I'm sure the little beast was a demon in his previous 6 homes. But that doesn't change anything in the here and now. He's her demon now and she needs to make their lives more tolerable. He has probably gotten away w/this crap his whole life, and being passed around has not helped him respect people. He feels he is on his own and he's looking out for number one. He needs to be able to view her as a fair and competent leader, and she needs to be that for him.

Yeah exactly. I think she's up for it...she just needs the tools. She knew he needed a loving forever home, but I don't think she knew what she was up against. I just wish I was sure what was driving him mad. I'm hoping it was just as simple as you say and it will pass completely soon. He's had a few seizures too and I'm hoping it's not a real screw loose. The vet doesn't seem to know what's going on.

So the cause of the seizures hasn't been diagnosed? Jenni can probably speak to this better than me, but I wonder if that would have an impact on his behaviour.

The other medical base to cover is thyroid. Or Lyme's.

But I would guess this is largely a pack/leadership issue. Hmmm, off to google seizures and behaviour.

Would your sister be up for joining the forum? My second dog ever was my bitchy sometimes rank-driven, experienced killer girl (but oh so sweet, really, she's my lovebug), and this forum has been a great help to get ideas from, bounce things off of, and check in. I have worked with multiple trainers as well, but she may find the forum helpful (there are lots of experienced people (aka not me) here and they've got a lot of knowledge to pass on).

Oh geez. How long has he had the seizures? When did they start? Naturally, brain problems could be causing some of this...and believe it or not, "anger" can be a seizure trigger. I know it sounds nuts but one of mine (that angel in my sig pic) was determined by a neurologist to have "anger-related" seizures.

While his seizures were originally brought on by vaccinosis (has this dog been vaccinated recently?), the current, recurring triggers to his seizures are anger. If I keep my other male (who he hates) out of his site, he's fine. If I let him in the house, he stares at him until he has a seizure. Stress lowers seizure thresholds, too, so really we could generalize and take "anger" out of it.

We really need more info now. I'd hate to be putting the poor thing through boot camp if it's a physical/neurological problem.

OK, that is what I was wondering.

How much seizures could cause behaviour problems and if behaviour problems could be related to the causes of the seizures.

Particularly since this seemed to come on suddenly, I have to agree, I would do a full medical workup to find out what was going on. Your sister may need to find a better vet or request to work w/a veterinary neurologist.

I googled and saw that Lyme's could cause seizures, and it certainly is linked to violent behaviour.

I have to agree with Jenni, based on my brief googling.

I would set up good expectatons for this dog, and be consistent, but I would want to do a full CBC (thyroid especially), perhaps check for Lyme's, and find out what is causing the seizures.

I think figuring out the medical should be first priority. JMO.

Thanks Jennifer
Yeah she would be up for joining if she wasn't as poor as a church mouse that can't afford internet. This forum was a godsend for my little dominant/damaged/crazy/genetically screwed baby. We're a happy unit now because of it. That's why I am soooo adamant that she try some of these techniques. All I can do is lend her my Ed videos and get on here to try to figure out why this dog went nuts. It really was over night which makes me think it is not health related. I thought maybe a girl in heat was at the groomers and the scent rubbed off but I don't know. Either way, there are pack leader issues and he has "little dog syndrome" and it can be fixed I'm sure.

One of my questions was whether or not to come at it like Ed does with a new adult in the house. IE take care of needs, minimal petting and affection and basically be completely aloof. Is this OK with a dog that has already been in the house for a year? Is that square one with this dog?

If she has financial issues, I think there are a couple of options re: vet care. I believe there is a website that helps raise funds for procedures, and I think there is some sort of credit that people can access as well.

I have to go put my brats to bed now but I will I try to google either tonight or tomorrow.

What breed is the dog (I just watched Pedigree Dogs Exposed last night, just wondering if there could be a predisposition to something in her dog's breed that causes seizures as well).

You guys replied while I was writing. He's been having the seizures monthly or more since she's had him. They seem to be stress related. Crap. Yeah your right about the medical workup but she simply can't afford it period. That sounds cruel, but this guy is already on borrowed time and I'm grateful that she took him in because I couldn't. I spent 1k trying to figure out my last dogs seizures and he lived 10 more years until I had to put him down for old age. I just spent $1500 on my cat that I ended up putting down last month. She just can't.

Some smell or chemical or something might have sent something off in his little brain maybe? He's calmed down a bit today, so I'm praying that this is not going to be such an urgent matter in that they've been living peacefully for a year, and maybe some serious groundwork will help if not cure the dominance situation. I'm encouraged that jenni had a similar occurrence and just maybe it's an attitude adjustment that's needed.

Thanks for your input guys. It's helping me get my bearings a bit.

Edit...breed?? Good question. Looks like a hefty muscle bound min pin with an under bite.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

This has some links. I have heard of people using IMOM before, but I don't know much about it.

Hopefully though there is something on here that can help her get the funds or assistance to check out what's going on with the little guy.

Sorry for the late reply but living in italy the times are a little different.


I saw you guys talking about the prong collar and maybe using it to help correct the behavior. I know I am going to catch a lot of flack for this one but I Personally would advise against it in the situation (for your sister). If you put a pinch on a dominant dog and pop him, you better be ready. Your sister would have to be taught how to give a STONG NO KIDDING correction with out the risk of putting him into drive. I think people will agree that multiple light pops can actually put a dog into drive and now top that with a dominance issue. If he get mad about it he may just turn on your sister. if he is a hard dog and you dont set the path of, "you will listen to me and I am the big cheese" a pich just may piss him off. I am still for the e-collar in conjuction with lots of excersise. JMO