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Jun 2021
8:46am, 8 Jun 2021
1,123 posts
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RooA
Poor Luna! Very scary for you. That's a lot of damage... I hope you can find what caused it.
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Jun 2021
10:07pm, 8 Jun 2021
1,917 posts
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Roberto
Hope Luna is doing OK.
Just had an awful moment with Arlo. He has been perfect for the last 2 weeks, hasn't growled once, has been really loving at night. Partner was away over the weekend, since she came back he growled at her yesterday and then tonight was lying with her and started growling so she couldn't get up. So I came and got him away with a treat. Been on high alert all night but was lying on the floor, she moved on the sofa and he dived and went for her face. He has then been going at me 3 times as I've tried to get him away and out of the situation.
It's 12 days since his implant which sees his testosterone soar before dropping but we don't know what to do. I don't know how to deal with this.
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Jun 2021
10:45pm, 8 Jun 2021
8,943 posts
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BaronessBL
Oh Roberto how frightening for you and your partner. I'm certainly no expert but I'd suggest the way to break this cycle is for him to have more time either on his own perhaps shut in a separate room or if in the same room as you then perhaps in a crate - not as a punishment but so he understands that sometimes he has to be in his own space so that you guys can be in your own space. I guess he is used to being with you both a lot because of lockdown, working from home and the fact that most dogs have seen far more of their owners in the last year than is really good for them. We are finding Wanda makes a big fuss now if we go out which she never used to so we try to go out more to get her used to it.
With Wanda we have always had very clear boundaries but she still tries to push them as far as she can, so for example she has a bed in one of the upstairs rooms but she is not allowed to sleep in that bed at night - her night time bed is downstairs. She still comes up every night and growls outside the room the other bed is in but when it doesn't achieve anything she goes downstairs to her night time bed. Can you establish any different boundaries for Arlo?
Speak to your vet as well and let them know what he has tried to do - perhaps he is in some pain/discomfort from something.
I can't remember if you currently go or have been to training with him but if so your trainer may also be able to offer advice or recommend someone else more on a behaviour side of things. I appreciate none of that really helps at this time of night though.
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Jun 2021
11:17pm, 8 Jun 2021
1,142 posts
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RooA
If this is a temporary situation because of the hormones, Roberto, then manage, manage, manage to keep you all safe. Crate or on harness and lead/houseline at all times so you can remove him from a situation without any confrontation or reward. Speak to your vet tomorrow. Hopefully this is just temporary. I don't know much about the implant but sometimes removal of testosterone can make nervous aggression worse.
Do not get into any kind of confrontational situation with Arlo, stay calm and neutral (I know that's very hard). If he is calm in a crate personally I would crate for the night with a stuffed Kong or similar to let him work some of the stress hormones out. And it gives you breathing space too.
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Jun 2021
9:09am, 9 Jun 2021
1,918 posts
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Roberto
Thanks everyone. We had him on his lead so I was able to get him away and into a different room to cool off (it took 3 attempts before he calmed down and we could go near him though). Ringing the vets this morning.
He is left through the day when we are at work, and just sleeps. Dog walker comes and he is out with her for a few hours and is fine. It is only after 8pm. Until then he is not a problem and really loving, if it was pain, I'd expect it to be more consistent. (He did have difficulty this morning going to the toilet and I had to pull it out and were some hard orange bits in it (no idea what) and he has started scooting again last few days so he could just be uncomfortable.
Going to try putting him to bed earlier tonight and seeing of he is just wanting to sleep.
Won't be speaking to the trainer, her advice will be to give him a whack and "show him who is boss". Vets has a behaviourist so will speak with them. We will pay what we need to to help him so he is happy.
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Jun 2021
9:57am, 9 Jun 2021
184 posts
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mathschick
Roberto that trainer sounds awful!
Hope Arlo settles down soon
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Jun 2021
10:04am, 9 Jun 2021
1,144 posts
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RooA
Our spaniel has mellowed a lot as he's got older but we do tend to avoid eye contact after 8pm! As he has The Rage a bit round the edges. He's always been completely fine if left alone once he's settled and only grumbles and at the very most has air snapped under duress. He can have a lead clipped on and once he's in motion he's back to himself. But I think there's a bit of a spaniel trait there. We just kind of work around him because as long as we leave him be and remember not to try and pat him there's no problem. Different if you can't relax because he gets upset when you move. "Doggies bedtime" seems like a good plan.
Yeah. Don't go to that trainer. The vet behaviourist will probably be better.
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Jun 2021
10:20am, 9 Jun 2021
1,920 posts
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Roberto
Yeah the trainer seemed fine. She only came out with that advice at the end of the last session as had told one of the others to do it and it had worked apparently. Had she said it on the first session, I'd have walked out immediately.
Going to try earlier bed time and then a later walk as well. He seems more settled when I run with him on an evening so might help just going out for 15 minutes around 8ish.
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Jun 2021
11:05am, 9 Jun 2021
8,944 posts
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BaronessBL
A bedtime routine sounds good and a later walk for him to have a few sniffs about might help. Hope the vet's behaviourist can offer something too. If you are going to continue training though it might be worth looking around at who else is available in your area.
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Jun 2021
10:42pm, 9 Jun 2021
91 posts
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Marchog
Went back down to Tredegar House today (Newport parkrun course if you're interested) to try and find what Luna stepped on. With the NT manager we found some 6 inch nails holding some rotten timbers in place on the side of the lake.
She's currently asleep on my feet and should make a full recovery - it's amazing the difference 72 hours can make.
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Dog walking
May 2013