I've noticed recently that my usually friendly one-year-old retreiver/shepherd mix puppy gets bent out of shape when a dog she is not real familiar with attempts to approach her rear end for a sniff(like dogs tend to do). She, in fact, gets fairly aggressive toward the offending dog. I'd never noticed that this was alarming to her before, and she is around alot of dogs day to day without a problem. Is this new behavior normal, like the need to protect her haunch area from dogs she senses danger from? I need to know if I should discourage this aggressive behavior response, or if she just needs to set things straight with these other dogs.
I would like to suggest taking her to the vet before utilizing any corrective measures. Aside from hips, get her spine checked out as lumbosacral stenosis is quite common and often goes undiagnosed.
My dog (BC/Husky mix) did the same thing. He was very friendly as a pup. When he hit a year and a half, he started getting protective of his hind quarters. Just with certain types of dogs at first, now with most dogs. I was told it was a BC behaviour...wrong!! He has lumbosacral stenonis and is quite tender. Had I had him checked out and diagnosed right away, they would have been able to stabilize the spine with a plate. By the time he was diagnosed, it was too late. So, please get her checked out before starting any behavioural programs.
Natalie:
Thanks for your suggestion. I called her vet and although he has xrays of her hip area and doesn't see a problem with her spine, he wants me to keep an eye on her behavior as she's still developing. I appreciate your reply - has your dog gotten more relaxed about the hind quarter area, or is he still sensitive?
Unfortunately he has gotten worse. However, he becomes more sore with each passing year (he's 5 now). I'm able to manage his "aggression" so don't do any behavioural work with him. Also, playing with other dogs is pretty much off limits anyway because of how sore he gets afterwards.
It took me over a year and going to see 3 vets before I got a diagnosis. One major symptom was that he kept pulling his groin muscles during off leash activity due to how he was compensating his gait. Watch how she walks and try to determine if she ever drags one of or both of her hind feet as that was another sign. He also would turn and bite his back like he was itchy. Actually, in the very beginning he would just turn and stare at his butt. When I mentioned that particular symptom to the first vet I was informed that his anal glands must be bothering him.
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