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Aggression due to fear

  • 10-03-2022 11:50pm
    #1
    stesaurus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,942 ✭✭✭


    I have 3 dogs in the house. Oldest lad is 14, neutered, and has some dementia and has slowed down greatly. Younger lad is 7, intact, and and is prone to aggression mainly due to fear.

    Younger lad has taken to growling, teeth baring and now starting to get a bit more aggressive towards the older dog. He's visibly uncomfortable around him when he's trying to sleep/relax when the older lad starts moving about. Of course the older dog doesn't hear or notice any of this until too late and he strays too near. I've had to step in a few times but can't be there 24/7. We separate them at nightime but it's getting to the point of needing to do daytime also.

    The younger lad has been with the older dog his whole life. This is only a recent behavior in the last year since the dementia has been apparent. Even if he goes for him and I step in then a few seconds later the red mist disappears and he's very loving to him again.

    I'm not sure what to do. I've tried a few different CBD, natural remedies and adaptil to try keep him calm. All had zero impact. I've tried being super positive anytime a situation looks like arising and will treat them both. Against my beliefs I've tried disciplining him when he growls or bares teeth by putting him outside. All the same results.

    You can visibly see him start to stress and it makes no sense. The other lad is harmless and would never attack but for some reason since he's gone downhill the younger lad just won't tolerate him.

    Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm not the biggest fan of neutering for the sake of it but willing to try anything at this point.



Comments

  • #2
    DBB
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,790 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    Hi op,

    Tough situation, and yes, it's almost certainly that the younger dog is a bit confused and frightened of how the older lad now behaves... he's not the same dog that he used to be 😥

    I'm not clear from your post... the CBD, Adaptil, natural remedies... were they for the younger dog, or the older lad?

    Have you talked to your vet at all about the dementia? Tried dietary intervention, supplements, or meds?



  • #3
    stesaurus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,942 ✭✭✭stesaurus


    Oh the older lad is fine. He's been on a lot of additional dietary supplements for years in anticipation. He's also on vivitonin each day to help. He gets a cytopoint injection due to constant ear infections and that actually helps with the repetitive licking associated with dimentia. He's a little bit doddery on his feet and doesn't always notice the other dogs unfortunately.

    So the calming aids are just to try help the younger lad relax and ignore him. Unfortunately nothing is working. The younger lad in general hates other dogs so it's always fun out on walks etc. It's all fear related though. He's had loads of training and socialisation when younger but he just never seem to relax and trust other dogs, took a long time to introduce the 3rd dog.



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