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Uncontrollable barking and change of behaviour
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BrianD
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Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:51 pm    Post subject: Uncontrollable barking and change of behaviour Reply with quote

Hi everyone, need some advice please.

Our wee Murphy has been a great wee dog but over the last few weeks he's become Jekyll and Hyde.
Strangers and friends never bothered him but now he constantly barks and howls like a wolf
when people meet him, he's even snapped at a couple of people and had a wee bite at me.
Even at night when we're asleep he'll bark and howl for no apparent reason at daft o'clock in the morning.

On the other hand he can be the most loving cuddly wee dog he was. His diet hasn't been changed or his pattern
but even his eating habits are changing, he used to eat his food like it was a race, now it can be sat there for hours.

I did mention it to John last week when we popped in to enroll Murphy. I will be bringing him to class tomorrow.

Any help or advice would be really appreciated
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Sharon Falconer
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Joined: 29 Mar 2011
Posts: 204
Location: Coatbridge

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If he is normally quite social, I would have the vet check him over in case it is a reaction to pain of some kind.
It can be trying if you have an unsocial dog, but if this behaviour isn't normal for him, I would definitely try to rule out any medical cause first.
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BrianD
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Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Murphy is off the rails again Crying or Very sad

Since class last week he's been very naughty and very aggressive.
He's bit me again, went for people walking past him while on the lead, gave a wee old man a scare when he was off lead and he goes nuts at anyone
coming into the house. He's become totally anti social, he's just as bad with other dogs too.

At the weekend i felt a warm sensation on my leg only to look down and see him cocking his leg and peeing on me and the new rug, yesterday he
had a wee in one of the spare rooms and today he's done one in the kitchen.

The only thing that has changed around him is new furniture in the living room, could that be the problem.
I've arranged for the Vet to give him a once over but if anyone has any other advice in the meantime it would be
appreciated as im getting a wee bit stressed and concerned.

Thanks
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Breagha's mum
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Joined: 19 Oct 2011
Posts: 139

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The peeing on u is a dominance thing. How old is he? Could it be his hormones kicking in? Has he been neutered? If not and there is a bitch in season nearby could maybe explain the howling. Angus ( a dominant westie) will pee on anything new in the house( marking it with his scent) he also peed on my leg when I just started classes( claiming me as his)
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BrianD
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Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

He's around 1ish, dont know his exact age. He has been neutored, Dogs trust done that before we got him.
I thought there might be a dominance thing going on as he was really dominant before we started going to class.
What age do the hormones usually kick in??

He's got Vets on Friday for a wee check up to be safe.

The peeing I can handle to a degree but the anti social behaviour is becoming a problem Sad

On the plus side his walking on and off lead is improving vastly so long as no one else is around, just everything else is
getting bad, lol
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Breagha's mum
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Joined: 19 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What kind of dog is he? Angus's hormones really hit about 1 year to 18 months. He s still not great with certain other dogs(especially collies!! He can spot them a mile in distance and hackles go up!!) he was 2 before we got him neutered.he s 3 now. My other dog (a lab bitch) went into season last month and angus certainly reacted to that despite being neutered!!! He was howling ( he sometimes does this at full moon ( not a werewolf tho) or if we take other dog out and he's left behind. I found he was like a different dog when wearing pinch collar. Before that he would clear vets waiting room very quickly ( or get bumped up the queue) when I took him in wearing his collar he sat like a wee angel and didn't look at let alone try to savage other dogs there!
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Breagha's mum
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Joined: 19 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Our main prob with angus now is his trying to attack dogs he sees on tv. Makes watching tv very stressful . He even recognizes music of adverts where there is a dog and will tear in from garden when he hears specific adverts come on!! He jus only jumpy with humans when he they run towards him(ie joggers etc)
If he is showing aggression around u make sure there are no triggers about ( ie bones, chews etc that he feels he has to guard as this can cause aggression) . Try distraction when u are out when u see a situation might happen distract him with his davourite treat. We did this on long walks with angus and by end he didn't react to other dogs but infortunately another westie attacked him and set us right back again. I found pinch collar use meant I was more relaxed and this led to more relaxed dig. I don't use collar now as I feel confident that I can handle Situations that before I dreaded and felt really stressed over. I know what your going thru but things will get better
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BrianD
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Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

He's a cross between a terrier and a border collie, id say he has the terriers mentallity and the borders coat.
His howling isnt too bad, mostly does that when the ice cream van plays 3 blind mice, lol.

I've found his pinch collar has made a difference on his general walking but soon as he senses another dog
espec German Sheps he just goes into a trance, its the sam when someone comes in the house.

Normally his yellow ball will break his trance but thats not always working now.

Sometimes he'll go up to visitors or strangers calmly and look for attention then when he gets it he growls and snaps.

He can be like that before classes start but in class he's mostly fine.

Like Jekyll and Hyde
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BrianD
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Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Murph gets wound up when he hears dogs on tv too, he's got one floppy ear but
even that goes vertical before he starts barking at the tv.

Your right it can be very stressful, it used he played up more for the other half
but lately he's been pushing his luck with me too.

Will have chat with John at class tommorrow. Thanks for all the comments.
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Breagha's mum
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like you've got a mix of two highly intelligent working dogs. The terrier is definitely a stubborn wee creature. Maybe visitors should just ignore him. If he's instigating the meeting ie approaching visitors then this can lead to the power/ dominance issues. The visitor should engage with him when they choose to( usually when they are sitting/ lying calmly) it could also be the collie in him wanting to round up the heard which is usually done by nipping at strays ankles or legs. Let me know how u get on.
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BrianD
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Posts: 26

PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Will do, thanks again Smile
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BrianD
Newbie


Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wee update on Murphy

Went to the vets which he did not enjoy one little bit, had to be muzzled and still wrestled to the
extent he bit his mouth cutting himself.

Physically he's a healthy active wee dog however the vet has said he has real dominance and behavior
issues which are gonna need one to one with a behavior specialist so it looks like thats the next step.
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Sharon Falconer
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Joined: 29 Mar 2011
Posts: 204
Location: Coatbridge

PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Brian
My vet referred me to the behaviourist at Glasgow vet school. She also does Edinburgh and at a vet surgery in Stirling. It cost me £345 for nothing but 2.5 hours of wasted time. Her recommendations to me for Cleo were naive, ludicrous and downright dangerous if I were to implement them with a German Shepherd like Cleo. Even my vet was shocked at her report and apologised profusely for sending me there.
There is a dog trainer and behaviourist, Paul Connelly. His website is called Wolfspeak. I went to one of his sessions in Fife. He comes to see you in your own home and is really good from the personal recommendations I've had. He is very relaxed and helpful. He was a police dog handler and trainer and now has his own business helping people with their dogs. It may be worth looking into. Paul also does alot of rescue work with dogs.
Have a look at his website anyway.
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BrianD
Newbie


Joined: 07 Feb 2012
Posts: 26

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the feedback Sharon.

The Vet has recommended Pet Behavior Scotland in Airdrie, someone called Lynn Allardyce, apparently
she is highly recommended.
Will have a look at Pauls website and speak to them both and take from there.
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Janis
I don't have a life ...I'm always here!


Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Posts: 4643
Location: CUMBERNAULD

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

... i have to back sharon up on this one too brian..... on so many occasions i have heard that vets send the owner and dog to a dog behaviorist who charges ludicrous amounts of money and for nothing but a lot of nonsense....not heard of this wolfspeak and i would certainly look into it.

sorry to hear he bit himself... he must have been really stressed to do that. keep us updated!
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