Dog has shown a different side to her recently (long)

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FinkleyAlex

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Background info, we have had our alaskan malamute for a year and a half now, got her at 4 months old, she hadn't seen anything other than her brothers and sisters and a pen really, so we were initially quite worried she wouldn't socialise well, she prooved us all wrong and has become the friendliest dogs, both with people and with other animals, although she can be a bit wary of strangers (doesn't do anything just shys away from them, malamutes are supposed to be quite aloof so this could just be a breed thing)

She's a pretty good dog, knows the basics, sit ,lie down, paw, comes to call 9 times out of 10 (good for a mal) and doesnt pull on the lead. She even lets my 18 month old nephews stroke her back and stands still for them to pet her, doesn't mind them having a ride on her back (all supervised of course as she is a fairly big dog)

About two weeks ago my brother came down the stairs early in the morning to stick a note on his car as it had broken down outside the house. According to him she started growling really menacingly and actually went for him with teeth bared, gums showing etc. Now my brother is a martial artist but even he was having trouble getting her off him and ended up having to use self defence to get her off, my dad was woken up by the noise. The next day she was completely fine around everyone including my brother. Her bed is by the front door (she refuses to sleep anywhere else so cant move her) and she is pretty used to my brother and I stumbling through the front door at various times and she has never switched at us before.

Yesterday two of my brothers friends (they are all about 33 yrs old) came around, they were all quite drunk and one of them is quite scared of dogs and when she went up to investigate (as she usually does) he kicked her as he panicked, I was furious as was my brother and we threw him out the house at once (ashamed to say he is a family friend so can't totally disown him), the other girl and I spent some time stroking the dog as she was quite upset and was hiding under the table, she went back to her normal state and went back to her bed after being stroked by the girl for a while. I went to bed, my brother told me that when the girl had tried to go home the dog had jumped up at her and nipped her gum, and this was after the girl had been sat with her for an hour with no problems.

I'm really upset as she's such a lovely dog, and my brothers friend probably confirmed to her that strangers are a threat, however we don't understand why she randomly went for my brother that night, and how to stop her split personality moments, does anyone have any advice? I'd hate to see anyone get hurt
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Am afraid I can't help on why she behaved like that...

But re: after she was kicked - one thing I do know is that you shouldn't fuss/ stroke/ pet them when they are upset - this is because it re-inforces the fear/ upset feeling - so they are more likely to get upset the next time something like that happens. Is best to act as normal - not to make it into a big thing.

Can you think of anything your brother might have unwittingly done to start her off? Was he dressed differently? Did he surprise or frighten her? Anyway - whatever happens you definately need to get it sorted asap - before it turns into a bigger thing. You should possibly get the advice of a behaviourist? Try to get one that comes recommended though... Some are better than others I think...

Sorry - not sure that useful?
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ah ok, didnt know what to do at the time just wanted to comfort her! My brother was dressed the same as usual, we even made him wear the same clothes the next day to see if they bothered her but they didn't. She would have had time to see him coming as he lives at the top of the house, she would have heard him come down etc, I think we will monitor it and if she shows any sign of becoming dangerous we'll get an expert in, I just can't understand it she's usually so gentle.
 
I didn't realise that either until I started learning more about dog behaviour and realised that we had been reinforcing, and therefore making worse, my parent's border collie's firework fear... we always cuddled her - and she just got worse every year... but she better now we ignore her - I wish we had know before tho
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Good luck with your doggie tho - am sure others will have good advice. xx
 
As WIDGET suggests you need some one on one advice from an experienced/professional person....I would not wait and see...if changes need to be made...they need to be implicated sooner rather than later....it's much easier to break new behaviours than old.

you need to beable to sit down with said person and give them all background information and day to day routnes/behaviours for them to help you.

A question...why does she sleep in one place? why can't she be removed? How does she react when moved?

Agree with the physical reaction by the friend...this will only reinforce the agression.
 
Poor dog sounds a bit confused to me. How many people live in the house. Does everyone treat her differently? Sounds like she needs a leader, if she is lying in one place and won't be moved, then someone needs to move her. By allowing her to take charge of this situation she is having her dominant position in the household reinforced. Her age is a factor here, she is establishing herself as the dominant one. Make sure that everyone in the house is singing from the same hymn book. You have to make sure she gets back in her place. If you are going out or in the door with her, make sure that you go first (same with everyone else) At food time, make sure the family eats before she does. This is what happens in a pack, no-one eats before the pack leader and then it is the pecking order, right down to the weakest in the pack (which has to be her).
If you want her to move then you have to move her. Set this up so that she has a collar/check chain on and her lead lyinig loose. The collar needs to be high up on her neck. When you want her to move, lift the lead and give it a little tug, if she growls or resists do it stronger and just walk, taking her behind you. Don't let her go in front. on a walk she needs to be beside you or slightly behind. Get it? you have to be first. Once she is sure of her place you won't have a problem. It sounds like she is actually a reluctant pack leader, ie she doesn't really want the job but doesn't trust anyone else in the pack ie your family, to do the job.
Please don't allow kids to ride on her back either. The more dominant she becomes the less likely she is to put up with it and although they are a biggish breed, their spine is not strong enough for that, plus she is young and still developing.
Hope this helps.
Please feel free to yell if I haven't explained it too well.
Hope it makes sense to you. Good luck
 
nono it all makes sense, she will allow herself to be moved, its just that we give her the run of the hallway and the kitchen at night, front room and living room are shut off as too many interesting cables for her in there. She sleeps in a few different positions in the hallway but as we put her bed by the door 8 times out of 10 she will sleep there as she likes the draught, she has no problem with us moving her! Five of us live in the house, dad mum sister brother and I. She walks next to us on a lead, a number has been passed onto us for a behaviourist so we will be looking into it, thanks everyone!
 
Good luck with it all. It will be fine, there are very few things that can't be put right. She is also young so just needs to be put in the right direction.
Remember, body language is so important, just like with your horse.
 
As chestnut mare suggests. Are the attacks as people are leaving only? This is her saying that she is boss and she doesnt want them to go. Treating her as bottom of the pack is the way to go. She obviously thinks she has some say in the house hold. Cage her at night, and then at least she can not hurt anyone until she understands her place in the house hold.
 
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