Dog suddenly aggressive to my other dog, help required please.

[Bobtheferret 1,237]

I got a puppy in April and all was going well with my older dog (entire 7 year old whippet), they were literally best of pals played all day long and slept together but yesterday completely out of nowhere the older dog just got hold of the puppy and thrashed him leaving a nasty gash that needed stitches under his chin. The older one is quite a lump for a whippet (22” and very well built) and does have form unfortunately but never with dogs he has been introduced to let alone one of my dogs. Thinking we will have to get him done now and see if that helps but mrs is in bits and feels right on edge plus we have a toddler so worried about the potential for issues there. Older dog was always fine till another dog attacked him about five years ago since then he has always been a bit hair trigger with other dogs but only if he didn’t know them never went for a dog he knew wasn’t a threat but this came out of nothing and he proper hurt the pup. Probably doesn’t help that he got attacked again two weeks ago and needed stitches himself (although he very much made the other dog regret it). Other than getting him done any advice? 

[shaaark 10,693]

13 minutes ago, Bobtheferret said:

I got a puppy in April and all was going well with my older dog (entire 7 year old whippet), they were literally best of pals played all day long and slept together but yesterday completely out of nowhere the older dog just got hold of the puppy and thrashed him leaving a nasty gash that needed stitches under his chin. The older one is quite a lump for a whippet (22” and very well built) and does have form unfortunately but never with dogs he has been introduced to let alone one of my dogs. Thinking we will have to get him done now and see if that helps but mrs is in bits and feels right on edge plus we have a toddler so worried about the potential for issues there. Older dog was always fine till another dog attacked him about five years ago since then he has always been a bit hair trigger with other dogs but only if he didn’t know them never went for a dog he knew wasn’t a threat but this came out of nothing and he proper hurt the pup. Probably doesn’t help that he got attacked again two weeks ago and needed stitches himself (although he very much made the other dog regret it). Other than getting him done any advice? 

Can't see what 'getting him done' will achieve.

I'm no dog behaviour specialist, but the dogs I have seen, including two that my old man owned, that were castrated, due to aggressive tendencies' and wandering for bitches in heat, did nothing to alter their behaviour.

Was there any food nearby at the time your older dog gripped the pup?

 

 

[terryd 8,363]

Dogs that are attacked by other dogs can really be affected big time as I know only to well. 
No advice to give as I made right hash of my old dog  

[Borr 5,701]

It can mess a pup up for sure. Seems to be an endless cycle I'm not getting another dog in until my bitch is gone , all started for me with a neurotic Hancock lurcher and went on from there. My current bitch is tolerant of introduced dogs but none others , great around people and kids certainly a far cry from the Hancock which ruined social mooching for me. I had him PTS as was a liability around dogs and I had young kids he also nailed my busher pup which sent him down the nervy aggression route , it's a ball ache , the bitch I got now is easy in comparison...

[Bobtheferret 1,237]

2 hours ago, shaaark said:

Can't see what 'getting him done' will achieve.

I'm no dog behaviour specialist, but the dogs I have seen, including two that my old man owned, that were castrated, due to aggressive tendencies' and wandering for bitches in heat, did nothing to alter their behaviour.

Was there any food nearby at the time your older dog gripped the pup?

 

 

I did say something similar to the wife about getting him done, not sure it will make any odds at this age but I just want to try something tbh. 
No food around they weren’t even play fighting or anything at the time he just went at him. They have been fine since but just on edge waiting for another incident 

[Aussie Whip 4,076]

Have a similar thing with my grew bitch and parson bitch. The grew hated the terrier when I got her at 8 weeks, then loved her from 12 weeks until 18 months. They got into a blue when the grew bit too hard playing and now can't be together. I just have one in their crate while the other is out, bit of a pain but I'm not parting with either.

[shaaark 10,693]

3 hours ago, Bobtheferret said:

Probably doesn’t help that he got attacked again two weeks ago and needed stitches himself (although he very much made the other dog regret it). Other than getting him done any advice? 

Just read this again, mate.

Did the pup inadvertently grab, nip, aggravate your dog's injury, unseen by you,  and is he still in a bit of pain with it?

 

 

[Samrog 425]

perhaps just setting dominance and order? Id crack on as usual and if it happened again perhaps give the agressor a bit of a thrashing so it knows its not tolerated and niether are above eachother and that youre in charge.

[Bobtheferret 1,237]

40 minutes ago, shaaark said:

Just read this again, mate.

Did the pup inadvertently grab, nip, aggravate your dog's injury, unseen by you,  and is he still in a bit of pain with it?

 

 

I don’t think so but I did wonder exactly the same thing, he seems fine it’s healed up fairly well. Apparently pup had been being very full on all day and I think he had probably had enough of him so possibly just putting him in his place and got carried away. God knows tbh. Have booked him into the vets tomorrow to have a good check over and make sure he isn’t in pain 

Edited July 17 by Bobtheferret

[Bobtheferret 1,237]

26 minutes ago, Samrog said:

perhaps just setting dominance and order? Id crack on as usual and if it happened again perhaps give the agressor a bit of a thrashing so it knows its not tolerated and niether are above eachother and that youre in charge.

I hope so. They had just been so good together until yesterday and have been fine today, I would have thrashed him yesterday but had my little girl literally in my arms in tears and didn’t want to scare her or he would have got a proper thump. 

[shaaark 10,693]

33 minutes ago, Samrog said:

perhaps just setting dominance and order? Id crack on as usual and if it happened again perhaps give the agressor a bit of a thrashing so it knows its not tolerated and niether are above eachother and that youre in charge.

 

7 minutes ago, Bobtheferret said:

I don’t think so but I did wonder exactly the same thing, he seems fine it’s healed up fairly well. Apparently pup had been being very full on all day and I think he had probably had enough of him so possibly just putting him in his place and got carried away. God knows tbh. Have booked him into the vets tomorrow to have a good check over and make sure he isn’t in pain 

 

4 minutes ago, Bobtheferret said:

I hope so. They had just been so good together until yesterday and have been fine today, I would have thrashed him yesterday but had my little girl literally in my arms in tears and didn’t want to scare her or he would have got a proper thump. 

You did the right thing by not upsetting your daughter.

And the problem could easily be a combination of the first two posts above.

But,  I wouldn't be giving a whippet a bit of a thrashing, a proper stern bit of punishment yes, but thrashing, no.

 

[Black neck 15,820]

How old is your pup bob

[shaaark 10,693]

5 hours ago, Bobtheferret said:

I got a puppy in April 

 

40 minutes ago, Black neck said:

How old is your pup bob

I'd hazard a guess at about 5 1/2 months ish? 

Edited July 17 by shaaark

[DogMagic2 45]

Definately get to the vet. Sudden change of behavior like that, especially aggression and fighting signal disease. Needs looking at by a pro. In the meantime keep them seperate

Edited July 17 by DogMagic2

[OldPhil 5,654]

On 17/07/2024 at 16:20, Bobtheferret said:

I hope so. They had just been so good together until yesterday and have been fine today, I would have thrashed him yesterday but had my little girl literally in my arms in tears and didn’t want to scare her or he would have got a proper thump. 

Hmm,...unless the older dog is set upon killing the youngster, as opposed to simply putting it in it's place, albeit drawing blood (most unusual) I would let nature take its course....Facts are, your dogs will have to get on and work together, so until the younger dog becomes a 'made dog' and can stand his ground,...there will inevitably be a hierarchy twixt the two of them...

This is perfectly natural,...after all, we are talking canines here, not human siblings. 

I would not place too much faith in getting a dog's balls cut off , to make him think differently of the pup,...he needs to come to this himself...

Your job, is to keep and eye on the situation and most importantly,. work both dogs as hard and as often as you possibly can,....every availably moment should be spent in the field, either on the hunt,.. or just mouching around,....

Exercise cures most problems....

 

Edited August 18 by OldPhil