Re: severe aggression

In Reply to: severe aggression
Category:   Aggression
Posted by:  Beverly Butler
Posted on:  November 23, 2002 at 11:38:13

: The behavior of our 2 1/2 year old spayed female is getting worse. We have had to completely separate her from our other dogs. She goes for the throat and tries to kill. Spraying with water does not work. She cannot hear you when she goes into this behavior. We have had to excluded her from any contact with the other dogs. She is in the house with us and is the most precious lady and so very affecionate. She is starting to growl at all people she does not know.She bit the gas man when he came on the screened porch. We have posted a "beware of dog".In the past she was good with the grandchildren, but lately she snapped at the 2 year old. I now keep her away from small children. Any suggestions?

Response:

Dear Beverly,

The first thing you need to do is get your terrier to the vet to rule out any medical problems for her behavior. It is not unusual for dogs who feel ill to lash out at people/dogs; the worse they feel, the worse the behavior.

If she gets a clean bill of health, your next step is to consult with a behaviorist. A behaviorist will observe your terrier, diagnose the reason behind the problem and give you and your family specific training advice on how to solve it.

When you take her in for her exam, ask your vet for a recommendation; you can also contact local training schools for help in finding a qualified behaviorist.