Agression or just a grumpy attitude??

[shay19]

Aida has been acting very bratty lately and I can't pinpoint the issue.

Her resource guarding has been going on for about 3 weeks, we worked on this before but since we've been getting new toys for Christmas she's back to claiming them all as her's/

Also her tolerance level varies throughout the day, I'm here while the 3 pups are out to supervise but I've noticed there's different things that get to her faster than they did before. Like Bruiser playing with Tiki, he loves to play with her since she'll wrestle around with him forever and she enjoys it too.

Also, just this morning she was laying on the bed after my fiance left and Bruiser started to scratch his head. She growled at him for it. I've never seen/heard her do that before.

I'm hoping that this all ties in with resource guarding since it's all showing up at once, but I honestly have no idea.

She's very good with Bruiser and Tiki and loves to play and run around with them, she's never growled while doing any playing. It just seems to be when she's waking up/sleepy kind of stuff.

I've also noticed her tolerance level at day care has changed, she loves going (hasn't been there for about a month or longer), the last time she was there she growled at a dog that had just come into the yard. I immediately pulled her out where she went in a cabin til all others were out, then she went up front behind the desk. She loves it there and does well, she gets along perfect with all the "office" dogs that are usually there. Although, I only took her on weekends where out numbers were small and no other office dogs. I haven't brought her again since I don't know what it was, but I do think it had something to do with the fact that it happened at 6:30 in the morning...?

Are her tolerance levels going down towards other dogs or this just simply a grumpy attitude in the morning?

[adoptapitbull]

How old is she? As dogs reach adulthood, sometimes their tolerance for other dogs changes. Or, a sudden change in attitute can mean something is wrong. Maybe she's in pain, or her thyroid is off. Keep an eye on it and keep track of all the instances where the unusual behavior happens.

[maryellen]

she is maturing, stop daycare and start rotations with your crew. if she is still guarding toys remove all toys.

[shay19]

She turned 1 in September. And she usually only acts this way about an hour after waking up (from all night, not a quick nap) and when she's getting ready to sleep (again, this is through the night not just with naps)

She has stopped daycare and I won't take her back.

She only guards the new toys, and only when she's put them in my lap to throw them. She's fine with all the "old" toys... Is there just a better way to introduce the new toys so she doesn't see them as her's?

[adoptapitbull]

I'd separate her from all the other dogs when there's a new toy. Play with the new toy with her for awhile, then remove it and place it where they can't steal it back.

[shay19]

We actually kind of do that already, we let each dog see it and let them figure it out then it goes away for about an hour and comes out. At that point she's fine with sharing, but when she wants to play fetch is when it becomes an issue, as soon as it hits my lap then its her toy and she'll growl if Bruiser tries to take it from me.

[sugar]

I would suggest taking the dog to the vet to rule out any medical problems. And def. crate and rotate until you know if its a behavior thing or a physical thing.

[maryellen]

i would also suggest no other dogs out when the toys are out.. if you want to play fetch fine, but other dogs are put away.. no need for a fight to break out if it can be avoided. put all toys away and only take them out when other dogs are away for her to play.

[shay19]

Sugar: definately working on getting her to the vet, not only for that but because she's eating almost twice as much as Bruiser (who's bigger than her and just as active) but she's having a harder time maintaining a good body weight.

ME: I will try that again. I did it when Tiki first came here since I thought it would trigger a fight, since she's had issues with resource gaurding before. It lead to her being destructive though, any suggestions for that since usually her toys keep her occupied so that she doesn't resort to chewing? I eventually gave up and gave them back to her since I was tired of chewed up shoes and clothes.

[maryellen]

at 1 year old her body is changing and growing again, so she can possibly be in the lanky growing stage..

i would get her a galileo nylabone or bully sticks or marrow bones and keep her separated from the other dogs when she has these items so she doesnt guard them.
i would also up her exercise... bored dogs tend to find things to do, so i would start doing more stuff with her- teach her more commands, teach her to be your slave and retrieve remotes,slippers, turn lights on, etc.. give her a job to do (that will benefit you on couch= Aida get slippers, aida get remote) if you give her a job and teach her more it will work her brain (which all dogs need mental exercise) and will tire her out that way too...

[maryellen]

also, at 1 she can be maturing and becoming less dog tolerant.. it is possible as some dogs will start to change at a 1 some at 2 some at 3..

[shay19]

Thanks ME

I'm really hoping it's just a growing thing at this point.

We'll definately start working on more commands, bully sticks are on their way, I also got her a couple dog IQ puzzle toys that she's been enjoying. When Christmas rolls around and I get some extra money she'll be going to the vet, plus getting a few more toys that will work her brain.

[pistis]

She sounds like my Lola. Lola grew up fine with other dogs as a puppy. She was very well socialized. The older she got, the less tolerant she became, and we also dropped the ball on her socializing at that point as well. She will do what Aida does when she's tired (the growly behavior). But, only when she's VERY tired/ well exercised/ sometimes just waking up. Now she is 21/2 years old. Our other dog is very DA so we just C&R. But, everything you described sounds very similar to what we went through with Lola. I was always hoping she'd always get along with other dogs. I'm ok with the fact that she hasn't as she's matured.

We kept them out together for about just over a year. Had several squabbles, 2 really bad ones, and finally realized we just had 2 dogs that would not always get along. And, although they may like and even miss each other at times, it's not worth the risk of them fighting and seriously injuring one another. It's rare if they're out together now and it will only last for a very short duration if they are. With leashes and blow horns on standby. Crazy pigs.

[loverocksalot]

Be sure to watch out with those bully sticks. No other dogs around. They are high value. When Rocky was younger human could not get bully stick from him without a fight. Although it can be taken from him now easily. no more taking off, he still gives a look that would probably set another dog into a tizzy.

[shay19]

Pistis: the only reason I think that it's not DA is because this stuff only happens when she's tired. I guess it still could be DA but I would think it would happen all the time, like every time she went to daycare, every time Bruiser tried to take a toy, etc. And it doesn't.. it's only when she's very tired... that's mostly why I think it's just her getting into the "teen years" and being grumpy.

CA: In my house treats like that aren't high value for them, which I find very odd, but they never have been. Even with Tiki... I've never once worried about a fight happening with a bully stick, especially since the pups all seperate themselves into different rooms. I'm still always there to watch but I've never once had an issue with it. In fact, getting up on the bed or couch would be more of a trigger in my home than a treat is.

[sugar]

Didn't someone recently put up an article somewhere on the boards about dogs acting aggressive when they are hurting? Maybe your pooch is arthritic or something (because it only happens after sleeping, which is long bouts of not moving much, or when she is tired, so many some joints or muscles were stressed and they are hurting)?

Just a thought.

[shay19]

wow.. never thought of that sugar. But it definately sounds like a posibility with how active she is... I've just never heard of it in a dog so young?

But next vet visit we'll look into it for sure.

[adoptapitbull]

She could have hip/elbow dysplasia at that age. Often misdiagnosed, it can be very painful. Dogs like Pits don't often show pain as other breeds do.

[michele5611]

Dec 16, 2010 13:26:20 GMT -5 sugar said:

Didn't someone recently put up an article somewhere on the boards about dogs acting aggressive when they are hurting? Maybe your pooch is arthritic or something (because it only happens after sleeping, which is long bouts of not moving much, or when she is tired, so many some joints or muscles were stressed and they are hurting)?

Just a thought.

therealpitbull.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bethebestguardianucanbe&action=display&thread=6525

[sugar]

Thx Michele, I totally had blanked!

Hey, don't go by age when it comes to illnesses or disease. Chubby has some arthritis in his back legs and he also has hemangiosarcma which surprised the vet because Chubby is only around 2ish.