I am 'that' person with an aggressive dog :( (fear aggression).

[Annesally2]

Backstory is, my dog was never like this before. She's 6. Something has changed.

I have had a really difficult week and I hope this won't be garbled as a result.

about half way down on p4 of this thread, it explains what happened at xmas.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/4435462-Did-I-do-the-right-thing-And-WTF-do-I-do-now-I-am-so-scared?pg=4

Which I think is lot if not all, of the reason for her change in behaviour.

If not wanting to read the post on that thread, basically at xmas my Dad really shouted at my dog, and snatched her bone off her that she'd just got.
My dog has never been shouted at like that before, she's generally always been a good dog and it hasn't been necessary. He was horrible, and was shouting at me and my Mum before this too. My dog hates shouting of any sort, when me and my ex were breaking up she'd hide if ex raised her voice even slightly.

I've had dog since she was very young, I weaned her. I know exactly what's happened or not happened with her 90% of the time. When I don't have her, my ex has her (we weaned her as a tiny puppy together) but ex is trustworthy with dogs, I am not worried about anything there.
Doesn't have her often anyway.

I live by myself. Of an evening I often take my dog to the local pub of an evening. It's a very dog friendly pub and area generally.

Everyone in the pub's always loved her, she's always been very sociable and happy for pets and strokes.

Recently, and although it wasn't apparent to me at first, since not long after I began going back in there after the xmas period (I don't like it when It's busy), she's changed.

She'll growl if people approach her, even if she's met them before. She seems very nervous. It was such a shock to me, like a personality change.

Twice more recently, she's actually snapped at people when they've gone to stroke her, luckily they've not been hurt and have been okay about it, but it cannot continue :(

The last (second) time this happened was last night.

I will of course not take her in there any longer, but that doesn't fix this issue. If anything it might make it worse as she doesn't like being left (what dog does) and she may become even less accustomed to being sociable.

She is obviously unhappy, and she was so nervous last night.
Immediately after it happened, the landlord (who adores her and her him) took her out for a quick walk and said she was so jumpy, and alert to every small noise.

Often I take her in late , when nobody is in apart from me and a couple of very regular punters and she's always absolutely fine then. Landlord has suggested I take her late, leave her in the car until only regulars are in and bring her in then, rather than leave her at home. What would be better in terms of helping her with this issue do you think? She doesn't mind being in the car at all, and It's a safe area and I can park right outside.

Another time, she was with me at my DP's house. We were about to leave, and dog was under table and wouldn't come out for some reason. Partner who again, she adores normally put her hand under to stroke her and she bit her hand. :(

Something has definitely upset her and my gut feeling is it was the incident at xmas.

She was always such a lovely dog. She's always been a bit on the nervous side but nothing unusual and never aggressive.

I know I need a behaviourist but there's just so many to choose from. I am going to get ringing around tomorrow.

I am also going to take her to the vet to make sure nothing physical is causing this, but she's been recently for a check so I doubt it.

DP says to go back to basics with ddog, train her as if she's not already been trained to sit, make sure she feels secure, don't let anyone else walk her for a while but me, make sure she sits to have her lead put on (she's quite excitable and admittedly I usually just put the lead on her while she's playing up/jumping about) etc etc... DP knows a fair bit about dogs as has worked with them for a long time before.

My main issue is, that dog is obviously upset, unhappy, and I feel so bad about that! But if she snaps at the wrong person, that's me prosecuted and her muzzled in public for life. Or worse :(

It's definitely fear. But I just feel so terrible.

I don't know what I want from this posts other than perhaps advice on what I can do that I may not have thought of, anyone who can empathise!I am absolutely devastated to be 'that' owner, and for my dog who's obviously changed for the worse. I don't blame her, I love her to bits and want this to work.

@Arucanafeather it is such a good point isn't it, I guess I'd never thought of it from that point of view that some people just see dogs as a sort of homogeneous group and don't appreciate that they're all individuals in their personalities. I get scared for children that aren't taught that. I've had more than a few instances, thankfully where children ask me nicely if they can stroke various dogs I've had over the years and I've always thanked them and praised them for asking. I'm not sure if she'd tolerate a jacket given her breed and size but I can but try!
And yes I'd probably snarl at a drunk person waking me up too
Thank you for that glimmer of hope. I will try my best to turn this back around. I used to be able to trust her with anybody :(

@DietOrDie thank you, good idea, I'm going to get one of those definitely, just looking to see if they have her size.
I heard the rule that dog threads must have photos, too.

She's adorable! The good thing with lead slips is that they're one size and can't bother the dog because they're on the lead not a coat. Only difficulty is that they don't help when the dog is off lead - but mine is much nicer off lead when he knows he can walk away. It's very fight vs flight

Hello cousin!

[quote DietOrDie]PS I've found these quite effective at keeping people from stroking DDog. It helps that it's a really clear instruction, and they'd have to be close enough to read it before they could stroke him anyway.

For the odd person who doesn't see it, it allows a sense of righteous indignation ("can't you read?! Why didn't you ask first? It's basic etiquette and there's a sign to remind you" etc etc)

www.saintroch.co.uk/ask-before-stroking-lead-cover-/-slip-p421.html[/quote]
Ooh they look great! Good for when they’re on the lead. I need a “if I’m barking it’s because I’m a little anxious” version for my little noisy furball.

Have you looked at the DTAS advice on FB? I’ve found it super helpful. Lots abs lots of guides for all situations, all entirely force free. Abs they’ll answer questions too.

In addition to everything else you're trying I would build her up to become comfortable spending more time alone at home. My dog can be nervous at times and he's much happier resting at home than feeling on edge in situations that he perceives as stressful - and that is what your dog is telling you here, that she is stressed.

I imagine she spends a lot of time relaxing / sleeping in the evenings anyway? Try to get her used to longer periods - maybe tire her out first with walks, leave her with a frozen kong or treat to work through, and set up a pet monitoring cam so that you can see how she is getting on.

@Arucanafeather I was very tempted by a "I'm just a knob" one I saw online once as that is my girl to a T.

@dietordie I see that now-link wouldn't load for me before. I've ordered one,thank you. And yes she is lovely generally, which makes this so sad for me. She's very cuddly. I've been trying to bond with her a bit more, taken her for walks rather than runs, played with her, made her sit for me, talked to her more.

@easterisoffeggstooexpensive Aww how gorgeous!Is s/he a husky?

@dogschewbones no I havent but I will : )

@suggestionsplease1 I work a lot of nights, but yes she does. I usually run with her when I get up. Someone walks her in the morning for me but I am going to put a stop to that and take her myself as soon as I finish instead.
She's fine at home, not destructive or such, has been left for long periods with no ill-affect but she isnt used to it and I don't really see anyone day to day unless I go to the pub, and she gets SO excited when she sees me getting ready, she knows where we're going and is giddy and bouncing... The regulars and landlord love her, she gets a huge fuss off them, but if others are in, there's a problem :(
But I'll feel SO bad leaving her!

I realise that was misleading. She's never alone really as I work from home, at least not for longer than it takes to go to the supermarket or such,and she's dog-sat from home if I go away anywhere, but she has been left for longer periods and is okay. It's just, I know she'll know where I'm going and wonder if I am punishing her I think. I can of course not go, but really I'd like the problem solved :)

You need to muzzle her in public starting immediately until and unless you can resolve her issues. I can understand what a hard position you are in, but you don’t have the right to inflict a dangerous dog on the public. Muzzling really isn’t that big of a deal. Being bitten by a dog is.

We used a muzzle for our not friendly ddog. She never flinched having to wear it. Was just part of pre walk atire....
Our dhusky is a joy. Thinks small ddogs are dcats and wants to get a bit too friendly as she loves our dcats! Never aggressive thankfully. So sorry your lovely ddog is becoming a worry.

@Easterisoffeggstooexpensive yes mine wouldn't mind. I had one on her to meet DP's dog, and she doesn't mind wearing one at the vet.