Post by msyoung on Jul 3, 2012 18:30:46 GMT -5
Hello everyone.
I'm looking for some advice on our grey and some first-time aggression he displayed that was highly unusual.
Today started off well: I took Guinness for a bath at the local Petsmart at noon, where they told me he was a complete joy to work with. He looked thrilled when I picked him up, and was super friendly with everyone. I decided to grab him a larger squeaky toy while I was there. Once I got him home, he took to it like a mini-friend and dragged it everywhere around the house.
Guinness usually likes to follow me around where ever I go in the house, and decided to bring his toy up to my den area. Since it is a little hot, he decided to lay across the hardwood floor, and relax. I left the room, and then came back a few minutes later. I stood over Guinness (about 1/2 a foot away from him), and he was staring at me for about 5-10 seconds while I told him he was a "good boy" and BOOM... he growls and lunges at the same time, brushing his gums across my leg. In retrospect, I think I was between his new toy and him.
Needless to say, I'm a bit shocked and took him immediately to his crate downstairs, and closed the door. I had a very firm tone with him to get him downstairs, but I didn't physically touch him except to guide him with his collar gently. He peed in his crate a few moments later, and wasn't quite the same dog for a while (aka, not very happy). I cleaned him and the mess, and took him outside for 10 mins to get a breather. Later I took him for a walk, and he seemed to be perfectly happy and did his business.
Is this all due to the possession of the toy? He's never shown any aggressive or dominant behaviour with me or any other person before. When I walk him (which is 2-3 times a day for at least 30 mins), he walks beside me or behind me in a passive manner.
Any thoughts? I've removed the toy in question, for the time being, to remove a potential cause of the aggression.
Thanks for any advice,
Mike
I'm looking for some advice on our grey and some first-time aggression he displayed that was highly unusual.
Today started off well: I took Guinness for a bath at the local Petsmart at noon, where they told me he was a complete joy to work with. He looked thrilled when I picked him up, and was super friendly with everyone. I decided to grab him a larger squeaky toy while I was there. Once I got him home, he took to it like a mini-friend and dragged it everywhere around the house.
Guinness usually likes to follow me around where ever I go in the house, and decided to bring his toy up to my den area. Since it is a little hot, he decided to lay across the hardwood floor, and relax. I left the room, and then came back a few minutes later. I stood over Guinness (about 1/2 a foot away from him), and he was staring at me for about 5-10 seconds while I told him he was a "good boy" and BOOM... he growls and lunges at the same time, brushing his gums across my leg. In retrospect, I think I was between his new toy and him.
Needless to say, I'm a bit shocked and took him immediately to his crate downstairs, and closed the door. I had a very firm tone with him to get him downstairs, but I didn't physically touch him except to guide him with his collar gently. He peed in his crate a few moments later, and wasn't quite the same dog for a while (aka, not very happy). I cleaned him and the mess, and took him outside for 10 mins to get a breather. Later I took him for a walk, and he seemed to be perfectly happy and did his business.
Is this all due to the possession of the toy? He's never shown any aggressive or dominant behaviour with me or any other person before. When I walk him (which is 2-3 times a day for at least 30 mins), he walks beside me or behind me in a passive manner.
Any thoughts? I've removed the toy in question, for the time being, to remove a potential cause of the aggression.
Thanks for any advice,
Mike