Help - young dog turning on old one

[helpyhelperton]

I have an 11 yr old schnauzer DG1 and a 2 year old mixed breed (poodle and shitzhu) DG2. Both female.

About a year ago DG2 went for DG1 when she sniffed her food bowl. I got really upset but was advised it's quite a normal thing.

Not happened since.

3 times in the last week (all when I'm not in the room and other family members are). DG2 has randomly gone for DG1. No food, toys or people involved.

She just snaps, screams (I've heard it not seen it) gnashes teeth, goes to bite her and then backs off.

DG1 seems confused and DG2 'looks' guilty.

This little dog is usually the sweetest, friendliest dog. Really calm and usually submissive to DG1.

Apparently, DG1, just now, turned to look at something (a tissue) and it seemed to make DG2 react - I can't be sure of the timings as I'm relying on 2 upset children to fill me in.

Please help - I'll book the vets to see if there's anything obvious with her - maybe making her feel ill?

I can't have this - poor old DG1 is just a typical old dog, can't see very well, in pain a lot with her back and doesn't really do much - certainly doesn't invoke anger in others. She barks a lot but was calm each time this has happened.

I'm so upset - what is the best thing to do?

Are they both neutered?

Yes! Have been since under a year.

I'm so upset - booked vets for little dog tomorrow.

Was she on the furniture when she turned?

Yes, both of them - about 2 foot apart on sofa. 2 teens the other side of the older dog.

Back to basics and off the furniture.

Could big old be poorly? My mil has had this when old dog was ill and young dog was asserting their dominance.

This was just what dd1 and i were musing. Can dg2 tell that dg1 is ill?

She has lumps all over her and is breathing really heavily - on top of arthritis and back problems. She has daily painkillers - seems happy enough - no real change in disposition at all - just as stubborn and lazy as always.

Had monthly injection at vets last week and she was checked over.

It sounds like your old girl is quite unwell - are the lumps just fatty or have they been investigated for potential cancer?

The younger dog senses the older dog is getting past her peak and is asserting her dominance. She does it when you are out of the room because she doesn't want your disapproval.

Vet said likely fatty lumps due to the feel and placement.

I would do everything I could to prevent this happening, feed in different rooms, don't leave them together unsupervised, make sure your older dog feels secure from younger.

It sounds like your older girl is in her twilight years so I would make the rest of her life as happy and stress free as possible. Don't start going back to basics and off the furniture, your older girl doesn't need that at this stage of her life.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/4947686-is-there-any-coming-back-from-our-dogs-fighting-or-do-we-need-to-rehome-one?reply=130903807

Is it you who posted this thread yesterday and a similar one recently?

No! This happened about 3 hours ago...I'll read the thread. It isn't fighting tho...

Really hard to say from the posts but sounds like Resource Guarding to me.

Do get a detailed vet check and not just a quick once over by the vet. Bloods and urine need checking at the very least.

Then get in a qualified behaviourist - once recommended by the vet with legit qualifications not one who off the internet who calls themselves a behaviourist.

This behaviour will not go away on its own it does need a behavioural plan. RG dogs are usually stressed dogs and lowering the stress levels will help

But what is she guarding? There hasn't been a 'resource' - at least not a physical one.

We've watched them over the last 3 hours, little dog is wary of old dog, waits to jump up and seems fiery submissive to her. She sniffed her old dog, laid next to her on top of me next to me the kids etc....

It's so odd...

You said she first went for the other dog when near her food

You said the other dog looked at something a tissue and the other dog reacted.

RG spreads like fire. It starts with something obvious a toy, food etc and then the dogs can literally just resource a space or an area.

However I have not seen the situation in rl so could be way off.

Either way vet check and qualified behaviourist is needed

Ah, ok - so resource could just be space on couch etc or person?

It's so weird and sudden - the food incident was over a year ago and we've seen nothing since then (someone is here all the time, but something could have happened when we're out) it's just that we've seen 3 incidents all in recent days.

And old dog had just turned her head - little dog was nowhere near the tissue and travelled the 2 foot to have a god at old dog.

Go at, not god!

I would get both dogs checked at the vets - probably starting with your old girl. I know she was there last week but dogs can deteriorate very quickly in their older years.

I want blood tests doing, a full physical and probably a urine/stool check as well.

This is so sad, the thought that my best friend might be ill and my little baby might have nasty behavioural
problems with is aimed at my old girl.

She has lumps all over her and is breathing really heavily -
I think this is why. The young one is realising that the older one is not at peak health and she's making a bid for dominance . Heavy breathing is a sign of intense and prolonged pain. Your dog might be hiding the pain at the vets but at home she is showing it. Dogs are hunters and their survival instincts are to kill (and in the wild eat) the weaker/dying animals.

Sorry - I miswrote - she is breathing really nasally - not heavily! Just noisy. Her pain injections work brilliantly.

She is really tough....she could be masking but she hasn't changed her activity levels or her eating/drinking habits.....