sudden personality change in dog

Question
My daughter has an American Staffordshire, a rescue, about 2 years, who 4 months ago had 10 pups. This dog has never bothered any animals, has been very sweet, but always demands all the affection and attention.  She also stubbornly runs away and roams and whenever we leave, she shreds apart things, such as a whole couch or wall. I have not been able to train her out of these annoying behaviors. She played with the pups, becoming a puppy herself, tearing up socks, etc. several at a  time. 2 days ago, she cornered a rabbit. Then we discovered that she and 3 pups had chased and ripped apart, especially at the neck, a sheep. We chained her to an outside doghouse, near the house, & anytime a pup would wander by, she would attack it. We have given away almost all the pups. After leaving her in the house today, we came back to find that her and a pug we own, had cornered a pom we own, having torn him around the neck. He might have been killed if we had tarried. I told my daughter that I have to put the dog down and she is extremely upset and depressed. We are writing to ask you if you have any idea why she suddenly turned into an attack animal, & if there will be any redemption at all. I am hoping to make my daughter gain an understanding & an easier acceptance of the dog's death, if that is what it will come down to. She is hoping a pill or two will turn her dog back into normal. It looks like more than just "packing" instinct to me, especially now with the other 2 obsessive behaviors. Thank you for your time and answer, Robin & Katie  

Answer
Dog are pack animals and instinctively they will kill small prey or smaller animals.  We have only tried to domesticate dogs for a short time and can not totally remove some of their wild ancesterol behaviors.  I wouldn't consider this situation normal by any means, however, interdog aggression is very common in Staffies but a pill or two won't solve the problem.  The dog will need Behavior Modification, which means a lot of work on your family's part.  You MUST CRATE her when you are not home or available to supervise her.  If she is not spayed, I would recommend getting her spayed.  I would highly recommend seeking a consult with a veterinary behaviorist to get her started on a behavior modification program and potentially some anti-anxiety medication.  Below is the address of specialty organization.  There are many websites that you can search to give you some more practical advise, but I think a specialist in this situation is your best bet.  And then if she can be rehabilitated you should consider euthanasia.


American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Dr. Bonnie V. Beaver, Executive Director
Texas A&M University
Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery
4474 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4474
Phone: 979-845-2351
Fax: 979-845-6978
E-mail: mail@dacvb.org
Web site: http://www.dacvb.org/