pain-related & some sounds like pure dominance. I think you should speak to your vet regarding pain management & start to put down some firm rules regarding his dominance over what he considers 'his' things, like food & toys. You should certainly explain to your children if possible that they must not approach him when he is eating or playing with a toy, whilst you tackle his dominance. I'm sure Cayla will explain this much better than me.:D I know what I'm thinking but can't put it into words coherently!
 
FFS, last attempt to reply, this si the 3rd time:mad::mad:

I dont think it does sound purely pain related, I agree with Blasing saddles, he will no doubt feel bouts of pain and soreness at times but the scenarios you describe are of attitude rather then a response to pain.

Toys/food, to him they are posessions and he is naturally defending them, as your trainer suggests, its a perfectly natural behaviour, just because some dogs do not display it, it does not mean its an un natural response, he eats and kids not even resident of the household are standing close and toucing his behind (they could possibly take his food away) he warns them off! I personally would not have children so close to a dog whislt eating, he deserves to eat in peace, it would be a different scenario if he was wolfing the food down whilst lunging, snarling at everyone in the vacinity.
If he is a poor eater, pick his food up after 10 mins, dont leave it for him all day long, you give to taketh away:rolleyes:
I personally dont see the need for an adult dog to have a toy unless its for a stimulating use, long lasting chews, kongs, something to retrieve, if you use stimulating treats give them when you choose (when he is left alone or needs stimualtion) and remove when you choose dont leave them stacked up or scattered around, and discard of cuddly toys, offer him a swap for a tit bit then remove it, again dont allow children around him when he is eating a chew.
If a child has a toy and another grabs it, they will grab it back, a dog uses teeth, they hurt alot more:rolleyes:

Alert and command him off a chair, dont just push him down, if he responds aggressivly then stop his access to chairs altogether, when you are out, no access to that room at all, when in tell him "ahh ahh, off" and get him a comfy bed for the floor and tell him "bed" and give him a tit bit, use food as a reward for good behaviour and training.
Strangers, let him approach them and use a positive associator, place him in a room when you let people in then rlease him when they are seated, if he wants to go greet them fair enough, if not let him walk off.
He is a terrier and given half a chance they can be grumpy, back chat and give attitude, change the balance and dont allow it.
If he exercises, jumps on chairs, eats ok? I dont think pain is a main issues, although no doubt he will feel discomfort at times, see your vet ad change some of the routines in the household, you say he is loving with you and your OH and a few others, I personally would not have him pts without changing the boundaries first and giving him a chance.
If he was attacking left right and center then fair enough, but the reasons are clear so far, jsut my opinion.
 
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