Dog Troubles!! Help

Ugh, I have a feeling my DH is going to have me make a very hard decision soon. One of our dogs (3 year old Boston Terrier, Daisy) has been acting very schizo for the last year. I don't know what has snapped in her brain...but every now and then she starts acting crazy. She usually starts by stalking DH...following him around very closely. If he even looks at her, she will attack him. She has bitten him about 6 times since last year. Today, they were playing on the couch...and she got very angry and bit him in the face...drawing blood. Usually after she bites him I throw her in her cage immediately (while she nips at me and growls) and the minute she is in there she starts doing this crazy high pitched bark/howl. SHe is starting to do it more frequently and DH has made several comments about dropping her off at a shelter.

She is well behaved about 90% of the time. I just LOVE this dog..so does DH, but she is making it really hard for us (him) to want to keep her here. She doesn't bite or act weird around anyone else. Its so strange. I try to blame it on the fact that since we got her a pet store..theres a possibilty that she may be a puppy mill dog..and maybe even inbred.

DH has pretty much lost almost all of his patience at this time and I just dont know what to do! i thought about getting a trainer..DH wont pay for it..he thinks disciplining her will work...I think it will make her behavior worse.

Ahhhh i need your help..can you girls offer any advice? I don't wanna lose my dog

TIA!

Edited to add pics so you can see what I am talking about! Most of the time Daisy looks like this....


Then..when she gets mad..she looks like this:
(that is DH she is about to bite)

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Awww.. have u taken her to the vet? Do you think that maybe there could be something physicially wrong with her to cause her to act like this?

I'm so sorry

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Last time we were at the vet I didn't bring it up. I did mention to him about her bullying our other dog. He said she does that because she is an Alpha. DH thinks that she is trying to maintain her alpha status by attacking him.

Do you think I should take her back to the? Everything else seems to be pretty normal with her..but her attitudes are so unpredictable..its scary! We are currently TTC...I am also afraid she wont be able to be around a baby

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Did anything change in the dog's setting when she started acting out against your DH? Did you move to a new place, did he move in with you, etc? Even a small thing like moving her bed can cause a shift in behavior.

She definitely needs both you AND dh to discipline her. Whoever is closer. DH has to be a big part of the disiplining if she is acting out on him.

Have you read any books on disciplining dogs? FWIW, I like Cesar Milan's style. Also, have you told your vet about her behavior? If it was an inbreeding problem, I feel like she would be acting out to others besides DH.

I have a pug, which, when puppies are hyper like BTs. After I got Joey fixed, a lot of his craziness subsided.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

I would definitely tell the vet...she may have a spot which is hurting her which your DH is unintentionally touching, which could account for some of the behavior...as for the rest, I'm not sure...but I'd say the first stop should be the vet.

I hope it works out for you!

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

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Posted by cateydee

Did anything change in the dog's setting when she started acting out against your DH? Did you move to a new place, did he move in with you, etc? Even a small thing like moving her bed can cause a shift in behavior.

She definitely needs both you AND dh to discipline her. Whoever is closer. DH has to be a big part of the disiplining if she is acting out on him.

Have you read any books on disciplining dogs? FWIW, I like Cesar Milan's style. Also, have you told your vet about her behavior? If it was an inbreeding problem, I feel like she would be acting out to others besides DH.

I have a pug, which, when puppies are hyper like BTs. After I got Joey fixed, a lot of his craziness subsided.

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Nothing really changed as far as our living situation. We got her while we were living together and we haven't moved or changed anything in the condo since she has been here.

I'm so afraid to let him disciplining her because the only way he knows how is to hit her..which he has done. She is so small...I get so worried that she will really get hurt. You're right though...we should both be doing the disciplining. I will look into cesar's books! Thats a great idea. Thanks!

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Just wanted to add...that I have also read online that since Red is a rare and unatural color for Bostons to be...it indicates that there is a genetic defect in the dog. I wonder how true this is and if this is one of the reasons she is acting the way she does.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

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Posted by MrsSx2

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Posted by cateydee

Did anything change in the dog's setting when she started acting out against your DH? Did you move to a new place, did he move in with you, etc? Even a small thing like moving her bed can cause a shift in behavior.

She definitely needs both you AND dh to discipline her. Whoever is closer. DH has to be a big part of the disiplining if she is acting out on him.

Have you read any books on disciplining dogs? FWIW, I like Cesar Milan's style. Also, have you told your vet about her behavior? If it was an inbreeding problem, I feel like she would be acting out to others besides DH.

I have a pug, which, when puppies are hyper like BTs. After I got Joey fixed, a lot of his craziness subsided.

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Nothing really changed as far as our living situation. We got her while we were living together and we haven't moved or changed anything in the condo since she has been here.

I'm so afraid to let him disciplining her because the only way he knows how is to hit her..which he has done. She is so small...I get so worried that she will really get hurt. You're right though...we should both be doing the disciplining. I will look into cesar's books! Thats a great idea. Thanks!

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Yeah, hitting her is NOT going to help, its only going to make it worse. Your DH has to get on board with reading the books as well- GL!!!! I hope you dont have to give her up- thats heartbreaking!

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

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Posted by cateydee

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Posted by MrsSx2

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Posted by cateydee

Did anything change in the dog's setting when she started acting out against your DH? Did you move to a new place, did he move in with you, etc? Even a small thing like moving her bed can cause a shift in behavior.

She definitely needs both you AND dh to discipline her. Whoever is closer. DH has to be a big part of the disiplining if she is acting out on him.

Have you read any books on disciplining dogs? FWIW, I like Cesar Milan's style. Also, have you told your vet about her behavior? If it was an inbreeding problem, I feel like she would be acting out to others besides DH.

I have a pug, which, when puppies are hyper like BTs. After I got Joey fixed, a lot of his craziness subsided.

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Nothing really changed as far as our living situation. We got her while we were living together and we haven't moved or changed anything in the condo since she has been here.

I'm so afraid to let him disciplining her because the only way he knows how is to hit her..which he has done. She is so small...I get so worried that she will really get hurt. You're right though...we should both be doing the disciplining. I will look into cesar's books! Thats a great idea. Thanks!

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Yeah, hitting her is NOT going to help, its only going to make it worse. Your DH has to get on board with reading the books as well- GL!!!! I hope you dont have to give her up- thats heartbreaking!

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Thanks! I'm gonna do everything in my power to keep her...but I am sure her chances with DH are running out.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

I'm sorry to say this because it is obvious that you love your dog, but your dog is attacking people. Yes it might have just been the hubs for now, but do you really want to wait until your dog hurts a stranger, or you get sued?

My aunt had a yellow lab that always acted a little skiddish. One day, bam, attacked my little cousin.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Im still thinking... but just wanted to add that when I lived with my ex, we got my current dog and were trying to discipline and train him together . It was really tough. Exbf used to hit Joey all the time, throw him into the cage. Now whenever Joey sees me shutting the cage door he cowers or flinches. It breaks my heart.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

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Posted by cateydee

Im still thinking... but just wanted to add that when I lived with my ex, we got my current dog and were trying to discipline and train him together . It was really tough. Exbf used to hit Joey all the time, throw him into the cage. Now whenever Joey sees me shutting the cage door he cowers or flinches. It breaks my heart.

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Awwwww Poor Joey! Its sad, but thats some people's first and only reaction. I think DH's discipling her in the past has helped contribute to her actions as well. I think thats why she is so cautious around him. I usually grab her and put her in her cage ASAP when I see her starting to stalk him. I have to learn that dog whisperer trick where he gets them to calm down with the arm movement and sound!

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

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Posted by MrsSx2

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Posted by cateydee

Im still thinking... but just wanted to add that when I lived with my ex, we got my current dog and were trying to discipline and train him together . It was really tough. Exbf used to hit Joey all the time, throw him into the cage. Now whenever Joey sees me shutting the cage door he cowers or flinches. It breaks my heart.

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Awwwww Poor Joey! Its sad, but thats some people's first and only reaction. I think DH's discipling her in the past has helped contribute to her actions as well. I think thats why she is so cautious around him. I usually grab her and put her in her cage ASAP when I see her starting to stalk him. I have to learn that dog whisperer trick where he gets them to calm down with the arm movement and sound!

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i definitely agree with reading the cesar milan books together! also, it may be a long shot but he does a show and helps people with serious dog problems (and always tries to make sure a dog doesn;t end up in a shelter)...you could try going to the national geographic website and applying for the show, he works miracles!!!

here's the link and you can click on 'submit story' i think:

DOG WHISPERER

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Hmm I'm not sure what you could do to help, but one thing I do know is once she's in her crate- that's it. That's her safe zone. Don't put your hands in there with her, especially on her. We kinda effed that up with my other dog and now he hates his crate while my younger dog (who we crate trained the right way) loves hers.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

We had a similar problem with our cat and behavorial issues. Finally after we couldn't take it anymore we put him on some medicine the vet recommended. You can only put them on it for 30 days at a time, but I was told he kind of re-starts that area of their brain.

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

I would def ask the vet.
Like someone above mentioned, she might have pain somewhere in her body that your DH might have touched in the past and she remembers and associates the pain with him. She could also be trying to show she is the alpha in the house.

As for your comment about her being red, My friend has a red boston, karma. Karma is by far the SWEETEST dog EVER.. and very timid. She lives in a house with 3 other dogs, two of which are little psychos (a chihuahua and a jack russel mix)... She does have some health issues, she is blind in one eye and is deaf.. although everyone swears she can hear sometimes...
Now with that being said, there are different cases. My ex was once bitten by his neighbors white german Sheppard.. after about 8 years of knowing it and playing with it, just one day it jumped and bit his face... bad.
after some research he learned that white g.s's are known to snap and are supposed to be put down immediately (or so he read)..

IMHO, I think you should discuss this with the vet. if you can, video tape the dog if you notice she's in 'attack mode' and play the tape for the vet so they get a better idea of what is going on.

i hope it works out okay!





on a side note- do you remember when this started? I know you put her ferret down just before your wedding, were the ferret and dog close at all? did the attacks start after?

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Thanks!

She started acting like this before our ferret passed away. Daisy wasn't fond of the ferret at all. They never really interacted and the few times that they did Daisy tried to play really rough with her. I couldn't tell if she was attacking her or playing though.

It started around xmas 2009. She has always been a bully to our older dog...and we assumed it was because she was establishing that she was the Alpha between the 2 of them. Now we think she may be trying to establish that with DH.

Its been getting so stressful. I just love her to pieces...so does DH. She really is the sweetest dog...90% of the time. These attacks are becomming too common. I know DH has had it and the only reason he hasn't dropped her off at a shelter is because of me. My dogs are like my babies (as were all my pets in my lifetime) and I just cant give up on her..or give her away.

I'll call the vet and read the DW books. I will also see if i can get DH to admit that we need a trainer (and pay for one).

gahhhh this is too much!

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

i would take her to the vet. maybe the vet could put her on some meds or even suggest the training.

good luck
keep us posted

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

Re: Dog Troubles!! Help

I would take her to the vet ASAP. There may very well be something causing her to act up.