Aggression - Random

by Karen
(USA)

We adopted our Pyr/Golden mix 6 years ago when he was 3 yrs old. Don’t know much about his history. In the last year he has randomly been aggressive towards people in our house. He is fine when he first greets them but if they bend over to pet him or if they look him in the eye while petting him he snaps and stands on his hind legs and barks ferociously near their face. Thankfully he has never bit anyone but it is scary. We’ve resorted to keeping him on a leash or just putting him in another room when we have guests. He starts out friendly so people feel comfortable and then snaps so there isn’t any warning. I liken it to the spider and the fly. Does he just have his wires crossed or can this be resolved through training? If he greets those same people outside the house and they pet him the same way nothing happens so it has taken us all by surprise to see him react this way.

Comments for Aggression - Random

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 20, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Aggression
by: Donna

He is nine years old, now. This is odd since it seems he wasn't like this in the lasts six years.

First, no one should ever bend over to say hi to a dog they don't know and the dog doesn't know them well. This is getting into the dog's personal space.

And, no one should ever look a dog in the eye they don't know or know well, or even if they know them. This makes a dog very uncomfortable especially if they don't know the person. They are getting into the dog's personal space. It would be like having someone you don't know stare at you in the eyes. For me, it feels threatening. I never stare my dogs in the eyes. I'll look at them to ask them something or determine what they want.

When guests enter the house, the dog should be the one to approach them on their own time.

If this is a behaviour he has just started, you should consider having him vetted for any discomfort he might be having.

I hope this helps, Karen.
Apr 20, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Response
by: Karen

Thank you for the response. We had his checkup recently and he is in good health. The vet checked his limbs to be sure there wasn’t any discomfort. The weird part is that the girl that lives across the street (16 yrs) has pet him many times and he lays next to her in her yard if we go over there but when she came into our house last week he ran to her like he was excited to see her and she was petting him like she always does and he snapped. It’s like he starts out ok and then something makes him think he needs to guard. People that feel really comfortable around him outside the house can no longer feel comfortable inside the house. It’s the strangest behavior I’ve ever encountered. I’m wondering if he just has a wire crossed in his brain that doesn’t allow him to make a good decision. Does that sound possible?
Apr 21, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wires-crossed
by: Donna

It could be his wires are crossed but it just seems strange that after six years this behaviour starts and he was fine until, now.

I feel like he is in pain somewhere but you just don't know what is going on.

All that said, it doesn't help you with what is going on.

The unpredictability is the issue and there isn't anything you can do about that.

Legal liability becomes an issue.
May 01, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		wires crossed
by: Anonymous

Our Duke is this way; When in the house or in the fence he will guard to the end! And sometimes with ones out side on walks. Its the old thing dogs since something sometime with certain people . I think he doing what comes normal to him.Be very careful who he gets near and always have a lease on him,(just my 2 cents!) ck in va (DUKE DUKE)

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Great Pyrenees Questions.

CLICK TO FOSTER A PYR
PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE


Breaking News

RSS

  1. Overheating

    Sep 13, 20 06:12 PM

    My Great Pyr 8 month old recently started doggy daycare. Does he need timeouts from the other dogs or will he rest when overheating. Thanks

    Read More

  2. Distress

    Aug 29, 20 08:37 AM

    I have a 12 year old, 125 pound, Male, Great Pyrenees. He is having trouble walking on back legs, gasping for breath frequently, whining and barking

    Read More

  3. Behaviourial Issues - 3 year old

    Aug 28, 20 03:33 PM

    I am hoping that assistance with some behavioral advice and/or resources for recent issues that have occurred in the past month with our Great Pyrenees

    Read More

  4. Milos scares the sneaky person

    Aug 28, 20 10:04 AM

    Milo, He alerted at midnite that on the the porch there was someone there. This was Fourth of July 2020. They were peeking thru the curtain on the front

    Read More

  5. Puppy won't sleep at night

    Aug 27, 20 07:24 PM

    We have a 12 week old Pryenees female and she won't get on our sleeping schedule. We play several times during the day and into the early evening but

    Read More

  6. Boris

    Aug 27, 20 07:16 PM

    WONDERFUL

    Read More

  7. Weight Loss - Nine months old

    Aug 21, 20 06:31 AM

    im deeply concerned for my my 9 month old pyrenees yuki. shes currently sheeding an here lately it looks like shes lost a good mount of weight i feed her

    Read More

  8. Partnership

    Aug 20, 20 11:59 AM

    Can a pyrenees have more than one master?

    Read More