Witts end with aggression.

[Bizzymammabee]

So let me just preface this with Bella recently went for her annual and received a clean bill of health. Bella is now 5 years old and we have had her since she was a baby. When we first got her she was pretty shy and did well with Tyson. As she got older, she started being bossy, and would shove him away from his bowl and eat his food. Lots of correction went on including allowing him to eat first and then giving her the signal to come eat. I also do not feed them next to each other. Around the time she got her first heat we noticed her getting a bit snippy with him. Figured it was due to her being in heat because right after she was back to normal. She was spayed right after that first heat. Over the years she has become more and more dominant. Definitely showing those terrier instincts and dominance. She has grabbed raccoons and a squirrel in the past that dared to be out in her yard. Anyways, she is becoming more and more aggressive with Tyson. There are times she is asleep and will wake and run over and attack him. On Sunday I had to break up at least 8 attempted attacks on him. She is not happy when anyone comes into the house that does not live here. If someone comes over, I usually crate her until she settles down and will then let her out. We have a shared driveway and I have to look out to make sure my neighbor is not out before I open that door. They have lived there four years now, and she will still run up and bark and growl at them. There is not a day that I don't have to break up an attack on Tyson. I am worried and getting to the end of my rope. I so want to help her become balanced. I would love to take her to a trainer but she gets sever anxiety and does not do well in the car. I am at a point where I will probably have to utilize a vet that is within walking distance of my home even though I wasn't impressed with their bedside manner the one time I did use them.

Honestly any tidbit of help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[2BullyMama]

I know you said she had a recent health check, but did they check her thyroid levels?

as for the car, have you tried Xanax? Banks hated the car and we gave her Xanax 20 mins before leaving the house. It settled her just enough that she would not be a mess when in the car.

 

[Bizzymammabee]

I know you said she had a recent health check, but did they check her thyroid levels?

as for the car, have you tried Xanax? Banks hated the car and we gave her Xanax 20 mins before leaving the house. It settled her just enough that she would not be a mess when in the car.

Nope on both the Xanax and the thyroid test. I made an appt with a vet that is within walking distance for tomorrow. I had tried them at the beginning of covid and got an appt with the owner of the practice. I wasn’t all that thrilled with her. I am a big fan of a good bedside manner, especially during what is a getting to know you visit. There is another vet in the practice so I am going to give him a shot. I am going to ask him to run the panel. I will also ask for some xanax for the car, just in case I end up not liking him either and want to get to my regular vet. Any additional things you think I should ask for?

Our last car ride was traumatic for all of us. I really thought she was going to die on me on the trip home.

 

[Cbrugs]

I agree on having thyroid checked.

 

[Bizzymammabee]

Just got some info on the new vet in the practice. Seems like he did a bit of a residency in animal behavior from

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital. ​

 

[Bizzymammabee]

I know you said she had a recent health check, but did they check her thyroid levels?

as for the car, have you tried Xanax? Banks hated the car and we gave her Xanax 20 mins before leaving the house. It settled her just enough that she would not be a mess when in the car.

I had a full panel run. Everything came back within normal range. Yesterday was so stressful. We walked over to the new vets office. She had a total anxiety attack in the place. They ended up giving her a shot of tramadol to calm her. Worked for about 2 minutes so they were able to get the blood drawn. Back to total melt down right after. I asked my husband to come pick us up because no way would she be able to walk home. The ride is about 4 minutes max, boy that anxiety attack was a doozie. Got her home and out the car, and cried while we sat in the driveway, and she freaked out. Took her almost an hour to calm down and get proper color back. She wouldn’t eat last night. Gave me the cold shoulder all last night and this morning, even going as far as to sleeping in the living room in her crate. I had to have my husband feed her in order to get her to eat a bit.

I am emotionally spent from this visit. I really need to find a vet with a Mobil unit, because no way can I deal with that again, or subject her to that much stress. I dropped off the urine this morning and they discussed trying gabapantin or gaba and trazodine mix to help her for any follow up visits.

 

[ddnene]

I had a full panel run. Everything came back within normal range. Yesterday was so stressful. We walked over to the new vets office. She had a total anxiety attack in the place. They ended up giving her a shot of tramadol to calm her. Worked for about 2 minutes so they were able to get the blood drawn. Back to total melt down right after. I asked my husband to come pick us up because no way would she be able to walk home. The ride is about 4 minutes max, boy that anxiety attack was a doozie. Got her home and out the car, and cried while we sat in the driveway, and she freaked out. Took her almost an hour to calm down and get proper color back. She wouldn’t eat last night. Gave me the cold shoulder all last night and this morning, even going as far as to sleeping in the living room in her crate. I had to have my husband feed her in order to get her to eat a bit.

I am emotionally spent from this visit. I really need to find a vet with a Mobil unit, because no way can I deal with that again, or subject her to that much stress. I dropped off the urine this morning and they discussed trying gabapantin or gaba and trazodine mix to help her for any follow up visits.

I'm so very sorry to read this... have you tried using CBD oil? I'm not sure what they give dogs for prolonged anxiety... that sounds to me like what is driving this erratic behavior.

We have dealt w/aggression issues with our female Willow... it's only directed toward Walter though. I can literally see it on her before she lunges at him... and there are days that she spends hours in the crate to get her to calm down. I have had 2 trainers come out here... and we have figured out her triggers, but sometimes she's just having an OFF day. One thing I have noticed is that if I'm consistent on short walks, or having a good play session she's too tired to start her "drama".

I just wanted you to know that you're not the only one dealing w/this... I hope that you get to the bottom of what's going on soon!!!

 

[2BullyMama]

I had a full panel run. Everything came back within normal range. Yesterday was so stressful. We walked over to the new vets office. She had a total anxiety attack in the place. They ended up giving her a shot of tramadol to calm her. Worked for about 2 minutes so they were able to get the blood drawn. Back to total melt down right after. I asked my husband to come pick us up because no way would she be able to walk home. The ride is about 4 minutes max, boy that anxiety attack was a doozie. Got her home and out the car, and cried while we sat in the driveway, and she freaked out. Took her almost an hour to calm down and get proper color back. She wouldn’t eat last night. Gave me the cold shoulder all last night and this morning, even going as far as to sleeping in the living room in her crate. I had to have my husband feed her in order to get her to eat a bit.

I am emotionally spent from this visit. I really need to find a vet with a Mobil unit, because no way can I deal with that again, or subject her to that much stress. I dropped off the urine this morning and they discussed trying gabapantin or gaba and trazodine mix to help her for any follow up visits.

Does she have the same attack with you husband?

i think @Libra926 uses Prozac to help her girl with the anxiety

 

[cali baker]

So let me just preface this with Bella recently went for her annual and received a clean bill of health. Bella is now 5 years old and we have had her since she was a baby. When we first got her she was pretty shy and did well with Tyson. As she got older, she started being bossy, and would shove him away from his bowl and eat his food. Lots of correction went on including allowing him to eat first and then giving her the signal to come eat. I also do not feed them next to each other. Around the time she got her first heat we noticed her getting a bit snippy with him. Figured it was due to her being in heat because right after she was back to normal. She was spayed right after that first heat. Over the years she has become more and more dominant. Definitely showing those terrier instincts and dominance. She has grabbed raccoons and a squirrel in the past that dared to be out in her yard. Anyways, she is becoming more and more aggressive with Tyson. There are times she is asleep and will wake and run over and attack him. On Sunday I had to break up at least 8 attempted attacks on him. She is not happy when anyone comes into the house that does not live here. If someone comes over, I usually crate her until she settles down and will then let her out. We have a shared driveway and I have to look out to make sure my neighbor is not out before I open that door. They have lived there four years now, and she will still run up and bark and growl at them. There is not a day that I don't have to break up an attack on Tyson. I am worried and getting to the end of my rope. I so want to help her become balanced. I would love to take her to a trainer but she gets sever anxiety and does not do well in the car. I am at a point where I will probably have to utilize a vet that is within walking distance of my home even though I wasn't impressed with their bedside manner the one time I did use them.

Honestly any tidbit of help would be greatly appreciated.

You've already gotten lots of great advice/feedback so I just wanted to add to what Tracey said, you are definitely NOT alone! Finn was very shy when I first brought him home at 12weeks of age but after adjusting to his new home, that changed completely. He became dominant over Tate and would start fights with him. And it's been 10 plus years of this kind of behavior. I've taken them both to trainers and also had a trainer come into our home a couple years ago. At this point, I just watch out for triggers and try to be as "preventative" as possible so a fight doesn't break out. Finn gets a lot of crate-time too (thankfully, he loves his crate as it's his safe-haven). Even in his senior years, Finn is still aggressive and needs to be boss. Again like @ddnene , I've found that activity during the day does help ease his aggression since he's too pooped out to do anything.

Maybe you can research your area and see if a dog trainer can come to your home so you don't need to drive Bella anywhere. I think the gabapentin/trazodone are good ideas for her as these meds will definitely calm her down.

Keep us posted!

 

[Bizzymammabee]

You've already gotten lots of great advice/feedback so I just wanted to add to what Tracey said, you are definitely NOT alone! Finn was very shy when I first brought him home at 12weeks of age but after adjusting to his new home, that changed completely. He became dominant over Tate and would start fights with him. And it's been 10 plus years of this kind of behavior. I've taken them both to trainers and also had a trainer come into our home a couple years ago. At this point, I just watch out for triggers and try to be as "preventative" as possible so a fight doesn't break out. Finn gets a lot of crate-time too (thankfully, he loves his crate as it's his safe-haven). Even in his senior years, Finn is still aggressive and needs to be boss. Again like @ddnene , I've found that activity during the day does help ease his aggression since he's too pooped out to do anything.

Maybe you can research your area and see if a dog trainer can come to your home so you don't need to drive Bella anywhere. I think the gabapentin/trazodone are good ideas for her as these meds will definitely calm her down.

Keep us posted!

I do remember you posting about Finn being a little trouble maker. I am constantly in preventative mode with her. It's funny because you can really see a change in her eyes when she is getting ready to jump off. I can't really pinpoint any triggers. Just happens out of no where. It's crazy that she can actually be aware of her oncoming episode and will take herself into her crate at times. Love her crazy ass to pieces. Going to see if I can get a trainer to come to the house. I am also going to start taking her for walks with the weather cooling down. Even a walk around the block will be a good help to tire her out.

I need to find a trainer and a vet with a mobile unit. Can't subject either one of us to the car or vets office visits again.

 

[Bizzymammabee]

Does she have the same attack with you husband?

i think @Libra926 uses Prozac to help her girl with the anxiety

I am usually the one doing all the vetting and stuff. He has come with me in the past and come to pick us up after the fact. She is the same no matter who is with her.

 

[Bizzymammabee]

I'm so very sorry to read this... have you tried using CBD oil? I'm not sure what they give dogs for prolonged anxiety... that sounds to me like what is driving this erratic behavior.

We have dealt w/aggression issues with our female Willow... it's only directed toward Walter though. I can literally see it on her before she lunges at him... and there are days that she spends hours in the crate to get her to calm down. I have had 2 trainers come out here... and we have figured out her triggers, but sometimes she's just having an OFF day. One thing I have noticed is that if I'm consistent on short walks, or having a good play session she's too tired to start her "drama".

I just wanted you to know that you're not the only one dealing w/this... I hope that you get to the bottom of what's going on soon!!I

Is it not the nuttiest thing to see the change come over them. Sorry that you are also dealing with it. What are Willow's triggers? I am looking into the CBD oil. I purchased NaturVet - Hemp Quiet Moments calming aid. It contains Melatonin and Ginger. I gave her one the other day when she was riled up and it seemed to help.

 

[ddnene]

Is it not the nuttiest thing to see the change come over them. Sorry that you are also dealing with it. What are Willow's triggers? I am looking into the CBD oil. I purchased NaturVet - Hemp Quiet Moments calming aid. It contains Melatonin and Ginger. I gave her one the other day when she was riled up and it seemed to help.

Most of the time it has to do with Walter getting attention, especially if it involves visitors. She gets to the point where she tries to escort him OUT of the kitchen, or away from us so that he's not getting any attention at all.

But sometimes it makes absolutely NO sense... she attacked him on a walk because another dog (in his fenced yard) was barking at them. Most of time Walter just puts up with her madness, but sometimes he goes after her and then it gets bad.

We tried CBD oil on her, and it didn't seem to make a difference. I need to try the Quiet Moments!!! Lol

 

[Bizzymammabee]

Most of the time it has to do with Walter getting attention, especially if it involves visitors. She gets to the point where she tries to escort him OUT of the kitchen, or away from us so that he's not getting any attention at all.

But sometimes it makes absolutely NO sense... she attacked him on a walk because another dog (in his fenced yard) was barking at them. Most of time Walter just puts up with her madness, but sometimes he goes after her and then it gets bad.

We tried CBD oil on her, and it didn't seem to make a difference. I need to try the Quiet Moments!!! Lol

Sound like we are experiencing the same exact issues. That Quiet Moments did help her when I gave it to her. She seems to like it. The directions say you can give it to them for up to three months at a time. For her weight it's two pills a day. The first two days I did give her the two pills, one in the morning when she started up and one later when it looks like it wore off and she was ready to throw down again. She has been settling down some. So I have only had to give it to her once a day as needed. You can totally see it taking effect on her and it seems to work quickly. She gets very mellow.