very unpredictable Shih Tzu

Question
Hi,

I have had my shih tzu since he was 8 weeks old.  When I first got him, he would back away when I would try to pet him and he still does this, except when I come home (he is very happy to see me). My concern is his unpredictable, aggressive behavior. He will be fine one minute when he is sitting next to me and I can pet him, but sometimes, without any warning he will become very aggressive, biting and attacking like a wild dog. His eyes seem to glaze over and his nose becomes flat (right before attacking).

I brought him to our vet, and we tried giving him buspirone, but in my opinion, he seems to become worse on it. I love him, and do not want to get rid of him, and I know no one would want a dog that behaves like this. Can you please give me some advice, it's been two years and he is not getting any better. I would like to add that his vet advised against a therapist.

Thank-you,
Wendy  

Answer
Hi wendy;
I was not notified that you had responded to my answer, or i would have written right away.
This sounds more and more like the situation I told you about, with my neighbor, who would call her dog to her, and then beat it.
This just sounds like this poor dog is used to being mistreated. He sounds distrustful of humans, and the only thing I know that causes that is being treated badly by humans.
I believe you said your vet had advised against an animal behaviorist, and you do have to be very careful, because there are no license requirements for this, so people can present themselves as an expert in this field, when they have no idea what they are talking about.
Your best source, I think, would be the local chapter of the humane society.
Those people are used to dealing with such problems, and can help you with it.
Just like children that are abused, animals like this are a big problem for the people who are kind enough to take them into their home, and try to help them.
Such a little thing to have some huge human mistreat it!
Once fear is instaled in a child or animal, it is very hard to regain the trust and help them.
I personally would like to see thumb screws and stocks brought back, as a form of punishment for people who abuse children and animals.
How a person can mistreat an innocent little child or animal is beyond my understanding.
If i could be in contact with your dog. i could help, because i have worked with a lot of animals like this. It takes time and patience. Since I can't help you, hands on. the best I can do is try to steer you to some responsib;e help.
another thing you can do, is look up pet rescue groups in your area, and look up the rescues for dogs.
Go to google search. If that is not the search engine on your home page, go to
www.google.com
 Put in  pet rescue groups for (and put your state).
You will get a list of more groups than you can imagine, there are a lot of us out there.
Find one near you, and call them, tell them the problem, and ask if they can steer you to anyone who can help you.
There IS help out there. We just have to find someone near enough to you, that they can help you , hands on.
i wish you were near me. My dogs have helped with little ones like this that I have fostered. My australian shepherd mix, and my english setter are great with terrified little ones that sre so distrusting.
It's funny, because they were never abused or treated rough, but my other two were, in the place they were before I got them. I know they family that had rowdy, the aussie. She was a single mother with 3 kids, and her landlord made her get rid of the dog, after she and her kids had him for 6 months. She had a choice of giving up the dog or losing the only place she could afford for she and her kids to live. Her grandparents have been neighbors of mine for about 40 years.
The sheltie was so terified of children, he would almost go into shock when one of my grandchildren came close to him. He had been badly treated by children.
It may come to a point that this dog can't be helped by you, but will have to go to someone else, who has more knowledge of undoing what some unfeeluing monster has done. I hope not.
If you have small children that are in danger of being bitten, of course you have to consider this, but i am hoping we can find you some help that will make it possible for you to keep this little one.
They eyes loking glazed sounds like he is near going into shock, and his nose flattening, is a sign he is ready to defend himself with vigor. that is not what children ned to have to deal with.
Going into shock can be life threatening for him.
I am not sure you could get close enough to him, and get him calm enough for you to begin the massages.
Know what?
Go to
www.lindatellington-jones.com
Email them and tell them your problem with this little one, and tell them you are not sure he would let you do the massages. they can, I hope, offer some more guidelines for you. Maybe they can suggest something you can do that would calm him enough for the massages. Maybe you will even need a mild tranquillizer to help calm him, untill you cn work the massages, and get him calmed more.
If your vet thinks this is a bad idea, maybe you need another vet.
Not all what have the degrees, should have them. There are as many quack veterinarians as there are quack M.D.s.
I am spoiled. My vet is so helpful with anything, and so tender with his patients. I have to give my litle Lhasa/mix a tranquillizer to clip his toenails. If you try to hold him down and do it, his eyes get that glazed over look, and they scares me to death. They can get so scared they just fie of fright.
Let me know if you get any results with finding a rescue person or the humane society, that thinks they can help you.
I am going to give you my email address, so you can write me directly, if you like. that way, it won't be 2 or 3 weeks before I just happen to find your reply.
You can email me at
charlotte34@verizon.net