I have a little Chihuahua-terrier cross that we've had since he was a puppy. He's going on 7 years old now, he's neutered and appears to be healthy (clean bill of health last check up).
My dog has turned into a monster and I don't know what to do!! Over the past year or so, he's gotten extremely aggressive. Yesterday he bit my 13 year old son and drew blood. It's just a little hole in his hand, nothing major, but still, I can't allow him to be biting like that.
He is my son's dog, nothing has changed, my son treats him as he always has (he's 13) and is not at all mean to the dog. My son can't even get near him without him snarling most times (if he has treats for him, he's fine).
When he's on my son's bed with him, he's not aggressive to my son at all, but should I happen to come into his room, stand by his bed, or even the doorway, the dog goes insane, snarling, barking and threatening me. I tell him to get off the bed, and he does, but he still acts up.
I am at my wits end with him. Last night he started snarling and growling at me too when I reached out to pet him, he's never done that. I put a muzzle on him last night to show him that his behavior is bad, probably not the best thing to do, but I was beyond frustrated with him (along with all the stress it brings to our house, son upset that he cant get near his dog, etc...)
I do not want to get rid of him, but I can't allow this psychotic behavior to continue, but I don't know what else to do. I know he senses my frustration and at times anger, but he never used to be like this, it started out just isolated incidents about a year ago, now it's daily.
Any suggestions would be most welcome!
My dog has turned into a monster and I don't know what to do!! Over the past year or so, he's gotten extremely aggressive. Yesterday he bit my 13 year old son and drew blood. It's just a little hole in his hand, nothing major, but still, I can't allow him to be biting like that.
He is my son's dog, nothing has changed, my son treats him as he always has (he's 13) and is not at all mean to the dog. My son can't even get near him without him snarling most times (if he has treats for him, he's fine).
When he's on my son's bed with him, he's not aggressive to my son at all, but should I happen to come into his room, stand by his bed, or even the doorway, the dog goes insane, snarling, barking and threatening me. I tell him to get off the bed, and he does, but he still acts up.
I am at my wits end with him. Last night he started snarling and growling at me too when I reached out to pet him, he's never done that. I put a muzzle on him last night to show him that his behavior is bad, probably not the best thing to do, but I was beyond frustrated with him (along with all the stress it brings to our house, son upset that he cant get near his dog, etc...)
I do not want to get rid of him, but I can't allow this psychotic behavior to continue, but I don't know what else to do. I know he senses my frustration and at times anger, but he never used to be like this, it started out just isolated incidents about a year ago, now it's daily.
Any suggestions would be most welcome!