Help!! My sweet Goldendoodle is starting to show aggression towards other dogs (his size or bigger)

[Carina Effenberger]

 

We are in LOVE with our 2 year old Goldendoodle named Jasper that we've had since he was 8 weeks old.  We got him from a wonderful breeder and consider him to really be part of our family.  I call him my "son"!  He's got an incredible disposition and people that know him all agree that he almost seems human.  He recently started showing aggression towards dogs that are either his size or larger (never to smaller ones).  It seems to be getting worse as time passes and I don't know what to do.  Today, we took him to the beach and never took him off the leash but a few dogs came to say hello and he went nuts!  He even tried to bite another golden retriever.  We are so devastated and don't know what to do.  

He's so wonderful to people he knows - especially our 2 daughters who are 7 and 9 (thank god).   He's a big ball of mushy love.  But he also shows aggression to unfamilliar men that approach him as well as to ones that come to our door.  The UPS man and Mailman stay clear of him!  He also get's pretty nasty to people (men or women) when he's in the car and they approach our window.  

 

I'm so afraid he's going to hurt someone and then be taken away from us.  

 

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before?  Or have any clue as to why he's doing this?

 

My husband thinks he's being protective of us.  I'd really like to understand why this is happening and how to stop it NOW!!!

 

Any input would be so greatly appreciated!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I'm no expert but I think if I were in your shoes I would seek out a really good dog trainer who can help you with this.  It seems from what you say here that there have been problems for a while that have now got worse.   I am sure there are lots of others here on DK who will have some suggestions and perhaps some recommendations of trainers in your area.  I would do really good research and find the best one for Jasper.   I think with the right work this can be sorted as without doubt these are serious issues.   You are obviously very upset and I do wish you the very best in dealing with this.

[Lynn D.]

I would have a vet check his tyroid levels.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I don't know what phases at what age dogs do things, but Ned began showing some bits of aggression at a little over two.  I connected it with our older dog getting sick and passing away.  Ned has taken over our alpha spot.  Ned is not normally an aggressive dog, but sometimes he tries to protect the pack when we are on walks and he sometimes growls at a person or dog.  He especially does not like boxers - or male boxers perhaps.  We took Ned to training and we have a command we give him when he does something very wrong - like aggression.  We use a choke collar on walks and we YELL, "Out!" and give the collar a sharp tug.  This usually scares the people around you - and causes some embarrassment for you, but the dog learns that their behavior is not acceptable.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I don't know the answers but Chloe has done the same thing starting at age 3 she loved all dogs and all people but now we can't trust her to greet another bigger dog on leash. She growls and snaps at them and this happens whether or not Myla is with. It makes me feel terrible (and scared) I will be following this discussion in case anyone has any info. You are not alone.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Our Fudge was socialized with dogs at an early age, went to doggie daycare, to the dog park, and when we got Vern, she decided she wanted their play to just be with the two of them, so we stopped going to the dog park. She is the absolute best dog with people and I can take her to the Assisted Living place where I volunteer and she is wonderful. Certain dogs push her buttons, however. A very dominant dog came up to her in training class today and she let it be known that he needed to back off. My feeling is work with a trainer. Sometimes the problem is how YOU react to the situation. I know I tense up when I see another dog and I am sure Fudge senses it and feeds off of my nervousness. A trainer will help you. Good luck. It is hard to have this happen.

[Carina Effenberger]

Thanks so much to everyone for the very helpful and comforting responses.  It's good to know we are not alone!

First thing tomorrow morning I will make Jasper an appointment at the vet (b/c he's due) and will talk to them about this issue and hopefully get a great recommendation for a behaviorist/trainer.

 

We live in Florida where houses don't usually have much land.  We have neighbors on both sides of our house with dogs.  On one side they have 2 small dogs that bark a lot and on the other side we have two HUGE Newfoundlands (although one just sadly passed away).   I truly believe this issue has stemmed from interactions  - on the other side of the fence - with both sets of these dogs.   When the landscaper goes by the backside of our house on his lawnmower, Jasper chases him along the fence barking at him.  It really seems like he is just guarding his turf - being protective of his family.   But I guess we'll just have to see what the experts say.

 

I'll keep u all posted!  Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

 

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

If your vet doesn't want to do the thyroid panel, push him. Not all believe that thyroid levels, or lack their of, has anything to do with aggression.

I also have been told that high protein diets and aggression has some correlation. I have not read up on that personally but maybe others here in DK have. Karen, have you?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I think if Karen hears this one more time ( high protein diets / aggression correlation) she may scream.  Yes, she has heard of this and last I saw, she wrote there is no scientific evidence to back this up.  I'm watching the information closely but for now it is Doodle Poop.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I heard this from a trainer friend of mine. Trainers believe it, not sure if there is scientific backup but if it can't hurt to try it.....

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Maybe my doodles will join me in my HIGH CARB cookie diet!  :)   I always think a cookie diet is worth a try.  HA

[F, Calla & Luca]

HOKUM. I'm screaming for her. Exactly, right doodle poop. Of course if we only give  aggressive  doodles water eventually they will stop being aggressive : ) Dogs need protein, they are carnivores by nature.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's absolute garbage. Here's a link to the Tufts study that all of this nonsense is based upon. One trainer read something on a forum about this study, and she told two friends, and she told two friends, and so on, and so on...ad nauseum. It's about tryptophan, NOT protein. And how much protein would constitute a "high-protein" diet for a carnivore?????

http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2000.217.504

 

I really wish the trainers would stick to training and leave biochemistry to people who have some formal education in science.