I had an email from a friend who has a friend with a female DH aged 6. She said she has just started to attack other dogs, 4 in recent months, which I found quite strange. I thought it was rare for a deerhound to be aggressive.

My two are easy going to the point of being growled at etc and not even retaliating. However saying that we I was out late the other night with Mack and Daisy a Rotweiller started dragging his owner over to us barking and growling savagely (I was terrified) and for the first time ever I heard a low warning growl from Mack as the dog got very near. Luckily the owner gathered some strength and got him back under control.

I have never heard of aggression from D/H's but that is not to say it doesn't happen. Maybe the D/H in question has hormonal or other health issues going on especially if she has only recently started to display aggression.

Only once did Murray ever growl at me and it was when I told him to get off a chair (he was about 6months old - you know - cocky. Afer some 'Iam the pack leader' body language and verbal he has never done it since!

Hope the poor dog gets some help with this...hope the owner has the sense to get it to a vet ASAP

Thanks for that I will pass on the idea about the vets especially about the hormones because if I recall these attacks started after she had been speyed so there could definitely be a link.

Thanks again.

One day my old hunting dog suddenly attached another dog, usually he was very peaceful.
I thought it was an accident, but when something similiar happended 2 weeks later, i knew something was wrogn.
I had him checked with the vet, and he found some cancer that was very likely to have caused him permanent pain. I had never noticed such signs, except for his suden agression.
After the surgery that went well, he got himself again.
I agree that this dog in guestion should be seen by a vet first of all.

My old Greyhound, Meg, was a bit of a loony when younger. Very much like a Deerhound, never grew up, always went over to say hello to other dogs, though NEVER aggressive. One day she spotted a Westie and went over to say hello, it turned on her, ripping her eye. Since that day she never went over to another dog, so in a sense it did her good, BUT, she never liked dogs near her. She would watch them like a hawk, making sure they didn't go near her, especially her bottom end, though she never growled, she just panicked.
When she was about 10, a puppy walked past us and she really told it off.
I must admit after that, it was found she was very sick with a cancer, she was 11 and we decided then and there it was time for her to end her misery, I didnt want another dog suffering like our old Lurcher where we tried everything to cure him to no avail.
My point is, get her checked, you never know, normally by the age of about 3 the dog is how you want it, if they start turning for no reason, it is usually a sign that something is wrong, after all, they can't talk.

THEN AGAIN..... dogs are animals and some people do tend to forget that, if they dislike certain dogs, they dislike them, all dogs are capable of a fight and as unpleasant as it is to witness, it is animal behaviour!

Yes dogs will be dogs and why should they like all other dogs? After all we are not expected to like everyone we meet! But the issue here seems to be the 4 attacks in recent months - if there was nothing prior to this it does seem to suggest that there may be more going on healthwise.

Lurch - hope you are feeling better

Yeah, feeling better flu wise thanks Houndy, how about you?
I'm left with a hacking cough though! My back went yesterday morning, getting the dogs out of the van, it's an ongoing injury caused by lugging heavy IT equipment around n my job, so I am now dosing up on the Diazepam and Diclofenic as opposed to the Night Nurse, it never rains it pours. I think a change of career is in the pipeline as this happens several times a year and my ironing is piling up as well as other chores and no one else wants to do it!

I am feeling better thanks but my perforated eardrum has left me with no hearing at all on my right side. I was in the dreaded Tesco's today and was wondering why the till person was looking at me funny - I then realised I was shouting at her (I thought I was talking normally. It's really getting me down!

We are a poorly bunch at the mo Roll on sring and summer

Hiya

I'd definitely suggest to her to have the vet check thoroughly for hypothyroidism, especially as the dog has no history of problems.

I guess the best thing to do is to start reaffirming her place as alpha within the home and try to ascertain if the home environment has changed for any reason which could cause the fear/nervousness.

Good luck

Libby

It might be possible that this is a response to pain. Our Xena is 6 and now suffers with pain in her hindlegs and hips. She can turn very quickly from play to aggression due to the pain that Lockie gives her by body slamming and usual biting etc
When she is on pain meds she is more willing to play and go outside with the dogs but if she has been off them for a while she tends to stay indoors and gets nasty if feeling threatened.
Xena is due another course of pain meds which are a subcut injection once a week for 4 weeks which lasts for about 6 months. This reminds me I must go call the vet.

I would also bring her to the vet - sudden " onset of aggression " is very often lonked to pain or other physical problems . I hope all works out well for her !