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Using the suggestions from DT we have been working with Alex with his food aggression over the past few weeks and he is getting better slowly but surely, so thank you.
Now I need more advice. He is the sweetest little boy on the planet and then last night he turned into a complete A-hole. I thought originally he had regressed a little with his food aggression as I gave him his dinner outside and he looked at me sideways and growled. I followed our plan and just left him to his business, came inside, and 10 minutes later opened the door to let him in. Strangely he had not eaten, but he was happy as can be, looking for some love and a belly rub. He then sat with my wife and I while we worked in the office. He just laid on the floor and looked at me and growled. I ignored him for a bit and when he cooled down, got up and let him out as I figured he was interested in eating. Well he grabbed his dinner and just carried it around with him... everywhere...without eating. This is strange for Alex as he typically inhales anything edible. Into the office he came and this time he peed (marked?) right in the middle of the office. He hasn't had an accident in several months.
I gave him a firm "NO" mid-stream and he gave me puppy dog eyes. I told him to "get out" which he understands especially if I am displeased, yet this time he wouldn't even budge. :busted_red: I had to work so I just continued and sure enough, 30 seconds later, looked at me funny and growled. At this point I wish I spoke dobie. He curls his nose a bit if I pet him while he's growling so I don't do it anymore. He just laid there for the next hour, food right next to him, and occasionally giving a little growl. Then it was time for the family to go to bed. My wife and I got up, Alex followed, meal in mouth.
Now is when it gets strange. When Alex is in trouble he gets a time-out under the pool table. He knows when he makes mistakes and underneath the pool table is where he punishes himself until he comes out begging for forgiveness. He went under there with his food and my wife and I got ready for bed. While in the bedroom, here comes Alex, drops his meal in the doorway of the room and walks back to his spot under the pool table ... like an offering of some sort. WEIRD. It was like he was telling me, "dad I'm not mad because of the food." Why can't I understand him?!?
Again today he is acting weirder than normal. His crate was wet when I got him up this morning... it didn't smell like urine, it was almost odorless though is little mistake last night stunk to high heaven. He was happier than usual to see me and immediately went into his circle zoomies. He did eat this morning like normal. My wife is home and called me to let me know that Alex is again laying in the office while she is working and just growling at her.
I apologize for the above novel. I don't know what his problem is. My initial assumption is that a dog somewhere in the neighborhood is in heat. We had a window in the office open last night where he peed... maybe he is smelling this dog? Is it time to go to the chop shop? I spoke to the vet and I can get him in tomorrow morning to have those pesky things removed. Is this the doberteens I've been scared of? Or is this a much more serious behavioral problem? If anyone has input it would be greatly apreciated. Thanks again DT.
Now I need more advice. He is the sweetest little boy on the planet and then last night he turned into a complete A-hole. I thought originally he had regressed a little with his food aggression as I gave him his dinner outside and he looked at me sideways and growled. I followed our plan and just left him to his business, came inside, and 10 minutes later opened the door to let him in. Strangely he had not eaten, but he was happy as can be, looking for some love and a belly rub. He then sat with my wife and I while we worked in the office. He just laid on the floor and looked at me and growled. I ignored him for a bit and when he cooled down, got up and let him out as I figured he was interested in eating. Well he grabbed his dinner and just carried it around with him... everywhere...without eating. This is strange for Alex as he typically inhales anything edible. Into the office he came and this time he peed (marked?) right in the middle of the office. He hasn't had an accident in several months.
I gave him a firm "NO" mid-stream and he gave me puppy dog eyes. I told him to "get out" which he understands especially if I am displeased, yet this time he wouldn't even budge. :busted_red: I had to work so I just continued and sure enough, 30 seconds later, looked at me funny and growled. At this point I wish I spoke dobie. He curls his nose a bit if I pet him while he's growling so I don't do it anymore. He just laid there for the next hour, food right next to him, and occasionally giving a little growl. Then it was time for the family to go to bed. My wife and I got up, Alex followed, meal in mouth.
Now is when it gets strange. When Alex is in trouble he gets a time-out under the pool table. He knows when he makes mistakes and underneath the pool table is where he punishes himself until he comes out begging for forgiveness. He went under there with his food and my wife and I got ready for bed. While in the bedroom, here comes Alex, drops his meal in the doorway of the room and walks back to his spot under the pool table ... like an offering of some sort. WEIRD. It was like he was telling me, "dad I'm not mad because of the food." Why can't I understand him?!?
Again today he is acting weirder than normal. His crate was wet when I got him up this morning... it didn't smell like urine, it was almost odorless though is little mistake last night stunk to high heaven. He was happier than usual to see me and immediately went into his circle zoomies. He did eat this morning like normal. My wife is home and called me to let me know that Alex is again laying in the office while she is working and just growling at her.
I apologize for the above novel. I don't know what his problem is. My initial assumption is that a dog somewhere in the neighborhood is in heat. We had a window in the office open last night where he peed... maybe he is smelling this dog? Is it time to go to the chop shop? I spoke to the vet and I can get him in tomorrow morning to have those pesky things removed. Is this the doberteens I've been scared of? Or is this a much more serious behavioral problem? If anyone has input it would be greatly apreciated. Thanks again DT.