Dog question!

[SammyL]

[SIZE=14pt]Hello all,[/SIZE]

I have a question. But before I ask, let me give you some backround info.

Snoopy is my family's black and white neutered male English Springer Spaniel. He is five years old. He has lived outside most of his life and about a year ago we brought him in the house. My brother was in a lot of pain due to his back, and Snoopy was brought in to take Ethan's mind off the pain. Well, it didn't quite work that way. Snoopy is very attached to me. While he was outside, I would play with him and feed him while I did horse chores. My brother would have loved to be out there too, but to due to his CP it is hard for him to manuver. Therefore Snoopy and I have a bond. And now that he is in the house, Snoop follows me around, sleeps at the end of my bed every night without fail.

OK, well about two weeks ago, Snoppy started to growl at Ethan whenever Ethan would touch him. We just don't know what is going on. Snoopy has big brown eyes like only dogs can have, but when Ethan touches him, his eyes look hard and flinty, if you know what I mean, and then he growls. So anyone have any ideas on what is going on in this dog's mind? This behavior just started, Snoopy was fine with Ethan before...

So any help and advice would help. My mom says that if this continues, Snoopy has to return outside, and I don't want that! So, ideas? Oh and before I forget to mention, Snoppy only does this to Ethan, no one else in the family.

Thanks,

Sam

 

[chandab]

I'm not a dog behaviorist or doggy psychologist, but... Perhaps Snoopy is sensing a change in your brother's condition. They are training dogs to detect cancer and more, they are so sensitive to smells and more, so perhaps Snoopy is detecting a change of some sort. Just a thought.

 

[Ferrah]

We used to have an older dog who used to do that. We thought at first that the dog just had some secret agenda against one of our relatives. But then we found out that she had on instance accidentally hurt and nearly frightened him to death. He was just scared to death of her.

My friends older dog also went through this problem. They took her to the vet and she had some sort of disease and she was in a lot of pain and didn't want anyone to touch her.

 

[capall beag]

Snoopy now thinks he is in charge and wants you all to himself. He clearly sees Ethan as threatening to this relationship.

I have had dogs my whole life and have often been "given' the task of working with troublesome dogs!

Obviously, I am not a pro and this is all IMO.

I LOVE my dogs but as I have 3 small children and all my dogs(I have 6) become very bonded to me I make sure they never forget their position in the house.

I do this because not once but twice I let dogs get away with the behaviour with terrible results! Both were male chihuahuas!

The first one, had been severely abused and abandoned prior and he was so pathetic I just wanted to love him. I did and he became my best little pal, however, God help anyone who came between him and I

Because he was a tiny dog and could be easily scooped up and put in another room we could manage his behaviour and at the time I had no kids. He passed away, I was devastated everyone else was relieved

I, then, got another chihuahua. Darling little Rodney, all 4 lbs of him. He was an unusual chihuahua, who LOVED everyone, kids and all that is until he decided my hubby was becoming a 'nuisance', he would nip him and growl at him and try and bite him when my husband kissed or hugged me

We did not take it seriously, BIG mistake!

He quickly became very obsessive of me and aggressive towards my hubby. When I had my daughter he was completely disgusted and started urinating on all my husbands things etc

I knew it would escalate and gave dear Rodney to a friend of mine who has 2 other chihuahuas!

He is much better there. I still get emotional when I see him but I could not risk him biting my daughter.

I think you should have Snoopy sleep in a neutral room in the house and have Ethan start to take over feeding him and giving him his water.

Snoopy needs to learn that Ethan is higher on the totem pole than he is and that he is not a threat.

Teach Snoopy that this behaviour is unacceptable.

This just sounds like spoilt behaviour and as he has only just started it it should be fairly easy to break. Hard as it may be you need to break your bond a little with him and allow Ethan to form some bond with him.

Snoopy sounds like he is an Alpha dog and they have a tendency to become very possessive.

My lab is like that and she is like Velcro to me but she is not allowed always be with me. My lab is never aggressive with people but gets jealous of other dogs around me and gets very miffed if they get too much attention but she knows aggression will not be tolerated and she so wants to please that she is good about it or at least she tries

I had a wonderful Spriggy(S Spaniel) as a child, called Penny. She wa the most devoted dog. She had hazel eyes and when you looked into her eyes you knew she really loved you!!!!! SHe was such a great little girl!

Good Luck with Snoopy, you really need to nip this in the bud.

Hope this is some help, sorry I babbled on alot

 

[minimama]

I would get in touch with Bonnie Fogg if I were you and have her do a reading on Snoopy.

 

[tigeresss]

Firstly I would rule out any medical conditions. Then if the vet says nothing is wrong with him it is very likely he's simply displaaying his dominance over Ethan.

 

[kaykay]

some breeds of dogs are very much "one owner" dogs. Im not familiar with your breed but sounds that that is the problem. I agree with kapeal that he is threatened by you being with your brother and wants you all to himself.

 

[Ashley]

I have never had a springer, but if they are like cockers, they are normally a one owner dog. I get that all the time when I take my dog somewhere. BUt luckly for my my cocker loves anybody that will love on her, I mean who can resist her?

Good luck with Snoopy.

 

[Cronewolf]

Snoopy may be seeing your brother as being defective and sim=nce thiss is his "pack" and he is alpha dog it's his job to cull the pack of weaklings . I would really have Bonnie have a little chat with him before he takes it to the next level.