My dog has changed. I feel devastated, really need advice
Discussion
Evening guys.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'll try and summarise as best I can to keep it short.
Harley is a Lab crossed with an Irish terrier, he basically looks like a small yellow lab. Got him at 6 months old having lived as a field dog amongst a stables with no actual owner. I was asked if I'd take him on and I did. Realised very quickly he was intelligent and he picked up training very fast. Had him 2 years now and he does Agility, loads of pointless but cool tricks, he comes to work with me every day and he comes to the pub with me. We're pretty much inseparable.
2 weeks ago a massive German Shepherd came bolting up to him and the owner looked properly rough, says to his mate oh s**t he's gonna kill that dog, GSD comes over snarling and snapping and attacked Harley, I didn't have chance to react the next thing Harley turns into terminator/predator....grabs GSD by the face and shook violently, then pins it to the floor by it's neck, I call him off and he instantly reacts, GSD runs away yelping covered in blood. Harley then wags his tail looking at his ball ready to play again. I was a little shocked as I thought we were both about to get eaten by this GSD.
Now he's always been a bit wary of strangers but never barks or anything just slightly backs off from them, however since the GSD incident he's properly twitchy and has barked at a few strangers. Then tonight I go to a BBQ function with a club I'm part of, lots of new people but the function was on an airfield so I had to have Harley on a lead, usually at works functions he runs about and everyone plays with him. I'm helping to cook then all of a sudden I hear a bark and turn to see a guy flinching away. I was horrified to see Harley had actually bit his hand and punctured the skin. The guy INSTANTLY took responsibility saying it was his fault and Harley probably felt threatened. I apologised continuously before quickly taking Harley home. I put him in the house and returned to BBQ to continue apologising.
Turns out the guy is very switched on and we chatted for a while about how Harley was in unfamiliar territory, tied up, a stranger etc etc. but that's not the point, what he did was inexcusable and COMPLETELY out
Of character. I don't know what's happened since the German shepherd fight but he's changed and the dog that I used to take to old granny's to make them love life and all that jazz is now completely unpredictable. He's part of the family and I can't imagine my life without him in it.
I think it's got something to do with me and anxiety he has about being away from me, but I don't know. I know that I may not get any response to this but tbh I just wanted to blurt out. If anyone has any advice then please feel free to share.
I'm well aware of the mantra "there's no bad dogs just bad owners" so I'm constantly analysing what I have done and what I need to do.
Thanks guys.
Ben
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'll try and summarise as best I can to keep it short.
Harley is a Lab crossed with an Irish terrier, he basically looks like a small yellow lab. Got him at 6 months old having lived as a field dog amongst a stables with no actual owner. I was asked if I'd take him on and I did. Realised very quickly he was intelligent and he picked up training very fast. Had him 2 years now and he does Agility, loads of pointless but cool tricks, he comes to work with me every day and he comes to the pub with me. We're pretty much inseparable.
2 weeks ago a massive German Shepherd came bolting up to him and the owner looked properly rough, says to his mate oh s**t he's gonna kill that dog, GSD comes over snarling and snapping and attacked Harley, I didn't have chance to react the next thing Harley turns into terminator/predator....grabs GSD by the face and shook violently, then pins it to the floor by it's neck, I call him off and he instantly reacts, GSD runs away yelping covered in blood. Harley then wags his tail looking at his ball ready to play again. I was a little shocked as I thought we were both about to get eaten by this GSD.
Now he's always been a bit wary of strangers but never barks or anything just slightly backs off from them, however since the GSD incident he's properly twitchy and has barked at a few strangers. Then tonight I go to a BBQ function with a club I'm part of, lots of new people but the function was on an airfield so I had to have Harley on a lead, usually at works functions he runs about and everyone plays with him. I'm helping to cook then all of a sudden I hear a bark and turn to see a guy flinching away. I was horrified to see Harley had actually bit his hand and punctured the skin. The guy INSTANTLY took responsibility saying it was his fault and Harley probably felt threatened. I apologised continuously before quickly taking Harley home. I put him in the house and returned to BBQ to continue apologising.
Turns out the guy is very switched on and we chatted for a while about how Harley was in unfamiliar territory, tied up, a stranger etc etc. but that's not the point, what he did was inexcusable and COMPLETELY out
Of character. I don't know what's happened since the German shepherd fight but he's changed and the dog that I used to take to old granny's to make them love life and all that jazz is now completely unpredictable. He's part of the family and I can't imagine my life without him in it.
I think it's got something to do with me and anxiety he has about being away from me, but I don't know. I know that I may not get any response to this but tbh I just wanted to blurt out. If anyone has any advice then please feel free to share.
I'm well aware of the mantra "there's no bad dogs just bad owners" so I'm constantly analysing what I have done and what I need to do.
Thanks guys.
Ben
Edited by hackett on Wednesday 20th May 23:47
Edited by hackett on Wednesday 20th May 23:49
Thanks for all the replies.
I should have explained a little better. He was on his lead and tied to a bench maybe 20ft away from me. This guy went over to him and was stood between me and him. I don't think he believes he's now the leader of the pack as he knows very clearly that I'm the leader and that's something that has always been instilled in him. When he was younger there was lots of pack position training, walking through doorways last and eating after everyone else etc.
But I do think he maybe now sees himself as a protector or even has just realised he can now handle himself. I'm going to have a chat with the woman at his agility class, she also does behavioural lessons. I think she will be shocked when I tell her what he did as he comes across so playful, obedient and gentle.
After sleeping on it I'm sure the issues are regarding his separation anxiety when he's away from me. My mrs (who doesn't live with me) says that if I nip to the shop or something he will just sit staring at the door. If I'm in the room then he will happily play with the kids or my mrs but as soon as I leave he then becomes transfixed on the door and when I'm going to return.
So although this anxiety has always been there I think as has been mentioned he now realises he has a means of defence and he maybe read the situation as this guy coming between me and him. When he's at work he's off the lead and as such never backed into a corner, he goes to people he likes and just stays away from people he's not sure of. But in this situation he couldn't do that. I wonder if all that actually has to happen is I need to learn that when he's on a lead I need to ensure this scenario can't happen again. Or do I look to deal with the anxiety?
I should have explained a little better. He was on his lead and tied to a bench maybe 20ft away from me. This guy went over to him and was stood between me and him. I don't think he believes he's now the leader of the pack as he knows very clearly that I'm the leader and that's something that has always been instilled in him. When he was younger there was lots of pack position training, walking through doorways last and eating after everyone else etc.
But I do think he maybe now sees himself as a protector or even has just realised he can now handle himself. I'm going to have a chat with the woman at his agility class, she also does behavioural lessons. I think she will be shocked when I tell her what he did as he comes across so playful, obedient and gentle.
After sleeping on it I'm sure the issues are regarding his separation anxiety when he's away from me. My mrs (who doesn't live with me) says that if I nip to the shop or something he will just sit staring at the door. If I'm in the room then he will happily play with the kids or my mrs but as soon as I leave he then becomes transfixed on the door and when I'm going to return.
So although this anxiety has always been there I think as has been mentioned he now realises he has a means of defence and he maybe read the situation as this guy coming between me and him. When he's at work he's off the lead and as such never backed into a corner, he goes to people he likes and just stays away from people he's not sure of. But in this situation he couldn't do that. I wonder if all that actually has to happen is I need to learn that when he's on a lead I need to ensure this scenario can't happen again. Or do I look to deal with the anxiety?
Evening folks. Thanks for all the replies it really means a lot to hear from other owners.
Autopilot a sincere thanks for the long post. I read it with interest and tbh it made me feel a lot better. I've chatted with mates at work and it was hopeless. As he's such a big part of our squadron (RAF) they all feel very protective of him and basically said the guy was clearly a knob lol. I took him out at lunch today and we had a bit of a moment where I needed to love him again as I felt a little betrayed. But I've learnt that he was only really protecting the space is given him and although it's not acceptable behaviour it's natural and potentially justified (if you think like a dog).
So after doing an hour of training, lots of tricks and stays etc to reaffirm obedience I think I know the way forward. I'm very much going to continue taking him to work functions where he is part of the team, he runs around freely and is in his element. But when it comes to a time he needs to be on a lead I will either keep him at my side or I'll leave him at home.
I genuinely appreciate the advice given here and have arranged to have a chat with his agility trainer. I'm going to do the things you mentioned autopilot too.
Thanks again
Ben and Harley :-)
Autopilot a sincere thanks for the long post. I read it with interest and tbh it made me feel a lot better. I've chatted with mates at work and it was hopeless. As he's such a big part of our squadron (RAF) they all feel very protective of him and basically said the guy was clearly a knob lol. I took him out at lunch today and we had a bit of a moment where I needed to love him again as I felt a little betrayed. But I've learnt that he was only really protecting the space is given him and although it's not acceptable behaviour it's natural and potentially justified (if you think like a dog).
So after doing an hour of training, lots of tricks and stays etc to reaffirm obedience I think I know the way forward. I'm very much going to continue taking him to work functions where he is part of the team, he runs around freely and is in his element. But when it comes to a time he needs to be on a lead I will either keep him at my side or I'll leave him at home.
I genuinely appreciate the advice given here and have arranged to have a chat with his agility trainer. I'm going to do the things you mentioned autopilot too.
Thanks again
Ben and Harley :-)
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff