minature eskimo behaviour

Question
HI Jill,
We have a 7 year old miniature Eskimo, which we have had for  5 years. She is netured and is has turned aggressive. We have 3 children and a grandbaby(8 months old) and another baby on the way.
She is barking, growling, barring her teeth at everybody. If we even come near her or in the hallway outside the room she is in she bears her teeth and barks. She is aggressive with other children who come and snip at them. We do not know what to do as she will not be adoptable nor do we want to risk the children with her attacking them with her new behavior, she has also started going to the washroom inside  the house (which we rent).
Please give us your honest advise on what to do with this problem.

Answer
You don't mention how long this aggression has been demonstrated but I doubt it's been very long, given your family situation.  This dog needs to be evaluated by an experienced (not just run of the mill) veterinarian ASAP.  When you describe "bare teeth" it sounds like a fear grimace (lips pulled back exposing all visible teeth, not merely front top and bottom.)  The dog may be in pain; she may have a neurological problem (stroke or other developing problem such as tumor); she may be losing her sight or hearing; there may be legitimate reasons why she is suddenly developing her apparently strong need to protect herself from the very people with whom she has lived for so long.  She needs a super blood chemistry, a careful neurological workup, an orthopedic evaluation and an opthalmologic examination.  Unfortunately, neurological workups are limited in scope without MRI, CT scan, etc.  You must VERY carefully note EVERY CHANGE in her behavior, when it began, what apparently sets it off, EVERY thing you can think of, for the veterinarian.  If the dog's health is apparently fine, you need to bring in a certified applied animal behaviorist.  If there's a veterinary college within reasonable driving distance, I suggest you take the dog there for full physical evaluation and get referral to a behavior specialist.  This strongly appears to me to be a fear aggression problem; if there is no physical cause, then something has SET THE DOG OFF and she is terrified, anxious and miserable, not to mention a clear and present danger to children (and presumably adults, also.)

Your first job, therefore, is to find a good veterinarian; your second is to find a behavior professional.  Your third is to protect the children AND THE DOG by NOT allowing her to interact with ANY CHILDREN for ANY REASON.  It's quite possible that, without your knowledge, a child harmed this dog or frightened her (children behave quite inappropriately toward dogs all the time, which is why we do not allow them to interact with our dogs, or anyone else's, without STRICT and constant supervision -- every moment.)  Her inappropriate elimination in your home may also be a sign of illness or high anxiety, a desperate signal attempting to establish her right to be in your home.  There is no reason to think that this dog cannot be rehabilitated.  However, NO ONE ON THE INTERNET can tell you how to do it!  In person evaluation, full interview of you and other adults, and hands on interaction with the dog are crucial.  She's given you the majority of her life as a companion; I know you will do what it takes to help and understand her now.