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Location: Doncaster, UK
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,633
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I had a GSD x Akita who was brilliant indoors but a nightmare outdoors!! He attacked, lunged, pulled and snarled at any animal in sight. He was always ok with humans tho - soft as a teddy bear.
I couldn't even think about letting him go off lead and as he was such a big strong dog I was serious worried about the damage he could do. I took him to various behaviourists etc all to no avail, he also had a re-occuring ear infection which after tests showed it was an allergic reaction infection! and he was always really itchy.
As a last ditch attempt before seriously considering having him PTS I took him to a behaviourist who dealt with 'dangerous dogs'
This woman asked me to handle my dog, lift his lips and feet etc she then brought in 3 different dogs which eyeballed him in varying degrees from none at all to full on stare and Simba didn't retaliate. I couldn't believe it! Then she asked me if I'd fed him and I said no as it was quite a long car journey, what I fed him and I said commercial dry food, she said was it coloured I said yes - That's possibly it then she said, you're dog may be allergic to the colours and preservatives in food. She advised me to go home and get rid of all food with additives and give him nothing but chicken for a week and see how he goes, then slowly introduce different meats, veg etc but no additives what so ever.
I did this and within a week he'd calmed down, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the change myself!! Within a month he'd stopped scratching and his ear never again flared up.
She described his behaviour as doggy ADHD brought on by additives. If anyone ever gave him anything with any in he'd flip again.
The vet was upset though as they didn't want to research what he was allergic to as they liked the fact that I was back there every 3 months or so for more anti-biotics and pain killers!! Needless to say I have a different vet now !!!!
I'm not saying that's what yours has but it is possible for dogs to get ADHD or similar symptoms to it.