New dog showing aggression

The Bouncing Bog Trotter

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Following the death of my sister in law we have taken on some responsibility her dog. He is a neutered 6 year old and has never really mixed with other dogs and spent all of his time living alone with his late owner. We knew he was poorly socialised and had displayed some food aggression in the past but things are not looking very positive. He will mainly be living with my mother in law but she comes to our house every other weekend and will bring the dog with her.

He is fine with our 2 other dogs and our cats, most of the time, and we are being very careful about ensuring that he is fed in a different room, however, he randomly shows aggression to the dogs, cats and to humans. We can all be sitting watching TV and if someone or a dog moves he very verbally threatens to attack and then backs off. If he lies at your feet and you move them or go to stand up he makes as though he will attack your feet or legs. He has shown this verbal aggression to our dogs, adults, our cats and our near teenage children. He has never bitten but he does show his teeth.

I am going to call a behaviourist tomorrow but wanted to get other views as to how to handle him - his whole world has been turned inside out and upside down: he has lost his owner and his home and is obviously unsettled.
 

Blazingsaddles

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Following the death of my sister in law we have taken on some responsibility her dog. He is a neutered 6 year old and has never really mixed with other dogs and spent all of his time living alone with his late owner. We knew he was poorly socialised and had displayed some food aggression in the past but things are not looking very positive. He will mainly be living with my mother in law but she comes to our house every other weekend and will bring the dog with her.

He is fine with our 2 other dogs and our cats, most of the time, and we are being very careful about ensuring that he is fed in a different room, however, he randomly shows aggression to the dogs, cats and to humans. We can all be sitting watching TV and if someone or a dog moves he very verbally threatens to attack and then backs off. If he lies at your feet and you move them or go to stand up he makes as though he will attack your feet or legs. He has shown this verbal aggression to our dogs, adults, our cats and our near teenage children. He has never bitten but he does show his teeth.

I am going to call a behaviourist tomorrow but wanted to get other views as to how to handle him - his whole world has been turned inside out and upside down: he has lost his owner and his home and is obviously unsettled.

He has never been taught boundaries. That’s not his fault. He has been allowed to exhibit undesirable behaviours without unfavourable (in his mind) reprimands. But,his world has been turned upside down- his mistress has gone, he’s living in an unfamiliar world at the moment. He’s needs constant routine & constant correction to unwanted behaviours. How you correct his undesirable behaviours is up to you & your behaviourist to decide. I wish you every success, you are doing the right thing.
 

Pearlsasinger

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What is he like when just at home with MIL? Could it just be that he can't at this stage cope with even more change? Could MIL forgo her weekends with you until he is more settled in her routine? Or could he be left at home (depending on how long she visits for)? I imagine that he feels as though there is no consistency atm.
 

meleeka

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Somebody once said to me “a growl is a gift” it’s giving you a warning which should be respected. I had a dog that never growled, just snapped and that was awful.

If the dog hasn’t been like it in it’s previous home it’s probably feeling stressed and not able to relax properly. A behaviourist is an excellent idea. You could also try Adaptil or similar to help calm.
 

skinnydipper

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The last thing he needs are constant corrections (recommended in post #2) - he is showing that he is nervous/fearful and out of his depth in the only way he knows how.

I think it is better to help the dog achieve the behaviour you do want, rather than punish the behaviour you don't want.

Please be advised by a qualified behaviourist as to the best way to help him. Following the wrong advice could make matters infinitely worse.
 
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The Bouncing Bog Trotter

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Thank you for your answers and suggestions so far. To clarify - he doesn't just growl, he does make contact - both with humans and with dogs. MIL comes to stay for the weekend so leaving him at hers is not an option and my FIL also died last month so her coming to us is non-negotiable (and she will bring the dog as he is her daughter's 'baby' - part of the issue I feel). Also, my MIL is in her 80's so I am concerned for her.

In his previous home he was dog aggressive and was also food aggressive - we have had BBQs and meals at my SIL's home where he has 'had a go' at humans because food was around - to the extent that he was kept away from us at food time. He seems to go for feet and legs. He is a powerful dog and so I will contacting the behaviourist first thing tomorrow.
 

{97702}

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What breed of dog is he OP? Sadly as others have said it does appear that he has never been given the correct training and parameters of good behaviour, so it isn't surprising that he is acting like this now when he is even more out of his depth and unsettled :( I do hope the behaviourist can help you
 

The Bouncing Bog Trotter

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He's a PBGV. I am going to ask my SIL's friends if he has already been seen by a behaviourist. Horrid situation. My dogs are now both so wary of him, and my very dog aware children are cautious too. Poor little sod has lost so much recently but he was used to going to stay at my MILs at least weekly because of my SILs job, so all is not unfamiliar.
 

AmyMay

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OP as it stands you’d be mad to have this dog in your house.

But it’s even sadder in some respects as the breed is known for being so friendly and happy.
 

The Bouncing Bog Trotter

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I am not sure he's ever been crated - I highly doubt it, but I do have crate from my labradors that we can try if the behaviourist thinks it may work.

Still non the wiser on breed.

Sorry, I was trying to be discreet in case this post is ever found on a google search - as this is so sensitive - he is a petit basset griffon vendeen. I am very cautious about the dog being in our house but, we are a double bereaved family and the dog is inherited, so the situation is not of our choice, or his.

I want to help the dog, I want his world to be a less anxious place and I am fully aware of potential implications, sadly.
 

{97702}

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I am not sure he's ever been crated - I highly doubt it, but I do have crate from my labradors that we can try if the behaviourist thinks it may work.



Sorry, I was trying to be discreet in case this post is ever found on a google search - as this is so sensitive - he is a petit basset griffon vendeen. I am very cautious about the dog being in our house but, we are a double bereaved family and the dog is inherited, so the situation is not of our choice, or his.

I want to help the dog, I want his world to be a less anxious place and I am fully aware of potential implications, sadly.

What a very wise and sensible post, it makes me hope even more that this can be made manageable
 

CorvusCorax

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Would he cope with being crated at yours, for some of the time to give everybody, including him, a rest? He would not feel so stressed about people/animals moving about if he felt secure in the crate.

This. It's late and I'm tired so please pardon my brevity but this is a mature dog with established quirks who is unlikely to easily settle into a busy multi-person and animal household.
I call my older dog the Goth Kid at the Youth Club. He just wants to dress in black, sit in the corner and listen to his records and he doesn't want to hang out with anyone, he finds it stressful, so I don't make him.
Rotating dogs and keeping them separate is not easy but sometimes it's the least stressful thing for them, especially if it's once a fortnight and not every day.

Just an aside but if he is repeatedly making contact but not doing actual hospital-or-vet-visit type harm, then he is telling the perceived threat back off and go away and this is working for him, as you say everyone is now wary of him and giving him a wide berth.
Cold comfort I know, but if he wanted to bite in a way that would do damage, he would have done it by now.

I'd also want to eliminate an eyesight, hearing or neurological problem if sudden movements in close proximity to him are sparking such behaviour.
 

pippixox

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Firstly my thoughts are with your family with all the recent losses.
Sounds like an unsettled dog who wants its space. I would certainly look into a comfy crate set out of the way. So they can relax and hopefully this will reduce the incidents. But I would also consider muzzle training for safety while you work on training him on how to behave (as this isn’t all from recent loss)
 

Clodagh

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Bassets are pack animals and pbgv are more in touch with their hunting side than the ruined British example. I would take him for a really long walk so he is tired and then shut him away. I am so sorry for all your losses but I would not have a dog loose in my house that everyone, dogs and people, are scared of.
 

Mister Ted

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Following the death of my sister in law we have taken on some responsibility her dog. He is a neutered 6 year old and has never really mixed with other dogs and spent all of his time living alone with his late owner. We knew he was poorly socialised and had displayed some food aggression in the past but things are not looking very positive. He will mainly be living with my mother in law but she comes to our house every other weekend and will bring the dog with her.

He is fine with our 2 other dogs and our cats, most of the time, and we are being very careful about ensuring that he is fed in a different room, however, he randomly shows aggression to the dogs, cats and to humans. We can all be sitting watching TV and if someone or a dog moves he very verbally threatens to attack and then backs off. If he lies at your feet and you move them or go to stand up he makes as though he will attack your feet or legs. He has shown this verbal aggression to our dogs, adults, our cats and our near teenage children. He has never bitten but he does show his teeth.

I am going to call a behaviourist tomorrow but wanted to get other views as to how to handle him - his whole world has been turned inside out and upside down: he has lost his owner and his home and is obviously unsettled.
This has to be sorted out quickly before he does attack and the professional is the right person to call. It will take time and patience,and at the moment he is making up his own rules because he sees you are unsure how to handle him.If you are going to be his long term owner its important you are his leader and he looks to you for the way he behaves with you and those around him. He must not growl when you feed him or try to take his food away and showing aggression to animals or humans is not acceptable either. At present I would keep him on a lead indoors,it will give you more control. There is lots of advice out there on problem behaviour so reading up about it gives you an insight into how the dogs mind works too.
 

splashgirl45

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in our area we had a single lady with a chocolate lab and she died in bed and wasnt found until late the next day, the dogs were barking(she had recently taken on a yorkie) and this is why she was found...this dog was known to bite but the lady always put him on a lead when she came across people and he was mainly ok in the house. one of her friends re homed him and he had been used to her and her dogs as his owner spent time at the friends house and always bought the dogs with her. after a couple of months the friend made the hard decision to PTS as his biting had got worse and he had bitten both her and her husband and was getting nasty with her other dogs that he had known all of his life. the yorkie was rehomed to another family with no dogs and has turned out to be a star but we all wondered if the lab was affected by his owners death and so his biting behaviour escalated... its a shame as the friend is a very experienced dog owner and did give him many chances , apparently he never growled or showed any signs but just ran up and bit random people. no one can know how much a death can unsettle a dog so i would keep him shut away when he is at your house as he sounds similar to the choc lab that i knew and he may eventually settle at your mother in laws but not at yours..good luck
 

Moobli

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I’m so sorry for your family’s recent losses and I feel for the dog too as his world will have turned upside down. Getting a qualified behaviourist in is definitely a good idea and they will be able to put in place a programme to help this dog cope and adjust and management strategies for you and your MIL in the meantime. For now, when he comes to your house I’d ask your MIL to give him a good run prior to arriving and then shut him behind a baby gate in another room (if he’s not used to a crate) and reward any and all behaviour that’s desired (for example if he’s just lying quietly reward, if he stays still when someone in another room moves reward, ignoring other dogs reward etc etc). Have pockets full of small tasty treats so you always have some on hand. A dog is much more likely to repeat a behaviour if it’s regularly reinforced. Have you seen the behaviourist yet? What have they suggested?
 

The Bouncing Bog Trotter

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Update - so nearly one year on....

Turns out his breeder is a qualified behaviourist and she gave me some great tips as to how to handle the behaviour.

1. Crate so he has a safe space - her theory was that he is an anxious dog and he is perceiving threat and 'getting in first';
2. Remove the trigger - don't use a feed bowl and feed him in the garden with his food scattered (within close distance) so he can hunt for it using his instinctive behaviours;
3. No treats and take him off Bakers.

So MIL refused to crate him as she sees it as a cage, she will not remove a bowl for feeding "because it's dirty to eat off the floor and he must have a bowl", and he still gets treats twice a day (because my SIL gave him treats twice a day). At least he no longer gets Bakers....

MIL now doesn't come to ours as she can't bring the dog and so we have to go to hers to see her, unless she comes for a brief daytime visit without the dog. The dog also has to have a dog walker (I believe 3 times a week/every other day) as she can't walk him due to health issues.

And the reason for the update? My children were there last weekend and my daughter has just confessed to me that the dog bit her when she was helping to take the dirty plates out to the kitchen. The skin wasn't broken but the dog did go for her with his mouth. MIL's house is too small to separate the dog while my children are there (unless he is shut upstairs in the bedroom and I can't see that happening).

Help!
 

Roxylola

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Oh no, that started so promising! Children can't go on their own I'd say unfortunately, if she won't give the dog a safe space and teach him to use his space then she can't keep him or your children safe.
 
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