sudden aggression

S

Sheltie family

Forums Novice
Hi,

I am joining to get guidance on my 1 1/2 year old Sheltie who exhibits odd behavior around shadows by barking fearfully at them, barks at the plastic grocery bags, oven door squeaking open, barks and chases whenever someone leaves the room or goes through it. She also has food aggression (that is improving) and today nipped at me when I tried to calm her while she was freaking out at the hose which wasn't even on. Some of the behaviors we have controlled but the most worrisome is the nipping of the pack leader, me! That takes brazenness of a kind I have never seen and I have owned dogs my whole life. Two of which were also Shelties.

Since the nipping, we are keeping her on leash with someone making her stay calm instead of react to every thing that sets her off. However, it seems that just as soon as one obsession wanes, she gets a new one. I have used techniques from Dog whisperer and Bash dog training guide with some success but the frenzied look in her eye as she is losing control is alarming. Odd thing is that I thought she was improving until the weirdness today.

Any suggestions or success stories for these problems?

Thanks, Sheltie Family
 
Hi! Welcome to the group! I'm glad that you joined and I want to apologize that no one has answered your questions yet. I don't have a sheltie that behaves in that manner but I know that one member, Ruckusluvr, had some issues with her sheltie. I don't know exactly where the thread is but I think she ended up putting him on a medication, an anxiety medication that helped him out a lot. Please do look her up on the member list and email her directly. She may be able to give you some insight and which direction to go. I will also try to find the thread about her pup. Hope things are going better. Take care and keep us posted! By the way, we love to see pictures!
 
I was going to make the same suggestion...with that many fear/aggression issues perhaps a medication consult with the vet would be helpful.
 
I agree with Janet, aka, Granite and Shaun . Have you discussed this behavior issue with your vet?? Sounds like there is a real issue here. Maybe warrants some blood work. To rule out anything physically wrong. Then maybe place your Sheltie on meds to aid in the fears. Please keep us updated and Best of luck with these issues.:yes:
 
I agree with everyone else.

Any change of behaviour is a cause for concern, and before I continue trying to train her out of it, I would make sure that there isn't something physically wrong with her that is making her act out in this manner.

Keep us posted!
 
At first read, I would have said: sounds like typical Sheltie behaviour to me! (attacking vacuum cleaners and hair dryers, and barking at evil thunderstorms and sometimes just the wind) :wink2:

Until I read that she nipped you when you tried to settle her. I'm guessing it was not a play bite. So yes, I think you need to take this seriously and consult your vet.

Good luck!
 
It sounds like typical sheltie behaviour to me as well and it sounds like your sheltie may have a high herding drive.

Deska developed his strong herding instinct at about 18mths and this could also be what's happening with your girl. I was quite surprised as he never chased anything or nipped before then - but my vet psych said this was a normal age for the herding instinct to show itself.

The barking at grocery bags, hoses, oven door etc is a sheltie thing, they are crazy little fun loving dogs! But if you want to curb it I would quietly remove her from the room everytime she does it (not a word - just slip a lead on her and lead her out), she will soon get the message that if she wants to stay with you she has to stop barking. My vet psych also advised me this type of behaviour is very common in a herding breed - particularly dogs that have a high herding instinct. On her suggestion I use 'controlled barking' with Deska - he can bark at these things when I say 'okay' (I say 'wait, wait' to build up to it so he loves it!)

Nipping is an instinctive part of sheltie herding behaviour and when they get excited they do tend to revert to instinctive behaviour - so the nipping of you is probably more to do with this. I keep a squeaky toy or stick handy to redirect Deska's mouth in these circumstances - and now he has learnt to pick up a stick or toy himself when he gets excited and wants to mouth. His favourite game is herding me and Tully and last year he was getting really bad with the nipping of us - now he rarely nips when he chases because he automatically picks up a toy and squeaks it instead (or a stick if we are out).
 
Thanks for this information! I didn't realize that shelties develop their herding habits as they mature(!!). Lady, who is almost 14 months old, just started jumping up and grabbing my arm while I'm standing or walking. She barks (with what I'd call her herding bark, showing teeth) and jumps at me while I'm seated on the couch.

I tried a page from Victoria Stilwell. When Lady starts the heavy herding/nipping I simply turn away from her, arms crossed, and stand still. I am amazed that she stops immediately.

This tactic has been particularly useful when we are walking at the dog park. She gets so excited to be there, her herding behavior has blossomed.
 
Thanks for the suggestions as to how to correct the behavior we see in our Sheltie. She had a routine physical, blood work done last month so I don't think it is anything physical but can ask the vet when I take her in next. She is due a heartworm test.
 
Just be careful of the "nipping".

There is normal Sheltie "nipping" which is playlike, herding behaviour (though annoying as heck, sometimes!)

But it sounded in your post that the nip was more like a "snap" when you tried to redirect her. There is a difference and you can normally tell which is which.
 
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