Agressive Rescue Dog

Question
Thanks for answering me so quickly! Yes, She is fixed. I thought the humping my daughter thing was very strange especially since she is fixed. We all show her a lot of affection. She is also very loving to me when my husband is around, she even rolls on her back on the couch with her head on my lap, and cuddles me.

I didn't even know they made antidepressants for dogs. I know very little of her history. We live in central Alaska, on an Army base, and Lola was found at a nearby air force base, just wandering the streets, and was picked up and nobody claimed her. The time period she was found, the average daily temparature was at least -20 to -40. She was at the shelter for over a month before my husband met her and brought her home. She's a gorgeous dog, which made me wonder why no one else wanted her.

I know this being left alone outside must have been traumatic for her in itself, being that from what I have read, boxers don't tolerate cold very well. I agree with you though, she only seems threatened by the females in the family. She is all about my husband, that's for sure.

Thanks again!

Shannon R.


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Followup To
Question -
Hi there!

I appreciate your taking the time to review my question. Here goes:

About a month ago my husband brought a 1 year boxer mix (they think she's part boxer, part pit bull..she's white a very tiny brown pots on her back)home from the local rescue shelter. She is very hyper, but seemed very loving to everyone in our family (4 year-old daughter, 1 year old son), especially my husband. One night, my husband and the dog were cuddled up on the couch, and my daughter got up from where she was sitting on the floor and moved towards my husband, to hug him or sit with him, not sure which.. anyway, the dog just lunged at her and bit her on the face. She didn't growl or anything, and it barely broke the skin, but my daughter had tooth marks on her forehead and eyelid for a couple of days after that. I wanted to get rid of her right then and there, but my husband didn't. She has also on some occasions tried to 'hump' my daughter. She is not agressive towards my husband, or my son. Lately though, she seems to like biting me. Every time my husband leaves the room, she runs over to me and starts batting me with her paws, on my shoulders, arm, like she's trying to climb on top of me. I say back, and put my arm up to block her, and she bites me. She does it over and over, while I yell NO and try to get her off of me, until my husband comes in, and she instantly stops. Today was the worst. She heard my husband go into the bathroom, and just jumped on me. I was on the couch, and she knocked me over onto my side, and climbed all the way on top of me, her back paws cut my side, and she was clawing at me with her front paws all over my arm. I was yelling OFF and NO, and trying to get up, but every time I moved she bit me! My skin is broken in some spots. My husband ran in, and grabbed her and put her in her crate. She sat there staring at me for some time after that. I think she really wants to hurt me.

I just don't know what to do. My husband has looked into obedience training, but this just doesn't seem like something that can be cured with that. She acts like an angel when he's around, but the second she hears the door close, she's all over me. No growling, but does NOT seem to be playing.


Thanks for your time..

Shannon R.
Answer -
Hello!

We obviously have a behaviour problem here. From what you have told me, I understand that your dog is very attached to your husband, and feels that everyone else around him and especially you of course since you are his wife,is a threat to their relationship. He is very jealous of you and your children, this is very obvious on what he did to your daughter. Were you showing your dog your affection normally before these things happened? Or was he always like your husband's dog? You may want to try to pet him, and take care of him while your husband is around, trying to show him that you are not a threat. The whole family can sit together and care about him a lot, petting him and all. This needs to be done regularly. Another thing, I understand that she does it to only the females in your family. Has she been spayed? Did she go on ''heat'' nearly, meaning maybe she was on heat while these things happened, and that may affect her behaviours too. If this is the case it may pass afterwards, or you may need to get her fixed, but I cant guarantee this would help. It is really hard to tell what is causing these behaviours on rescue dogs, because they usually have some trauma from the previous owners,and usually this is what is causing the problems. If these things dont help, you may need to be using drugs like anti-depressants, but for this you may first want to consider seeing a vet specialised in psychology. I hope I have been of any help, if you have further questions please dont hesitate to contact me.  

Answer
You are welcome! Just keep on being real nice to her and taking care of her a lot. Because it has been only one month since she came in the family. Whatever that brought her into this state may not pass this quickly. So she may just need some time and caring people around to get over this trauma. I hope she gets better. Please keep me informed on how it goes.

Kind Regards,
Caglar Kondu Erkip