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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Help with anxious/aggressive jug

29 replies

willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 17:37

My dog is 7. We have had him, since 9 months. Toilet trained him, and gained his trust, all going well. We had a baby three years ago, dog doesn't dislike our 3 year old, they seem to get along fine. Also have two older children, dog gets along fine with these also.

We noticed after having the baby that the dog would bark when people left. We moved house a year ago and it's got so much worse, he is now attacking people when they leave. I will pick him up or direct him into another room but he is yapping away the whole time.

I take the brunt. Whenever I leave he will bite me if I don't block him. He launches, bites and then releases. I have lots of broken skin bites on my shins.

All other times he is great. I'm at my wits end. I'm fed up of being attacked. He sometimes goes for older child (14) but mostly just me.

He is currently on some medication from the vets, it's only been a few days so we don't see any improvement yet, it's supposed to calm him.

Vet said he isn't unwell if injured.

He's a jack russell cross pug (we think), has terrible recall and is really stubborn. We have taken to shutting him in the kitchen when we leave now (access to sofa and conservatory) but he's still upset.

We know that when we are out he rests, as we have recorded him.

Please can anyone advise?

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 17:40

You need to call a behaviourist. And stop picking him up.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 17:41

@biscuitsandbooks why?

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 17:44

Because most dogs hate it and it's likely to be making the situation much worse as you're restricting his movement and increasing his frustration levels.

This behaviour is dangerous - if he bites a child he could be put to sleep. You need to see a professional ASAP.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 18:01

@biscuitsandbooks I've just contacted a trainer, hopefully they will contact me asap and we can get the ball rolling. You're right, I can't deal with this myself

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 18:05

You need a behaviourist rather than a trainer IMO. Biting isn't something to take lightly. You want someone APBC registered if possible.

CornishPorsche · 01/02/2025 18:08

Does he have a crate? If not, it might be a good time to introduce him to one for when you leave the house. Lots of treats and encouragement for going in it. Nice comfy bed that only lives in there. Calm, safe spot for him to be.

Dog is no longer allowed anywhere near anyone leaving the house whether that's the hallway he is banned from or the living room.

This is a huge safety issue even in a small dog as you have a small child.

Change the entire process of you or someone else leaving the house.

Springflowersmakeforbetterhours · 01/02/2025 18:17

Imo he doesn't get to socialise with guests until he can behave.. When the front door opens he is removed by a collar and lead not a carry and taken to another room /other side of a baby gate.. When guests have left and the door is shut he comes out....

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 18:19

@biscuitsandbooks he is a behaviouralist, that's what I meant.

@CornishPorsche we are buying him a cage to put in the kitchen, that will be his safe space. He relaxes with us in the living room or kitchen generally.

OP posts:
LandSharksAnonymous · 01/02/2025 18:22

You can't just put a dog in a crate (not a cage) and expect it to solve everything. Crate training takes weeks, or months, to do properly. It is not an easy fix - particularly for a dog with serious issues.

I've got to be honest, if one of my dogs bit or 'went for' one of my kids...they'd be down the vets and PTS to same day. End of.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 18:25

I understand, I'm not looking for a quick fix. I know this will take time. We don't want to put him to sleep as he's such a good pup otherwise, and was so before this started happening.

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 01/02/2025 18:27

I personally wouldn't start introducing crates or treats to a situation where the dog is already in fight or flight mode, you risk him becoming even more anxious and stressed.

By all means start the process of crate-training, but you need to do it when there are no guests and when you're not planning on leaving the room, so that the association with that space is entirely positive.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 18:34

Ok, I won't get a crate. I'll wait until we have seen behaviouralist to make any changes

OP posts:
Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 18:34

All great advice. I really appreciate it

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 01/02/2025 18:53

Until you see the behaviourist

can you not just take him elsewhere before people leave? Go put him in another room, then they go…

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:03

@tabulahrasa we do do this. He has started ripping apart the bottom of our doors. I spoke to a behaviouralist a month or so back and she recommended trying a room where he can see us, so I tried behind baby gate to kitchen but he still reacts. Tried shutting him in conservatory where he can see us through glass, and no better. He's still yapping and wanting to get free. We were also keeping a short lead attached to his collar at home when guests were there, so he could be walked to another room before they left. But he kept standing on the lead and tripping himself so we stopped

OP posts:
Stormwhatnow · 01/02/2025 19:10

Please look here for a clinical animal behaviourist, which is what you need.

https://www.apbc.org.uk/find-an-apbc-member/

Don't waste your money on trainers or someone who calls theirselves a behaviouralist, there is no such thing!
You need a qualified educated CAB. Behaviour medication is not a good idea without behaviour modification. It can actually worse the situation.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:14

@Stormwhatnow I've contacted someone local to me to see if they can come to my home to see the dog. I won't bother with the other person, as he doesn't have any qualifications listed

OP posts:
Stormwhatnow · 01/02/2025 19:20

I hope they can help. Sounds very stressful.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:21

@Stormwhatnow it really is. But we know this needs some serious intervention now so we are all in and hoping for the best for our dog.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 01/02/2025 19:41

willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:03

@tabulahrasa we do do this. He has started ripping apart the bottom of our doors. I spoke to a behaviouralist a month or so back and she recommended trying a room where he can see us, so I tried behind baby gate to kitchen but he still reacts. Tried shutting him in conservatory where he can see us through glass, and no better. He's still yapping and wanting to get free. We were also keeping a short lead attached to his collar at home when guests were there, so he could be walked to another room before they left. But he kept standing on the lead and tripping himself so we stopped

Ah right

letting him see sounds like odd advice to me tbh, but not a professional so 🤷‍♀️

what happens if he doesn’t get to see or meet visitors?

One of mine goes in a bedroom with a Kong and a white noise machine on for visitors, not for the same reasons but just wondering if it might be a short term fix?

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:46

@tabulahrasa I did think the same but tried it anyway. I will try that, but I'm not sure if he would respond well as he is very responsive to the door going or a car pulling up outside and is excited to greet people.

OP posts:
KeenOtter · 01/02/2025 19:51

Short term chuck treats into the room (away from the direction people are leaving) you want him to go into when people leave. Keep him busy with treats until they have left.

Do make sure you are seeing a qualified behaviourist best to get one referred from your vet. They will have to speak to your vet anyway.

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:53

@KeenOtter that's a good idea, I'll call my vet!
And we've tried the treats thing, he doesn't respond to food as a reward, he only eats when he's seemingly hungry

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 01/02/2025 20:12

willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 19:46

@tabulahrasa I did think the same but tried it anyway. I will try that, but I'm not sure if he would respond well as he is very responsive to the door going or a car pulling up outside and is excited to greet people.

That’s why mine also has a white noise machine - he gets to listen to rain instead 😂

We tried a few different things to mask noise, that’s what we settled on, but even a radio or something might help? Especially as it’s just a management thing for just now until you have a training plan in place

Original poster
willsandnoodle · 01/02/2025 21:08

@tabulahrasa I will definitely give it a go! I'm going to order one on Amazon now

OP posts: