Aggressive teenager! help

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oliviacharley

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I am really stuck with what to do. I have a three year old black cocker spaniel dog who used to be extremely affectionate, calm and a lovely dog. This year he just seems to have changed completely. He is aggressive and stroppy all the time. He will only come over to you on his terms and is normally nice to me only when it is dinner time and to be let out for a wee.
We are pretty strict with him as I know if you spoil spaniels they can become silly and possive. I have a huge experience of spaniels from my past and they have always been brill. My mum owns the father who is the most wonderful blue roan spaniel dog and this is why I wanted one of his pups.
I would normally put it down to teenage behaviour and cockyness but he did actually go for me last month out of the blue when I accidently sat near him and went for my head. Luckily there was no damage, apart from shock and upset but he is still very unpridicable and I dont like to be left on my own with him as he seems to be more aggressive towards me then my husband. He seems to shake after he has growled like he knows it is bad. I have checked him over as I was not too sure if there was something wrong with him. My local vet checked over him too and said he is just trying it on so we have just ignored his moaning. The most embarrasing thing is when people come over and if I need to pick him up or put him in the kitchen he growls the whole time and it sounds horrible, in fact sometimes it frightens people.
He does not sleep with us, he has his bed in the kitchen and when ever he comes into the lounge he only occasionally sits on the sofa but normally becomes aggressive and is sent to the kitchen to calm down.
We use a whistle when he is over the top which we blow and he seems to know that means calm down, but even out on walks he seems to be full of himself when small children walk past and people with hats on. I have him muzzled now just in case. I am really upset about it though. He used to be a lovely dog and now seems to be the worst behaved dog in the world. He gets plenty of exercise, his diet is Chappie and we are planning to get him castrated but I dont know what to do - any advice please..?
 
You're obviously experienced doggy people so I personally would be asking for a thorough scanning because behaviour like that is unacceptable as a norm and it does sound like something could be happening in his head/body to have caused these changes.
However, saying that, Tess, son's lurcher is very grouchy if you ask her to move but the nicest dog you could want at any other time, so we either ignore it or give her a cuff - and she hates being told off so that is enough; we're never going to change her ways so we live with it as it is 'all show' it's almost as if she's saying 'if I grumble they'll leave me here' but that makes us more determined to enforce our rules, not hers!
Legend the Basset is also a grouchy old man, he'd have been good in that tv programme!
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but it is all completely show, he'd never go for you in a million years, he's a happy loveable dog as a rule and we think it's his way of asking for attention (although it might be attention he doesn't want if I get round his backside!
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) you can see him thinking 'ooooopppppps, not a good move' as he ducks and he dives back for a cuddle instead!!
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Is there any chance you've been too disciplinerian with your dog and he's kicking over the traces like a rebellious teenager? It could just be that he needs a lot more freedom, love and affection and praise than be forever held back in check, nobody likes being told off all the time do they? If he was mine I would be back at the vets for scans and tests (also to lose his manhood, that might make a difference) and take it from there but I would hate to be afraid of my own dog, that's horrid. Would he be better if he was worked regularly, it's what they're bred to do isn't it, he could just be a bored teenager wanting some attention with the outlook that 'some, even if bad attention, is better than none'.
Do hope you work it out, will be interested to know and good luck.
 
Rage Syndrome.....???
Not sure if it is but I know somebody who has a Springer with it & it turns for no reason at all (well non we can perceive)
There is a website HERE which may be of use.....even if just to rule it out.
 
My mums spaniel had what the vet called 'rage syndrome' that others have mentioned. She got steadily worse, would sit her head on my mums knee then snarl if she moved etc, but the last straw was when she raced into the garden and grabbed the cat by the head and shook her violently then dropped her and turned on mum. It was sad as she had been a devoted pet but she had to be put to sleep that day. There was nothing physically wrong and the vet said it's an unexplainable thing that seems to affect spaniels.
 
have you read 'the dog listener' by jan fennel?
it's really helpful, we use her training techniques on our lab and she's much more laid back now. for some reason the power in your pack has moved and now this dog thinks it's the boss and is keeping you in line.
you should always eat before giving it it's dinner (just a bic or something but so it can see you eating first)
you should also ignore it when you enter the same room as it and only give it attention on your terms
i would recommend the book though or there is a dvd you can order from her website
 
Just an update - thanks for all your advice everyone.
We had Alfie castrated on friday - last week. He came home feeling pretty sorry for himself and we were told that we would not see an affect in his behaviour for at least a month. I have to say we have almost immediately seen a better side to Alfie. He is a lot more happier, more relaxed and back to his old self. Much more affectionate and also less grumpy. Slight moan from time to time but no where near as bad as before. I am so pleased. I have heard of cocker rage before. Where I stabled my ponies a few years ago a golden cocker spaniel who lived there would go mad in the conservatory as we walked around in the yard. The owner had to put plastic windows as he had smashed through the glass previously and attacked someone. He was pretty scarey and I can see who bad spaniels can get with this rage issue.
I'll read the dog whisper- that sounds a good idea.
Thanks everyone
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