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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

dog is growling in the kitchen & I cant get him out

75 replies

coffeelover3 · 29/11/2020 21:09

He's a lovely dog normally but this house has a lot of doors and I think he gets scared. He's between the kitchen door and the fridge. I've tried him with treats, with getting his lead out and putting on my coat and he wont budge. I cant get to the fridge ! I tried to open the freezer door - under the fridge-freezer - but he went mental at me. He's in the kitchen now growling at nothing - I'm in the other room. What should I do. I don't know why he's doing this. He started it in a another room between the sofa and the door, and I had to block him from going into that space. Anyone any tips - if I throw treats out of hte kitchen he dashes out, eats them and dashes back to his 'spot'. I'm actually scared

OP posts:
Claudiawinklemansfringe · 29/11/2020 21:23

Is he Diabetic? Just that I had a lovely big old cat who went totally mad one day, I had to shut him in the kitchen too...he fell asleep... so I managed to get in and gently approach then take him to vet. Turned out my cat had developed diabetes and the weird behaviour was due to it..

Gooseybby · 29/11/2020 21:23

*children and others

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 29/11/2020 21:23

Rodents?

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 29/11/2020 21:24

I would leave him there just now. Stick his bed in the room, make sure he has water and some treats. If he's come round before, he likely will again bit definitely needs to see a vet. Could be that he's getting pain from somewhere, could be he's had a stroke, could be dementia but if he's aggressive he needs to be checked out.

HadEnoughOfBears · 29/11/2020 21:24

If he's a cocker spaniel he probably guarding something. Has he been sick? Even if he ate it afterwards the area will still smell of it or there might be some bile left.

Leonberger · 29/11/2020 21:25

Sounds something brain or pain orientated, seizures etc can cause this as can more sinister things such as brain tumours. I’ve seen this before quite a few times now and owners have been injured so I would suggest leaving well alone until you can safely move him to a vet.

I don’t think it’s likely to be behavioural if it’s switching on and off so quickly although it could be a severe resource guarding issue.

I personally would never trust him again after displaying behaviour like this, whatever the reason.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 29/11/2020 21:25

Has he done this before? Is it a new house? Is he fixated on any particular spot like he's maybe heard mice?

Does he seem to know you? I don't want to worry you OP but a sudden behaviour change like this, it could be a stroke, he should see a vet urgently. Obviously without seeing him, we can't really advise. He might be hearing or seeing something you cant. One of mine sometimes spends all night sitting on the landing, snarling at the loft hatch, scares the shit out of me. Think there might be squirrels or something up there.

mineofuselessinformation · 29/11/2020 21:32

Would you feel safe going in and sitting somewhere where you are not close to the door, and so he feels he can come to you if he wants?
If not, then I think you should call a vet out.
If you do, try it - but if he is still showing aggression then he needs help.

Autumnblooms · 29/11/2020 21:36

Sounds like he needs vet attention as something is obviously wrong. I’d keep everyone away from him and leave him to it until you can take him vets.

Original poster
coffeelover3 · 29/11/2020 21:40

He's moved back in behind the door to the kitchen - the door opens onto the fridge - the doors annoy me in this house, especially in the kitchen where the door opens into the kitchen so you cant get to the fridge if the door is open. When we moved in I thought about seeing if that door could just be removed. Anyway that's where he is now. He's very loud. I think this started with the fireworks in the last couple of weeks. He'd go in behind the sofa and wouldn't come out. Maybe he can hear fireworks and we cant. I don't know, but it seems like 'rage'. Will get him to the vet for a checkup. It's like a random spot. I don't think there's any food there for him to guard. Its something to do with the door - same in the other room, he'd go behind the door and then the sofa would be blocking him in and he would get all growly about it. so we just don't let him go in there any more.

OP posts:
MrsShelton · 29/11/2020 21:43

how will op physically get him to the vets?

will he go with her?

justasking111 · 29/11/2020 21:43

@coffeelover3

he's 9. he's a black cocker spaniel. I had him out today and he seemed grand, he was chasing balls. I better get him to a vet tomorrow. He did this before in the other room, and we just went to bed and left him to it, and he was fine again in the morning, so I don't know. He's moved away from the fridge now but he's in the doorway of the kitchen. I was able to squeeze past him but I'm not letting the kids go near him.
Sounds like he may have had a TIA mine had this in old age. Leave him alone to recover quietly, it is frightening, I had a toddler in the kitchen with me at the time. He will need to see a vet.
Bramleyapples13 · 29/11/2020 21:46

My OH mum had a cocker that had spaniel rage. It's mostly the solid colour ones because of inbreeding to get the solid colour. It bit her quite badly a few times and became really dangerous. I'd be ringing the vets.

CarolinaPink · 29/11/2020 21:47

Sorry to hear this, OP. Hopefully it's nothing, but as others have said, it could be something neurological. I hope you can get him to the vet in the morning, and let us know how you get on x

Veterinari · 29/11/2020 21:48

@coffeelover3

There's no evidence that cocker rage exists.

Noise phobia would be my first thought - it's often associated with pain which is likely in a dog with underlying arthritis that's spent a morning chasing balls.

My suggestion would be to get him get checked for pain/arthritis and start meds.

Seek behavioural advice for noise phobia/resource guarding

Veterinari · 29/11/2020 21:48

In the meantime give him space and leave him alone as much as possible.

Lollyneenah · 29/11/2020 21:49

Bless him. If hes still upset in the morning I'd ask if the vet can prescribe a gentle sedative that you can sneak in a treat, then get him to the surgery asap

Dogsanddrums · 29/11/2020 21:50

Not much help for right now but have you tried a thunder jacket? They calm my highly strung rescue dog right down the minute you put it on. Can buy them from Pets at Home and might help if it is fireworks

MNHQ
EstherMumsnet · 29/11/2020 21:50

Hi OP we are moving this to the 'The doghouse' area now..

WiddlinDiddlin · 29/11/2020 21:50

Rage syndrome or seizure would not result in a dog guarding somewhere and then coming out for treats and dashing back in.

Does he have a history of guarding stuff?

How has that been addressed in the past - no judgement here, but if he has been punished by shouting/hitting/etc for taking stuff, for growling at you over stuff.. for some dogs its a VERY quick progression to maladaptive guarding behaviour.

For now, leave him in there, make sure he has food water etc, make sure everyone else in the house is safe.

Speak to a vet but probably better, speak to a behaviourist and if you can get video footage without specifically setting him up to trigger the behaviour (you might have to though) do so.

Pain can cause guarding of spaces, so if you've any reason to suspect that do talk to a vet, any sudden change in behaviour should result in a vet visit/conversation, but it may be a behaviourist in this instance is the first step so that you can actually see a vet.

Do not confront, do not punish, do not force unless you have absolutely no choice for his safety and yours.

WiddlinDiddlin · 29/11/2020 21:54

Btw, cocker rage is incredibly rare and possibly doesn't even exist.. but typically the dog attacks ANYTHING in front of it, inanimate objects etc... its likely to be a sort of seizure, with the dog unaware of what it is attacking.

Every single case of 'cocker rage' I have seen has been maladaptive resource guarding caused by a combination of poor genetics and punishment based handling.

FourDecades · 29/11/2020 21:57

Video him to show the vet

SynchroSwimmer · 29/11/2020 21:58

I have noticed among a number of dogs - they can behave differently in low-light conditions. I would say try putting all of the lights on, sit and read, look relaxed and see if that makes a difference to him, if he will approach you then.

Also a warning I saw a couple of days ago about plug in air fresheners - some being toxic - a dog being very ill when exposed to tea-tree oil in one of those.

Growapair · 29/11/2020 22:03

[quote Veterinari]@coffeelover3

There's no evidence that cocker rage exists.

Noise phobia would be my first thought - it's often associated with pain which is likely in a dog with underlying arthritis that's spent a morning chasing balls.

My suggestion would be to get him get checked for pain/arthritis and start meds.

Seek behavioural advice for noise phobia/resource guarding [/quote]
There is plenty of evidence that ‘cocker rage’ exists, or ‘sudden aggression onset’ as it’s more commonly known. Far more common in male, solid colour cockers than other breeds/colours/sex.
Obviously a trip to the vets is needed op

WhySoSensitive · 29/11/2020 22:03

Cocker rage is also ‘known’ (although very rare) to be in red cockers, not black.

Is he pressing his head at all? Sudden behaviour changes like this can be neurological/brain tumour related. If there’s any pressing of his head or learning himself onto things it’s something to be checked.
It can also be noise, fear, anxiety, things they can hear that you can’t etc.

Leave him to recover himself and a full vet check ASAP tomorrow.