I'm not sure if this is the right place for this but hopefully someone can help me out here.

I adopted a Pit/Greyhound mix in October named Jake. Jake is a high energy dog who loves everyone, animal, person that he meets. When I got him from the rescue, I didn't have his papers yet and a few weeks after, I finally got his papers and found out he failed his aggression tests at the shelter but they rescued him anyway since he was so young. They put him with trainers and when he came to me, he didn't show any signs of aggression at all.

A few months in, he started to show food/high value toy aggression. I was freaked out but worked with a trainer and he improved a good amount. I still watch out what toys I give him, but he got much better overall.

So about a month ago, I fostered another dog named Sawyer from the same rescue to give Jake a companion. Sawyer is the opposite of Jake, totally mellow, no dominance at all, just wants to lay at my feet at all times. Jake and Sawyer get along great, snuggle with each other and everything.

I went out of town and left Jake and Sawyer at a dog kennel in a farm with plenty of exercise for them, thinking they would get plenty of exercise. When I picked them up, Jake was super exhausted and was favoring one of his paws. I looked at it and didn't see much, but admittedly, didn't look as hard as I should have in hindsight. Over the next few days, Jake started displaying aggression towards Sawyer, and eventually towards me. It was always when Jake was laying in my bed with me and Sawyer would get on the bed(by my calling him up). He'd snarl and growl. I would put him in his kennel.

Over the weekend, I had him in his kennel overnight and in the morning, he started to bite at his paw and cry when he was biting it. At the same time, he started to REALLY up the aggression. He would be stereotypical angry pit bull in his kennel, snarling, barking and lunging if I came near the kennel. I finally took him out and got him outside of my apartment and realized his paw was pretty bad(clearly). At the same time, I started emailing the rescue to tell them the situation.

Once I figured out his paw was hurt, I tried to take another look at it later that day and Jake basically tried to attack me. He lunged at me, and his claw gave me about a 6 inch cut, he got my hand in his mouth but didn't bite down. He then lunged at me again until I was forced out of my own bedroom and closed the door. Not that much later, I went in to try to get him back in his kennel and he attacked Sawyer.

Over the last 2 days its been pretty much more of the same. I had the dog trainer come over yesterday, who is the same trainer that Jake lived with before I had him, so they have a good relationship. Jake was happy to see him in the kennel, and then he took Jake into my living room. Here is his account of what happened after that in an email he wrote to the rescue group:

 Quote:

When I got there I hooked Jake up to the leash and brought him out to the living room area. He was calm for a little while, but after a few moments of him laying in one spot and me talking and moving around him he became increasingly agitated and suddenly got up and lunged at me, baring teeth and all. I distanced myself and held the leash up to keep him from being able to make contact with me, but keep in mind I was only holding him away from me and not giving him any pops or corrections, which can sometimes bring out more aggression in cases like this. He was completely out of his mind, snarling and biting the leash, etc. and had I not been fully prepared for something like this, injury could have easily been a result. I've never seen Jake acting like this at this intensity before today and whereas I'm usually quite calm around aggressive dogs, I was left a little shaken after his outburst.

Last night, his kennel is right next to my bed and everytime I moved in my bed he would start to go crazy. I just took sawyer and slept on my sofa bed, I couldn't take the noise.

So now here I am- I have NO idea what to do. I feel like no matter what, will I ever be able to trust Jake again? I'm a 30 year old man, and if I ever had a family, it would be in Jakes lifetime. I'm sure Jake's in a lot of pain, but no amount of pain is an excuse to behave the way he has. I've had dogs my entire life and never seen anything like this. Will he even go back to old Jake when the pain subsides? I'm not so sure.

Are there any other things that could be wrong with him, any kind of disease or condition that could make an otherwise friendly dog so aggressive?

If I give Jake back to the rescue, they're going to have to put him to sleep. I love Jake so much but I have no idea what else to do. I am not interested in having a relationship with my dog where I fear what he might do and I have to rule with an iron fist.

Anyone got any advice or thoughts for me here?

Thanks in advance by the way.

 Quote: Doug Cohen

Last night, his kennel is right next to my bed and everytime I moved in my bed he would start to go crazy. I just took sawyer and slept on my sofa bed, I couldn't take the noise.

So now here I am- I have NO idea what to do. I feel like no matter what, will I ever be able to trust Jake again? I'm a 30 year old man, and if I ever had a family, it would be in Jakes lifetime. I'm sure Jake's in a lot of pain, but no amount of pain is an excuse to behave the way he has. I've had dogs my entire life and never seen anything like this. Will he even go back to old Jake when the pain subsides? I'm not so sure.

Are there any other things that could be wrong with him, any kind of disease or condition that could make an otherwise friendly dog so aggressive?

If I give Jake back to the rescue, they're going to have to put him to sleep. I love Jake so much but I have no idea what else to do. I am not interested in having a relationship with my dog where I fear what he might do and I have to rule with an iron fist.

Anyone got any advice or thoughts for me here?

Get the dog to the VET asap to do a full workup and see if there are medical problems that might be causing this radical change in behavior. You aready know that his paw is bothering him; get it checked out ...it's been what, 4 or 5 days since you noticed this? Get the dog some medical attention...

(and yes, in my limited experience, a dog in pain can have a radical personality change)

Agreed. I've seen dogs act like this just from being in acute pain. I would get him to the vet.

I brought Jake to this pet store that I've been to before for his paw pad being injured before. He's not a vet but he puts some antibiotics on the paw and gives some pain killers and puts it in a rubber bootie so he has to stop licking it. He said it looked infected but I will bring him to the vet and see what the vet says.

Any other advice or thoughts?

I think a trip to the vet ASAP is first priority. I know some very sweet dogs who will take your head off when they are in pain. A guy at a petstore isn't qualified to diagnose an injury. Putting a boot on it before it gets treated is more likely to just hold in any infection.

Right now, the only advice is to get this dog to the vet. If he's in pain, there is nothing else you can do at all from a behavioral standpoint until the pain is alleviated.

 Quote: Doug Cohen

Any other advice or thoughts?

Post back after you see the vet. Realistically, you can't assess this until you know that the dog doesn't have an infection or is at least being treated for it and the antibiotics have begun to work.

An infected paw can indeed be excruciating.

This is not something that should wait another day. The dog needs a vet (and the vet is not likely to be happy about a rubber boot on an infection). I'd explain the aggression on the phone first so they can be prepared with a muzzle and an assistant or whatever they need, and to discuss any possibility of needing sedating.

Good luck, and please let us know.

 Quote: Doug Cohen

Any other advice or thoughts?

VET!!

Is the pet store owner using prescription drugs on your dog??? If so, I would run as far away as I could from him!! You need someone trained to tend to your dog's medical needs so you know what the possible side effects are. I don't think there is any other advice but to take him to the vet! What are you waiting for?

If it is finances; see if your vet offers Care Credit which is a credit card that offers no interest payments over a certain period of time with no finance charges. It has been a life saver for me over the past couple of months!

Hi there!

You and Sawyer and Jake (and your trainer) are currently in a very stressful and dangerous situation. Stop and take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back for making decisions that have kept you safe up to this point.

Remember, as callous as this sounds, your safety and the safety of the other people who come in contact with Jake must be your primary concern.

To me, keeping Sawyer safe and out of harms way should be your second consideration. If he is hurt or severely traumatized by Jake, he might be likely to begin to behave in undesirable ways

I have just asked for some advice on the best way to safely transport Jake to the vet on a board owned and moderated by someone who knows a lot about these issues. If Jake is eating readily, is it possible to safely sedate him for the trip to the vet?