Aggressive response to pain

[helena29]

I am just looking for some thoughts, I was at my friend's house with my greyhound (8 years old) and was trying to cool him down by using wet towels. (it was nearly 30 degrees in the house and he was suffering) I ran my hand along his thigh to see how warm he was (something I have done many times before with no issue) He screamed and jumped up with teeth bared, he did not bite, but did make contact with my arm (no skin broken) My friend grabbed his collar and shouted at him but I did not really think he should have as it was an obvious reaction to pain.

I think it was exacerbated by the heat but it was definitely a scream of pain, when I checked earlier, he was still reacting to pain in the same area so we are going to the vets tomorrow. The vet thinks he may have the start of a problem with the discs in his neck and he may have some neurological pain - he is on previcox and she did mention another drug so I am going to ask for that tomorrow

Noodles is possible the calmest, easiest dog ever. He did have some mild possessive aggression when I first got him but I just did some common sense training and after a couple of months it was gone. He is one of the most compliant dogs, he used to donate blood and the staff always said he was their favorite as he was so quiet and relaxed, did not even move his head, even with a needle in his jugular! He has been a stooge dog for a couple of dogs with fear aggression and not reacted with them barking at him and he is so calm that the other dogs always came to like him within a couple of hours. So this is very out of the ordinary for him. Luckily I live on my own (apart from Noodles!) and he does not come into contact with children so I do not have to worry about other people touching him and getting the same response.

Anyway, the main question - if your dog reacted like that (aggressive but due to obvious pain, should he be reprimanded? I am in no way against disciplining dogs, but it seemed pointless to shout at him as it was almost like a reflex, not an attack.

Sorry, that was a long essay!

 

[flirtygerty]

No, in my experience, it just makes them worse, having taken on a 10yr old very aggressive gsd, we found giving him ground rules and sending him out if he showed his teeth worked, but that's not your senario, is he on pain relief while the tests are done, |I would use a fan blowing over a bowl of ice to cool him off and just leave him be

 

[Aru]

Its not fair to punish a dog for letting you know you are hurting them esp as it just teaches them to skip the warning signs of showing discomfort in future.However the protective instinct is a hard instinct to break.

I am with you in believing yelling at him doesn't help in the case of a dog reacting to pain...its why I muzzle dogs who are in pain before examining them,regardless of how the owners say they would never bite, theres only so much you can expect from a animal in pain and biting is a way of communicating.
however in your friends case I would be more understanding. He didn't know the dog was sore. He just seen you trying to help cool down the dog and pet him only for your boy to jump up and bite you.... a reprimand for an out of the blue bite is a normal reaction ....if I seen my friends dogs bite them out of the blue(contact was made so is a bite..a level one bite-no skin damage or bruising but still a bite) I would pull them away and verbally reprimand them without thinking. Biting is not acceptable in that sceanrio,a warning snap or growl etc is always appreciated. I might feel bad later if it turns out the dog is in pain but at the time that would be an automatic reaction.

Clients dogs are different as in a vets its a higher charged scenario where dogs are often more reactive and I am always half expecting them to try and bite me( I would in their position )But it is actually very very difficult to get used to letting dogs try and bite you and others and just take it without reacting.

If your boy had bit your friend for petting him in that area would you not have removed him and reprimanded him without thinking?

That sounds like is a very extreme reaction to being touched though,poor lad that area must be very sensitive/sore.I hope all goes well tomorrow.

 

[helena29]

Thank you for replying. I know the 'what if it was someone else' thing worrys me as it was not a proper bite, more a warning, but if it did happen to anyone else, he would appear to be dangerous. I also think that it looked more dramatic from when my friend was sitting than it felt to me. So he is going to wear his muzzle going to the vets (it is school holidays so the trains are full of people)


I am even more concerned about him this morning, he turned round after only 5 minutes of his walk, he never does this, he is very into routine :-( I can not work out what is wrong, he is eating very well, he does not show any obvious lameness and his coat is shining.