Aggression in Labrador.

[Clumsywithwords]

I had originally posted this “in the doghouse” but thought I’d put here too for more advice.

Looking for a bit advice regarding our 8yr old Lab.

We rehomed her when she was 18 months and she has been a great family dog (3 DC) but she has always had form to be a bit grumpy.

Mainly guarding her areas, ie bed, boot of car etc and thankfully all children were old enough to understand boundaries and we have managed this quite well. She has never bitten any of them and it actually Just became a bit of joke that she just thought she was one of the girls (3 DD’s) and sister bickering especially as she generally very affectionate and a happy dog.

She also however has always been quite worried around strangers and I’ve never quite trusted around DC friends, always put her away when people are over or we have work man etc around as she could be quite reactive, again not biting, just more growling/warning behaviour.

She is very well behaved around other dogs and doesn’t show anything else other than playfulness.

The last month however things have escalated somewhat and we have now had 4 incidents of her really snarling/snapping at people. The 1st incident we ruled out as not her fault as one of DD’s friends tried to stroke her on her bed, our fault for not getting in their 1st. 2nd time another friend patted her (dog had approached her in a communal space) girl has dogs and was completely correct in the way she responded to her, hand under rather than over, no squeaky voice or full on eye contact and dog actually snapped and bit her, scratched the skin and broke her bracelet, 3rd was probably the worst, DH had picked DD (17) up after college, DD had turned round to speak to dog and she had snapped at her face, didn’t catch her but DD said she had to dodge out the way.

I know wrong this down that this is quite serious, I can’t have a dog showing behaviours like this to DC or anyone who visits but she is normally such a lovely dog that I’m hoping there might be something we can do.

I have booked a vet appointment for next week to get her checked over in case there is something sore that is making her extra grumpy but from what I’ve wrote is there something I may have missed…

I did wonder if DD’s friend patting her in her bed (again kicking myself) might have been the catalyst and made her extra wary, maybe hormones (is that a thing in older bitches) or maybe just getting more grumpy in old age but any advice would be welcomed

sorry this is is happening to you OP. It's very stressful , distressing and upsetting

We rehomed and adolescent dog as well and you never really know what you are dealing with and that is the key to all this - it is not your fault.

Secondly it's I usually this behaviour has escalated over 8 years so suddenly so yes get check is essential. I am no behaviour expert but I don't think a person stoking her in her bed would have escalated to this so see them all as individual incident rather than a trigger and reaction.

There are lots of behaviourist out there. Just be careful who you pick. They and avoid ones who either medicate or won't see your dog face to face - I've seen one that does it all on zoom! I think it will be beyond this if scatter feeding and distraction don't work instantly then you will need a behaviourist.

In the mean time muzzle train your dog with a Baskerville muzzle and lock any access to your house so delivery driver can't get into the garden and so on. And dog can't escape. Keep in lead.

Try not to crate dog when visitors come just separate in another room.

I can't suggest what our behaviourist said as it won't be relavent. Ours I four and calmed down.

Sorry OP

I would look up other warning behaviours too, such as wide/whale eye, lip licking, yawning and observe your dog to see if she is doing these.

www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/stress-in-dogs

Also any changes in home environment recently, including scented products?

Edit

it is unusual this has suddenly escalated at 8 years old so vet check essential.

@itsnotyouagain thank you, these were behaviours I noted from the moment we got her. I had never had dogs (DH had) and with at the time my youngest being 6.

I did a lot of research so that we would be aware of warning signs.

Not so much the wide eyes but she has always mouth licked and yawned and I know then she uncomfortable with a situation.

I'm no expert and getting vet check is the right way to go, could it be loss of earing or sight, so getting startled.