What would make Hunter HATE other dogs now??

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Hunter has become very antisocial with other dogs!!  WTD??!!

In the spring I had taken her to the dog park and she normally loves it there.  There were probably 6 other dogs there, all pleasant, playing, none of them were teritorrial or anything like that.  Well as they were running I hear one of them growling, snarling and acting very aggressive.  At first I was looking around like "who has the antisocial dog at the dog park? geez people!".  Then it happened again and I realized it was HUNTER!  She did not want any of them running with her and she was growling and snapping at them!  I was in SHOCK! She has never done this before.  I immediately put her on her leash and I took her out of the park chalking it up to a bad day. 

About a week later our neighbors bring their grand-doodle over to play with Hunter, she has played with this doodle countless times just fine.  This time as soon as they let Sammy off his leash Hunter was growling, snapping and acting like a "jerk-dog" as my daughter said.  I put Hunter on her leash and my neighbor put Sammy on his leash and Hunter wouldn't even tolerate that, she was growling and snapping when he was happily trying to greet her.  So they left.  About 3 weeks later their son brought over their second new-addition doodle puppy!  Of course, I was in love but Hunter was NOT!.  I thought she might be ok since it was a puppy and I didn't think would seem threatening to her.  Well the puppy jumped on her to play (I had Hunter on her leash just in case) and sure enough Hunter growled, snapped and knocked the puppy to the ground with her paw.  I was sooooo embarassed!  I told their son what had been happening with her being anti-social and he did understand.

So last week we did our 2 week summer camping trip.  Normally, Hunter will greet every dog and try to play with everyone she runs across.  Nope not this time.  I ran across a couple when I had Hunter out for a walk along the water (no one else was around but then so no comotion).  When they walked up to me with their 8-month-old black doodle I told them that Hunter was not very friendly to other dogs and to hold theirs back to see.  Sure enough, the puppy tried to sniff Hunter and got a little to close, not even jumping on her and Hunter growled, snarled, showed her teeth etc.  Then she did the oddest thing - Hunter sat on my foot and completely started in the other direction away from the couple and their doodle that was now laying on the ground barking at Hunter trying to get her to play.  I kept petting Hunter telling her she was ok thinking she was afraid but I am just at a loss.

Why would she so obviously LOVE other dogs before, have had no issue with one at all, and now all of a sudden want to eat any dog that comes in her path?

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is going to sound very odd, but if you are absolutely sure that Hunter has not had any new experiences with other dogs that you do not know about (something that might have happened at daycare, or when someone else was walking her, or in boarding), would consult with my vet about it and maybe bring her in for a once over. Sudden inexplicable behavior changes often have some physical component, and dogs are really good at not letting their moms know that something is hurting or bothering them, but then it comes out because the dog is feeling vulnerable.

Not meaning to worry you, but that's what I would do.  

Jack lost his interest in playing or associating with strange dogs when he was about 18 months old, but he is still happy to see the dogs he knows. So I think this is something more than just getting older and losing interest in the rough and tumble dog playing.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I agree with Karen's answer in that Hunter could be injured or ill which the vet would need to diagnose.  I can say that when  our alpha dog became ill, Ned took over alpha in pack duties.  If he is by himself he is perfectly social, but when with our other dogs, he has been known to growl at some other dogs - especially boxers.  Ned was 3 1/2 when he began his 'presidency'  Perhaps Hunter is protecting you?

[Christine & Camus]

Just a thought, when I was investigating hypothyroidism in dogs I found that one of the symptoms is aggression.  There was research done with aggressive dogs and it was discovered that many had hypothyroidism.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I had the same thought as the others, wondering if Hunter is hurting or not feeling well. Since it is SO sudden and SO drastic of a change I would urge you to get her a thorough physical before deciding that this is just a behavioral problem.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I do agree that it's a good idea to talk to your Vet to be sure that there's not a physical cause, but I wouldn't be too surprised if this is behavioral.  If you do rule out a physical cause, I think you'll need a strategy to help Hunter through this. In this last incident she started out with a bit of aggression and then turned to avoidance....neither of these are appropriate responses to meeting another dog.  One of the things that I've learned in dealing with Murph's issues is that it is counterproductive to pet them or give any affection when they're acting like this.  They get the idea that you are approving.  Even if you suspect it's fear based (which I doubt), you wouldn't want to reinforce either aggression or avoidance.  So, I would rule out a physical cause first and go from there.  Please keep us posted.  I have lots of experience with this, so if it is behavioral I'll be more than happy to share what we've learned. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Denise, I hear all that others are saying and it's probably a good idea to have her checked but I would like to throw in another thing if you answer Not Very Often to one question.

When Daisy went to daycare she was very social and played with everyone...then she was bitten and did not want to go any longer, she would not get out of the car and if I coaxed her in she would pull me back to the door so no more daycare. She then was with me all of the time, a few of her neighborhood dog friends she would see and they would say hi but she never really played with them. She did of course see our granddog about every other week, a boxer and a very "gnat" like doggy.,.hey hey, what cha doing, kind of in your face girl. Daisy tolerates her but eventually would "bark" her in her place. She does play with her sister Bella, no matter how long its been, she still will play with her but again will bark her into leaving her alone when she says play is done. Mostly she just doesn't see many dogs. The longer the time period the least likely she is going to like any new dog.

So here is the question. Are the time periods between seeing and playing with dogs a lot longer then before? She may just now be an "only" dog and not really like other dogs anymore. Just a thought.

[Pat and Traveler]

Awwww...sorry to hear this.  I checked Hunter's age, wondering if she was shifting from puppy to adult, but she's older than the teenager to adult time period.  Trav did change at this time--suddenly became aware of 'trouble' on the other side of 'his' fenced territory, started lying down when on leash and other dogs were approaching, then leaping up at them, etc.  But this doesn't fit for Hunter.  I would be just as baffled and upset and you are. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Denise,

I've thought about this one a lot. Any of her toys, or toys in general at the dog park or near her in the yard?  Anyone with food nearby?  Even nice dogs, go bad with toys and treats nearby.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Nothing at all has ever made her aggressive other than the recent other dogs.  You can put your hand in her food dish when she is eating, take a bone away, a toy, anything.  You can put clothes on her (I have  10 and 13 year old daughters!), put bows in her hair, jewelry, pose her for pictures and she is always just happy.  She still will play great with my father-in-laws Brittney Spaniel that lived with us for about 3 months and she see's her a lot.  Playing with Britsey she didn't show any more aggression then her normal playing, they were with us on this last camping trip and they were fine.

I had her to the vet over a nail peeling incident but I figured that back to the girls putting nail polish on her :-(  They did check her thyroid then and it was fine.  It is time for her check up and heart worm for the year so I will bring it up.  

I work from home so I am with her all day every day and I am the only one that walks her.....  Unless a dog came into our yard and I missed it but absolutely nothing that I can think of that involved another dog.  Maybe that last visit to the dog park something happened right off the bat and I missed it?  It caught me so out of the blue when we were there....

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Spud has recently growled also. Uncharacteristic, I wondered or was he just maturing, and finally settling,  and no longer wants to put up with 'B.S. stuff' 

Denise, you are certainly welcome to bring her over and retest this at our house.  We can walk a block, bring them back in and see if anything happens. 

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

That is a great idea Joanne!  I get off pretty early all week call me or message me what day works for you and me & my anti-social dood will be over. :-)