Why does my dog get aggressive and protective walking in the dark?

It's possible that he reacted aggressively because you were around and he felt more threatened or protective - especially if he was on a leash. Some dogs do have certain dogs or breeds that they find more threatening so it's also possible that he was reacting to this one dog. I would watch him closely since this could also be the first sign of dog aggression. If possible I would recommend avoiding this particular dog in the future.

Hello, sorry to hear about Jax. He could indeed getting older and losing his puppy playfulness. This could also be associated with weight gain or environment temperature. If his lethargy continues to progress or he becomes inappetent, develops vomiting or diarrhea then he should be seen by his veterinarian. In terms of his aggression, it sounds like that may be associated with territorial aggression, which could indeed become a danger to himself and others. Here is some more information on managing his aggression. Hope this helps and best of luck. Introduction Aggression is a common problem faced by many dog owners. It is commonly misunderstood to be based in dominance. In actuality, there are various reasons that dogs can react aggressively. Most commonly these acts are based in fear or anxiety. This handout, will attempt to help you differentiate whether your dog’s aggression is based in dominance or another stimulus, like fear or possession. However it is not meant to replace visits and discussions with your veterinarian. Common types of aggression • Fear aggression: Many commonplace human behaviors are threatening gestures to dogs, but their reactions are often times very subtle and easily missed by most people. Anything that can cause your dog to feel distressed or uneasy can illicit an aggressive reaction. Such things include: sustained eye contact, pressure over the top of the head, lifting the dog, bending over the top of a dog, certain force-based training techniques, or trying to take something of high value away from the dog. • Territorial aggression: Dogs can react aggressively when a person comes into an area that it regards as its home. There is often a basis of anxiety in dogs that have territorial aggression. • Possessive aggression: When aggression is directed toward a person that the dog views is approaching something of high value (food, toys, family members). • Redirected aggression: When the dog is frustrated by the inability to reach an object or person that elicits its aggression and instead acts aggressively toward a person that is within reach. • Dominance aggression: True dominance aggression is very rare. Most often aggressive acts are based out of another type of motivation. Usually what is assumed to be dominance aggression is actually based out of fear or anxiety.

Abrupt changes in behavior like this in dogs is very concerning to me. I would be worried about some underlying neurologic disorder that could be going on. If nothing has changed at home, her routine, or the environment in general, then I would suspect an underlying medical issue. I would recommend taking her to be examined by your veterinarian and possibly having some lab work performed so they can try and determine what is going on. Your vet may recommend further work up by veterinary neurologist or may recommend a behavior modification drugs like Xanax or Prozac. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi there. For pets who become fearful or aggressive when the lights are out, I'm always suspicious of a possible vision problem. Cats normally see very well in the dark, but if Aelia is having problems with her eyesight and can't see well at night anymore, this can make her anxious and upset when the lights are turned out. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an eye exam when you are able to. If she does have a vision problem, it may be treatable once a diagnosis is made. In the meantime, you can try using night lights around the house to help her feel more comfortable when the main lights are off.

1) He may be apprehensive or suspicious at first but eventually accepts the person as a non-threat. Try to expose him to different people and places. Do this gradually so as to not overwhelm him. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, may decrease any anxiety. Remove him from any negative stimuli or stressful situations before he escalates. Praise good behavior consistently. 2) Whining is the way he lets you know he is unsure or fearful of something or he wants it. It may precede the bark. 3) It may be a preference or he may have a bit of anxiety when you're gone. 4) Not unless you have an issue with it or if he does it at inappropriate times. He is showing you affection. Enjoy!

Depending on his previous living situation, he may have been exposed to a number of factors that are triggered by Darkness or men. When you adopt a rescue it is always difficult to determine what they previously were exposed to and what triggers to avoid. You might find in three to five years a new trigger that sets him off. With rescued animals, it normally takes a period of acclimatization to the new environment. You can seek behavioral training with a behaviorist and see if that helps with the behavior you are witnessing. Dachshunds have been known to be one of the more common breeds that bite. If he is causing physical harm to you and your husband, he may not be the best pet for anyone. Unless you can invest the time and be patient with him and potentially seek behavioral training, it may be a long road to get him used to his new environment. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.

Hello, and thanks for your question. Most “aggression” issues in dogs are ultimately based on fear to some degree, so I would suspect this is at least partially fear based. Maggie knows that your family is her “pack”, and she’s nervous of outsiders. Every time she barks/growls at others and they end up walking away, she may be reinforcing to herself that “hey - this works! I should keep scaring strangers away!” If this is a behavior you want to work on (and I would recommend it, before it escalates to biting a visitor or stranger on the street) I highly recommend recruiting the expertise of a professional. Ideally a veterinary behaviorist, but your primary vet may be able to direct you to trainers they recommend. Behavior concerns require a lot of time, effort, patience, and consistency, and it’s important to give Maggie the right response at the right moment, before she’s too worked up to be receptive to you. A professional can help you learn how to read these subtle signs before Maggie is completely overstimulated. Here’s a link on aggression that may be helpful to you. https://www.petcoach.co/article/aggression-due-to-dominance/ Hope this helps!