https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:36:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1600400 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:02:29 +0000 Cole 1600400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: @PermaStudent: @mrs. wagon: @ValentineMommy: Thanks! I am having a crazy hormonal day today to begin with and the weather here has been weird all day which makes my dog neurotic and so between it all I am just, well, hormonal! </p> <p>@Happygal: Yes, thankfully he is awesome with people and knock on wood we haven't had any issues there. I haven't been working full time anymore so we are skipping doggy day care and I am planning on skipping the dog park at this point too. He seems to really enjoy it when he isn't misbehaving which is part of what makes it so tricky. He loves hiking too though so maybe we will try to switch to that for awhile. Part of the challenge is that we can walk for literally hours and he will still be up for more. If you have any other ideas or insights please do let me know, I really want to nip this in the bud now and now let it get worse. </p> <p>@MrsPastryLady: It's so crazy that the pregnancy can affect them! But the more I read the more people swear it's true. I am going to call the vet again tomorrow, we had him in once right after this started to make sure it wasn't a physical/pain issue but I want to see if they have any other ideas. He is anxious about some things but it doesn't seem to be related but I am open to trying medication if it comes to it. </p> <p>Thanks everyone, I really never thought I would be the crazy dog lady but yet here I sit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599892 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 14:20:39 +0000 MrsPastryLady 1599892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's probably anxiety due to the pregnancy. He's probably trying to protect you, but also doesn't know how many babies will be in the "litter". Most dogs have more than one pup with each pregnancy, so he could be concerned about all of the changes. </p> <p>Definitely work with a trainer/see the vet. Our dog has had some anxiety issues and the vet said that they could even put her on doggy prozac if it got worse (thankfully did not). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599791 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:57:12 +0000 Happygal 1599791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, so your dog is okay with people? That's the most important thing! </p> <p>In general, I'm not a huge fan of dog parks and doggy day care. Things happen SO quickly with dog interactions, and it can only take one little scuffle to make a dog quirky around other dogs. The simplest thing can become a possession that dogs become jerks about. We like to think our dogs want dog friends, but that's our human perspective on things.</p> <p>I would take the money from the doggy day care and pay a dog walker instead. Then I would look into people who do positive training for redirecting this type of behavior. </p> <p>I am definitely crazy dog lady who could go on a lot here about this behavior, but I can keep it to a wall post if you're interested! My last dog was grumbly with other dogs, so I worked on that a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599769 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:51:12 +0000 ValentineMommy 1599769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog became aggressive while I was pregnant, and for the first few weeks of DS's life (not towards us or people he knew, towards others). Luckily for us, once the initial shock of life changes wore off, he became normal again. It was a really upsetting time :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599735 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:40:12 +0000 mrs. wagon 1599735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I know it's upsetting :( I'm so sorry you are going through this. But you guys are obviously very dedicated dog parents who will do what it takes to get him adjusted to all of this. Don't worry!! Dogs are just super sensitive and that's what makes them so wonderful, too... this is just a bad piece you have to take with the good, and I'm sure he will do great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599727 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:38:06 +0000 Synchronicity 1599727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Ugh, I feel you lady. I am so emotional about my dogs. It's going to be ok, you are on top of it!! This is a new behaviour so it can absolutely be corrected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599723 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:36:30 +0000 snowjewelz 1599723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Aww don't be upset! It just stems from his instincts to protect you! I am positive that you &amp; your DH, w/ help, will be able to calm him down and let him understand that he doesn't have to fight everyone/dog to protect you :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599714 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:34:03 +0000 Cole 1599714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PermaStudent: @snowjewelz: @mrs. wagon: Thanks, I was kind of afraid of people saying this. I bawled the whole way home from the park today. I will call the doggy day care and the vet and ask who they recommend I call. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599688 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:25:16 +0000 mrs. wagon 1599688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I don't have any advice, just wanted to offer some information: I was a dog walker for a while and when I got pregnant, one of my dog's owners was also pregnant at the same time and he got so aggressive that I had to stop walking him-- we passed a guy on the sidewalk once and out of nowhere he lunged for him and bit the guy's sleeve. Thank God he didn't get flesh and the guy just walked away, but the leash had slipped out of my hands-- if I had held on he definitely would have pulled me over because I was so front-heavy, and he was a big dog. I practically had to hit him in the face to get him off the guy. </p> <p>I don't know what happened to him, but I did find out that he had had a history of aggression that seemed to get worse whenever his owner got pregnant... so I think some dogs are really sensitive to hormone changes like that. </p> <p>I do think that the fact that he sees your husband as alpha is really good. And I believe any dog can be trained, especially if they don't have a history of aggression. (This dog was fine between pregnancies.) Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599684 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:24:23 +0000 snowjewelz 1599684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He might be being protective of you now that you're pregnant. That might explain why he's not aggressive if it's just your DH &amp; him at the park. But then I'm not sure why he'd act aggressive if you're not at daycare... Anyway, even this change in family dynamic can make him feel anxious. Maybe ask your DH to reinforce all previous training? Def need to take action now; otherwise it can get worse when the baby arrives! Maybe call up a few local trainers to ask for advice? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599677 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:22:49 +0000 Synchronicity 1599677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been there, and it did not end well for us :( My advice would be to not wait, seek professional help immediately. I'd start with the vet to rule out a physical problem and go from there. Feel free to wall me if you want. Sorry you are dealing with this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dog-aggression#post-1599665 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:19:32 +0000 Cole 1599665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't even know who to ask for help so I thought I would turn here. We have a 2.5 year old dog that we rescued when he was 10 months-ish. Up until like the week I got a positive pregnancy test (which was most likely a coincidence but who knows) he has been awesome. He never has accidents, loves people and other dogs, great with kids, follows tons of commands, walks well on a leash, just all around a great dog. </p> <p>We send him to an awesome doggy day care, he has been going there for over a year, once or twice a week most of the time. Then he started being mildly aggressive at doggy day care, and now we keep having incidents at the dog park. It isn't all of the time but it is happening enough that we are concerned. He mostly barks meanly and growls and sometimes starts a scuffle. He comes away quickly when called and we always leave immediately. I don't think it has happened when just my husband has him (and he adores my husband and definitely sees him as pack leader). </p> <p>So now what? He is really well trained (obviously other than this new issue) and still behaves beautifully at home and on walks. I am bewildered and just want to fix it, he is a super high energy dog (40 pounds and some sort of herding dog mix) and he needs to run around, and normally loves playing with other dogs. </p>