The Bouncing Bog Trotter
Well-Known Member
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 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.