My dad has a large German Shepherd/Pointer dog mix who 9 years old. He loves him very very much. However, recently his dog Goliath has become aggressive to his other German Shepherd 1 1/2 y/o male dog. Both dogs have been friends for 8 months. My dad heard a dog fight in his backyard and Goliath was attacking Lucky (his other GSD). He was growling at him and tried was playing a dominant game with him. When my dad went to walk away with Goliath he nearly bit him by snapping his teeth at him. I'm wondering if it was because my dad wouldn't let him touch Lucky. Do dogs do this when they become older?
2007-01-19 09:48:41 · 13 answers · asked by elysianlife1983 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Sounds like the older dog is trying to maintain his dominance. At 1 1/2yrs, the other dog is likely trying to become the "alpha" and the old dog isn't happy about it. As long as nobody is being injured, let them establish their roles on their own. Dogs need to establish pack roles if they're going to get along. One needs to accept that the other is the alpha. Or better yet... that your DAD is the alpha, rather than either of the dogs. That takes dominance training.
If they both insist on being alpha dogs, there will continue to be problems until one either gives in, or gets injured. IF this becomes an ongoing thing and he has to get rid of a dog... the only ethical thing to do is to give up the younger dog. Trying to rehome an older dog is just cruel. For one, very few people want to adopt an old dog. (would you?). Second... the old dog has presumably been in the family longer. He will be much more affected, emotionally speaking, if he's rehomed. The younger dog will be much easier to rehome and will adjust to his new surroundings much faster.
Good luck. Hope things work out.
2007-01-19 10:03:54 · answer #1 · answered by kittikatti69 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 18 months, Lucky is just becoming mature & may well have been making a bid to be top dog - or Goliath just decided he was getting too uppity. It may well have just been an isolated incident but it's possible the 2 dogs will not be able to live comfortably together now Lucky is nearly mature. Personally, I'd rehome the younger one - more people would be willing to give him a home at his age & Goliath was there first. I wouldn't worry about him snapping if this was the only incident, he probably felt very threatened.
At 9, it might be worth having him checked over to make sure there's no physical reason for him becoming grumpy, he may have the beginnings of arthritis.
2007-01-19 10:04:28 · answer #2 · answered by anwen55 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to say this, but it may be better for you to take it onto yourself to rehome the dog, ensuring it finds a home with someone that will love and care for it. I used to own huskies and they ARE a handful if you don't have the proper fencing and the time and energy to keep up with them. Your dad sounds a classic backwoods bad dog owner. He wants a dog that is innately born to be aggressive -- that is what a 'guard' dog is. If he is willing to throw a dog in the proverbial garbage because it doesn't suit him, then he obviously isn't looking at it like a family pet. That means that any dog your family gets, you should NOT be forming an attachment to it. The second it bites someone, its going to become a legal case for your dad that can ultimately end in the dog being put down. REAL, effective guard dogs need professional training, no ifs, ands, or buts. Your dad needs to be ready to shell out cash if what he's looking for is a dog that is both protective and easily controlled. No dog is perfect. It may be better for you to just wait until you are old enough to get away from your dad and then adopt the dog that you want, and treat it and love it like you want. It's unfortunate, but your dad runs the household and if he wants to get rid of the dog with no say from you, he's going to. He may even do worse (kill the dog). You're not going to suddenly train the dog to be exactly what your dad wants -- he already dislikes it, so even if the dog learned to speak English and did backflips, he still wouldn't like it.
2016-03-29 05:14:37 · answer #3 · answered by Gregory 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might be that Goliath wants to be the leader and was fighting for dominance,I would not get rid of the dog at this point,things will probably clear up in a few days.....
Tony H
2007-01-19 10:28:06 · answer #4 · answered by Tony H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs do when they get older, especially if they have stiffness in the joints or perhaps one dog is receiving more attention than the other. This may be how Goliath is feeling and they naturally will become more aggressive if they feel cheated from attention.
2007-01-19 10:11:14 · answer #5 · answered by NJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dog do not ever 'nearly' bite anyone. they either bite, or they don't. Dogs are super accurate with their mouths, being able to pick a fly out of the air, and a flea off their skin.. If Goliath meant to bite your dad, your dad would have been bitten. Goliath was expressing his stress and perhaps anger..But, just because a dog may snap at a person, doesn't mean the dog is a biter..
A dog will snap, nip, scratch, bite, maul with his mouth and teeth....all on purpose..never an accident or near-miss..Your dad's dog did just as he meant to do.
I think it is important for Goliath to be able to maintain his dominance. If he shows the younger dog that he is weak, the younger dog will take over...Bet on it..and the younger dog will not be nearly as wise as the older grey muzzle.
2007-01-19 10:10:46 · answer #6 · answered by Chetco 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The young dog has attempted to be the domant male,(Pack Leader) and the older dog is not ready to relinquish the position. Your Dad must be in charge and become the Pack Leader if he ever wants the dogs to get along. Get on the net and do some research on training. If you get the TV Show "The Dog Whisperer", watch that, go to the web site below and learn. Caesar is awesome. Good Luck!!
2007-01-19 10:01:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If these dogs aren't neutered, that is the problem. Also, is this 2 dogs or 3 dogs?? If so, they need to fight to be "top dog" and establish the alfa position. The need usually comes from not being neutered.
If a dog bites, there is liability issues. Not sure how old you are, but if this dog bites and harms a child, this is cause for major concern.
2007-01-19 10:05:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are they fixed.....if not part of this could be that at 1 1/2 Lucky is just getting to a part where he could threating Goliaths dominace.....so he feels he has to maintain that.....and part of it could be that some dogs do just get grumpy with age.....I would not get rid of him but your pop is going to have to keep a close eye on them from now on.
2007-01-19 09:56:45 · answer #9 · answered by yetti 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If this is an isolated incident, your Dad should definately not give up on his dog yet!!!
At 9 years old there could be underlying medical reasons your dog is acting out. Have him checked over by your vet and eliminate any possibilities before you make any rash decisions.
2007-01-19 09:56:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋