Scary, growling dog

[spring-peeper]

A few questions:

Who eats first in the day - you or the dog?

Is he allowed on the bed/couch?

Is he greeted first when you arrive in the house or are other family members?

The growling usually occurs around 3-4 am, when my husband gets up.

He is allowed on the beds and couches - just not if I'm in the bed.

When someone arrives, he hears them in the driveway and bounds to the door to be allowed out. So, he is the first one to meet and greet all humans. (unless it's someone we don't know, then he is not allowed out).

Thought this may be caused by the dog not having his own bed, but it is his choice where he sleeps. Here, my son arrives home after midnight and my husband leaves at 4 am. He likes to stay with his humans, so he sleeps where ever he wants. He is always at the foot of the bed when I wake up.

 

[moomoo]

but it is his choice where he sleeps

My dog has slept in a cage since he was a puppy. He's not even allowed in my bedroom, never mind on my bed! If he sneaks in there, I just have to give him a 'look' and he slopes out again with his tail between his legs.

 

[Pingu]

crate training might well help.

the trick is to get him to see the crate as a safe place rather than as a place of punishment

ours sleep wherever they want btw

 

[cesare]

When someone arrives, he hears them in the driveway and bounds to the door to be allowed out. So, he is the first one to meet and greet all humans. (unless it's someone we don't know, then he is not allowed out).

I think Soj might have been asking about humans greeting dog as opposed to dog greeting humans.

 

[moomoo]

crate training might well help.

the trick is to get him to see the crate as a safe place rather than as a place of punishment

Mine loves his cage. He used to go in there to get away from the children as I always told them to leave him alone if he was in his cage. Now he goes in completely voluntarily, even preferring it to the new dog bed I bought him for the lounge.

 

[spring-peeper]

Why on earth would you get another dog after the first one did that to your son? Do you like living dangerously or something?

/ despairs

The injury occured during the Ice Storm of '98, a natural diaster that left us without power and water for over three weeks. I'd sent the kids and dogs out to play for a bit. They were tossing something around with the dogs, one of the dogs leaped up to grab it. Unfortunately, the dog got the ear. It was not malicious or planned, just an accident imo.

Sadly, the dog paid for it with his life.

The main reason we got this one is because my youngest son doesn't ever remember having a dog. Kinda sad imo, growing up in the country and no dog. I got this one because I thought he was pure black lab. He isn't.

 

[zenie]

Yeh mine loves her crate, it helps keep all her toys contained too

You could try the crate, or just a proper dog bad, then he can have his own space. (If it's a dog bed you also have the advantage of being able to move it to wherever you want the dog, or wherver the dog wants to be IYKWIM)

If you do get a crate you can just leave the door open all the time they soon know what space is theirs.

What else has changed recently though? Anything you can think of?

 

[spring-peeper]

I think Soj might have been asking about humans greeting dog as opposed to dog greeting humans.

Humans have to come up our driveway and then it's a walk to the house. If I let him out, he will get to the car before the car even stops. Then he stands there. So, yes, the dog is greeted first.

 

[spring-peeper]

Back OT

thre are different forms of agression commonly seen too

fear, dominance, pain and a few others.

this is why I asked about the rest of the dogs body language

The rest of his body is in his usually relaxed style, nothing aggressive or even passive about it, just normal.

My husband and I was just discussing it again, and he said that the dogs eyes are sorta glazed over when he is doing this. My husband usually tries to continue on with his morning routine, but the dog keeps growling. His eyes look normal when he stops.

It's almost like he is sleepwalking - and I was taught it was dangerous to wake someone if they are sleepwalking.

I'm being to think that I need a safe way to snap him out of it without really pissing him off.

(I'd been thinking of the crating idea a couple of days ago. I keep kicking myself for not starting out that way, but now it's a bit late. He will only see his sudden restriction of movement as a punishment. It really would not be fair.)

 

[moomoo]

I'd definitely have a chat with the vet about this spring-peeper. He's probably seen it before and will know what it's all about.

 

[Fruitloop]

That was kind of why I didn't think it seemed like one of the standard causes of canine agression like fear/dominance/hunting etc, and maybe more like something neurological. In an older dog you might think that it was a sign of getting a bit senile, but yours is way too young for that.

Ideally you would want a physical checkup first and then a referral to a behavioural specialist if there's nothing physically wrong.

 

[spring-peeper]

Yeh mine loves her crate, it helps keep all her toys contained too

You could try the crate, or just a proper dog bad, then he can have his own space. (If it's a dog bed you also have the advantage of being able to move it to wherever you want the dog, or wherver the dog wants to be IYKWIM)

If you do get a crate you can just leave the door open all the time they soon know what space is theirs.

What else has changed recently though? Anything you can think of?

]

Yes, my son started coming home later from work. The dog likes to hang out with the humans, so he will go and sit with my son while he plays computer/watches tv. When my son goes to bed, the dog will come into our room and curl up on the floor.

Problem is my husband gets up a couple of hour later to go to work, so the dog gets up again. I'm thinking that his sleep patterns are messed up. Sadly, I have no control of the hours of their employment.

 

[Pingu]

The rest of his body is in his usually relaxed style, nothing aggressive or even passive about it, just normal.

My husband and I was just discussing it again, and he said that the dogs eyes are sorta glazed over when he is doing this. My husband usually tries to continue on with his morning routine, but the dog keeps growling. His eyes look normal when he stops.

It's almost like he is sleepwalking - and I was taught it was dangerous to wake someone if they are sleepwalking.

I'm being to think that I need a safe way to snap him out of it without really pissing him off.

(I'd been thinking of the crating idea a couple of days ago. I keep kicking myself for not starting out that way, but now it's a bit late. He will only see his sudden restriction of movement as a punishment. It really would not be fair.)

tbh its not too late. the way to do it is to just leave it open and place toys\food in there and NEVER use it as a punishment. you will possibly find that he takes well to it. If its seen as his place to go when he wants peace and quiet it shouldnt be a problem.

Take it slowly though and make it a positive association.

How old is he?

 

[zenie]

Vets, see what they say then come back and tell us?

At least if you know there's definitely medical wrong then you can look at seeing a behaviourist/asking on a dog forum.

Also if it is the sleep disturbance thing a crate needn't be restrictive, you can leave the door open and theyoften go in of their free will. Especially if there's somehting nice for them in there like a bone!

I'll shut-up about crates now though in case it's pissing you off

 

[TitanSound]

so wouldn't you say the fact that the last dog they had bit off an ear suggests that something is wrong here?

Of course, but I don't want to point the finger unless I am in full possession of the facts

 

[spring-peeper]

That was kind of why I didn't think it seemed like one of the standard causes of canine agression like fear/dominance/hunting etc, and maybe more like something neurological. In an older dog you might think that it was a sign of getting a bit senile, but yours is way too young for that.

Ideally you would want a physical checkup first and then a referral to a behavioural specialist if there's nothing physically wrong.

It's only when he is woken up suddenly. Tripping over him, that sort of thing. The rest of the time, he is a delight.

He gets lots of excerise. We live in the middle of a forest, so our daily walks always include woods, fields and, his favourite, the creek.

I give him a good rubdown with the towel to get all the water off of him each time, and haven't hit any tender spots. But I think that I should call the vet.

 

[moomoo]

It's only when he is woken up suddenly.

Sounds like a typical man then.

 

[spring-peeper]

tbh its not too late. the way to do it is to just leave it open and place toys\food in there and NEVER use it as a punishment. you will possibly find that he takes well to it. If its seen as his place to go when he wants peace and quiet it shouldnt be a problem.

Take it slowly though and make it a positive association.

How old is he?

He turned three in May.

I agree completely with you about finding a place for the dog to sleep. He really should have his own place.

I really wish we had a normal household. You know, everyone works from 8 to 5, everyone goes to bed at 11 pm, Monday to Friday, week-ends off. It must be nice to have a routine, but that will never happen here. Everyone is on shift.

 

[Fruitloop]

It's only when he is woken up suddenly. Tripping over him, that sort of thing. The rest of the time, he is a delight.

He gets lots of excerise. We live in the middle of a forest, so our daily walks always include woods, fields and, his favourite, the creek.

I give him a good rubdown with the towel to get all the water off of him each time, and haven't hit any tender spots. But I think that I should call the vet.

Sounds nice.

It's a not uncommon behaviour to be honest, dogs have well-developed startle reactions and these are particularly strong when they've just been woken up. A sudden change in behaviour at a period in the dog's life when you wouldn't necesarily expect it probably warrants some investigation though, and anyway if the vet thinks its a behavioural problem they should be able to advise you on how to deal with it.

In the meantime make sure that nothing you're doing is inadvertently reinforcing this behaviour - if it happens try to stay relaxed and calm, but not to the point of tolerating intimidation from the dog.

Hope it all is OK.