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Vivienne Barnes | 7 years ago
My Eight Year Old Cocker Spaniel Is A Great Wee Dog, Friendly And Not At…

My eight year old Cocker Spaniel is a great wee dog, friendly and not at all cross and super with my grandchildren. However when the baby visits and cries Holly gets agitated and restless. No sign of aggression but the sound seems to really upset her. Holly is ok with my two year old grandson though when he was a baby she behaved in the same way. Any ideas?

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  1. Vivienne Barnes Post author

    Many thanks for your reply. I do make sure that she does not feel excluded and give her reassurance that really all is well. She would never ever be left alone with any of the children and if when she has had enough she just gets offside to her own spot. Do you think Adaptil plug in would help?

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    If she is anxious it is important to respect her discomfort and either remove her from the area to a safe and quiet place and/or start working with her so that she begins to get used to the crying and baby noises so you don’t have to worry about either of them. Ideally everyone needs to feel safe and secure in their own home. Please talk to your vet about a good behaviorist. They can help. Best of luck.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
1 Year Old Cat Left Home Alone For One Day (not Unusual For Her). When…

1 year old cat left home alone for one day (not unusual for her). When owners camehome she was very clingy and needed to sleep in primary owners lap. As she would sleep her head would suddenly drop down and she seemed to have slower heavier breathing. After sleeping off and on for a few hours she began to get very aggressive especially towards male owner. Has also been moving head erratically and seems to shake head when moving it. Will only eat if food is on the floor and out of the bowl and has shown irregular signs of back pain sometimes being sensitive and sometimes not at all.

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  1. Jennifer Taylor

    A veterinarian should really check out the cat’s unusual behavior. The doctor would need to determine if there is an injury which would determine the course of care. I wouldn’t delay seeing a vet as the cat may in pain. Best of luck, I hope the kitty is acting better soon!

  2. Anonymous

    I would worry about trauma to the spine or head. Please encourage them to get her in ASAP.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My Dog ( 1 1/2 Year Old Small Mix Terrier) Is A Sweet Guy When…

my dog ( 1 1/2 year old small mix terrier) is a sweet guy when it comes to humans and dogs he is familiar with. sadly, he has picked up aggressive behaviors from my brothers large dogs. He will growl at people he is not familiar with on the street and when they enter the home. he will growl at outside noises and also at other unfamiliar dogs. he doesn’t bite people he just growls and when they try to pet him he runs away and gets shy. minutes will pass and he will warm up to people. he does fine at the dog park, when a dog approaches he smells the dog and runs away( which makes sense, he is a small dog) i’m more concerned when we go on walks. i’m looking for advice and tips i can do to help me and my dog work on his excessive growling. i would love to be able to go on a walk with him and be able to pass people without him growling and he can just keep walking.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My Younger Dog Is Getting Very Aggressive Towards My Older Dog, Including Real Biting. They’ve…

My younger dog is getting very aggressive towards my older dog, including real biting. They’ve always played in the past, with the younger being very submissive. What’s going on?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    In some cases it is a combination of he puppy getting older and more boisterous and demanding of time and attention and an older dog getting tired and/or unable to keep up. If it appears that the puppy is escalating the play to the point of biting simply because the previous tactics and attempts are not working I would recommend you start playing more with the puppy, find a park where the pup can really let loose, or get a puppy for your puppy so your old dog can be at peace.

  2. Anonymous

    Are they the same sex? That can contribute, as well as maturity.

    Work on obedience and other training with the younger dog, separate from the older dog. Wear his fuzzy butt out so he pesters the older dog less. I would start crating them when you can’t supervise just to keep both dogs safe, too – this behavior, if left unchecked, can turn into fighting.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My Female Netherlands Dwarf Bunny Is Kinda Aggressive Towards Me When I Hold Her…

My Female Netherlands Dwarf bunny is kinda aggressive towards me when i hold her or pet her . She is spayed and she is like a year and a few months old. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions as to why she acts like this or how i can help her?
Thank you so much

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I would need a lot more background information about the rabbits and your home to start helping. I would start by making sure everyone is healthy by talking to your vet. We always need to make sure everyone is healthy and normal before we assume this is only a behavioral issue. Start with physical barriers to keep them seperated to keep them from getting upset when they see one another. Then you can start training by using some of their favorite treats to reward the rabbit who is behaving as you want them to. We always ignore bad behavior and reward good. Ignoring the other rabbit (aggressor) is a good start. If you can get them to the point where they arent aggressive you can start inching them closer to each other. A harness is also a good way to help keep a safe distance and encourage exercise and activity.
    Ensure plenty of resources like toys, food, and anything they love, so they don’t feel the need to share.Keep their hutches clean, away from each other and only use them as a positive reward. Never as a punishment.
    i hope this helps

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My Female Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Is Really Aggressive Towards Humans. When I Reach In Her Cage…

my female netherland Dwarf rabbit is really aggressive towards humans.
When i reach in her cage she grunts and bites
Anyone have any helpfull tips
Btw she is Spayed

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    I always recommend seeking help from your vet to make sure it isn’t a medical issue. Often the only way these pets can show pain or discomfort is with a change in attitude or behavior.

  2. Baz Jarvis

    Training. They have some good behavioral classes you can take them too. Look online around your local area

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
Only Aggressive With Food, And Only Started To Outwardly Be Aggressive With Food This Week…

Only aggressive with food, and only started to outwardly be aggressive with food this week. Other than that they get along fine.
My German Shepard is gentle with humans, this aggression is only towards my other dog. ( I can hand feed my german, she sits and only eats when I tell her to.) My peke is not showing aggression or challenging my german.

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  1. Anonymous

    I would immediately change your feeding schedule.  Feed in separate rooms through whelping and until the litter has been sold.  GSDs are known for moderate same sex aggression…throwing pregnancy into that mix increases that instinct.

    Your breed mentor should have told you this.

  2. Anna Soparno

    This was definitely an unplanned pregnancy, I had only had her for a week or two before she went into heat (She only just turned a year in July.) And we are new to the area so ironically there is a male Shepard down the road who did as he pleased while Danu (my Shepard,) was tied up. I did not know they are known for moderate same sex aggression so that is very helpful. I am having low confidence lately concerning whether or not Danu is a good fit for our home and if this can be broken even after the litter is gone.

  3. Anonymous

    SSA is temperament, not training. It *cannot* be trained out. She may go back to “normal” once the puppies are gone…or she may not. Give her time, at least, to get the hormones out of her system before you decide to rehome her again.

    If you do, please go through a German Shepherd rescue to get her placed. This will ensure she goes to an appropriate, experienced GSD home.

  4. Anna Soparno

    There seems to only be aggression when food is involved, not toys or anything like that, but I can tell my first dog, Ladybird, the Peke mix, is not relaxed at all. So in theory, if Danu was male we would not be having this issue?

  5. Anna Soparno

    also, danu is not fully German Shepard, she has rottie in her as well, don’t know if this makes any a difference, and her original house hold Danu had to fight with many other dogs in a small home, not have access to food and water for weeks, it was bad living conditions.

  6. Anonymous

    Well, like I said, she *may* go back to normal afterward. Regardless, do NOT allow them to eat in the same room.

    It sounds like Danu has a lot of issues. If I may ask, why didn’t you terminate the pregnancy early?

  7. Anna Soparno

    Danu, despite her original environment has come a long way since when we first got her, and it has only been up to this week has she shown such aggression. So its really taken me aback, because this is not her, I would not allow a dog into my home that would cause hazard to my animals. I did not terminate the pregnancy early because quite frankly, we did not know FOR SURE she was pregnant. She was not showing normal symptoms or signs.

  8. Anna Soparno

    and right now, they are both sleeping, no issues, previously Danu licked ladybird in good gesture, so I know the trigger is food.

  9. Anonymous

    Noted.

    Well, hormones make everyone do crazy things, including our dogs. I think, once the puppies have been rehomed (please use a rescue to help you with that, to ensure they end up in appropriate homes), get her in an obedience class. It’s impossible to say just how she’ll behave once she’s no longer nursing and is spayed, you know?

  10. Anna Soparno

    Absolutely, I just want to make sure I am taking the necessary steps to create a harmonious environment. I have never dealt with pregnancy in dogs, it was certainly not something I was looking forward to, but I guess the perfect storm occurred. I do appreciate you talking with me for I was freaking out this morning, I just hope things go well, and I will make sure the pups are in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing and are qualified.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
I Have A 5 Yr Old Westi. The Lady Who Had Him Lived In An…

I have a 5 yr old westi. The lady who had him lived in an apartment and didnt take him out to potty regularly. He now has a foul odor, doesn’t seem to have much energy, acts like his lower back hurts (when u go to touch his back or pet him down his back he will try to bite you. Which is uncommon he has never bite or been aggressive to anyone) and also I have noticed a few times he has kind of like a runny puss lookING liquid coming from his rear end. Can anyone tell me what it may be.?

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  1. PK Dennis

    The only way to know for sure what is happening with this dog is to take him to a vet.  

    He is in pain (that is why he wants to bit when you try to touch), and it sounds like he has an infection (the runny puss).  With Westies it is very likely that he had impacted anal glands which burst and now are infected.  This would make his back hurt for sure!!  It would also smell terrible.

    So, get him to a vet as soon as possible and get him the help he so desperately needs!

  2. Andrea Cox

    You are smart to come to this website because you know something is wrong. Now is the time to get off the computer and get this animal to a vet and quickly. I would say if you cannot get an appointment by tomorrow then you need to seek and Emergency vet open 24 hours and go immediately.  The longer you wait the worse things will get and it is suffering. Who knows how long it was ill before you rescued it. Act quickly! Good Luck.

  3. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    This could be many different issues please take him to the vet ASAP!

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
My Jack Russell Has Just Bitten My 3 Year Old Daughter. She Was Going To…

My jack Russell has just bitten my 3 year old daughter. She was going to cuddle her when she snapped. She only slightly marked her but was very aggressive. I don’t know how to react to this? Could do with some advice

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  1. Anonymous

    Without actually seeing the incident, we cannot say what exactly occurred.  Did you and your daughter miss body language indicating your dog didn’t want to be cuddled?  Does your dog feel unwell?  

    Has she ever growled at the child, and if so, have those growls been met with respect or with punishment?  

    You need need NEED a behaviorist IN your home assessing the situation appropriately.  Until then, keep the child on a short leash around the dog.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
I Have An American Bulldog Who Is Almost 2 Years Old. Despite Training, He Is…

I have an American Bulldog who is almost 2 years old. Despite training, he is very aggressive towards other dogs. He was attacked by a pit bull, on our property, before he was a year old and every since will not tolerate any other dogs or any kind of animals for that matter. We have paid quite a bit for training to try and help him socialize but after a while he is back to his old self. No one will board him and we can’t take him anywhere that has a lot of people or other animals. He’s great at home and wonderful with our children, so I am at a loss s to what to do. He also has pretty bad hip problems and is in pain a lot if he gets a lot of exercise. I love him so much, as does my family, but I want to do the right, humane thing. Help.

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  1. Madelyn Fischer

    Hello, as an extreme animal lover, I say no, try to train and comfort as much as you can, but I don’t know you and I can’t tell you what to do. That’s the last case scenario. Good luck!

  2. Madelyn Fischer

    Hi Krista, I totally agree.

  3. Crystal Williams

    We have done two extensive training courses for his aggression . One two week program and one five week, away from home program.