Help needed - Aggression in my Springer
HI,
I thought Id ask on here, in the hope that someone has been or is going through thee same thing as me, as ive tried just about everything. I apologise in advance for it being a bit long winded and waffling on, but I needed to give a very clear description of what happens.
Firstly, my male Springer Bracken, I started to notice real aggression in him when he was 3, never any problems before. Basically, after getting him checked out twice at the vets and being told all was ok, but I knew it was totally out of character. I returned a 3rd time after finding blood coming from his Sheath, to be told he had (after tests) a serious infection, e-coli and postrate problems which was increasing his testostrone to very high levels resulting in the aggression. To cut a long story short, after meds and this re-curring 3 times, dispite picking up on the symptoms very quickly, I couldnt put my poor dog through this anymore, so I had him castrated as he clearly very unhappy.
He is now 4 & all seemed fine for the first 3 months after castration (done July 2010). The slowly the male traits, cocking his leg on literally every tree every few yards, sniffing where bitches had been ect has slowly started to creep back, but unfortunately so has the aggression. Its certainly no where near as bad. But its so upsetting and walks just arent enjoyable unless im pretty sure there are going to be no dogs around. But there are some kes points which seem to trigger this aggression:
Any dog running towards him, he will run at it or try to cut it off before it reaches me. He never draws blood or fights, its just noise, but he pins the dog down and there is lots of noise.
If he is off the lead & there is a dog behind us on the walk, he goes up to it and sometimes they just circle have a sniff & all is ok (this tends to happen when the other dog seems confident) If the other dog sets off on the run of try to avoid him, usually again the aggression starts and he chases them, which results in the same thing .
He always seems worse on the lead, than off. Yet, if I have him on the lead & the other dog is on the leash, I introduce them, if all is ok and he seems happy then after say 5 mins, I can let him off the leash & he will play. Or if he seems unsure, I will walk away.
Sometimes, he seems to go up all friendly, then he can just turn, just when you think all is going to be ok.
There hardly ever seems to be aggression, if he goes up to a dog when he is off the leash but, the other dog is on the lead. (that providing the other dog dosent feel threatened).
One thing i do notice is, if I call him back once I think there is going to be some aggression, he is very wary about leaving or should I say turning his back on the other dog. As though he is frightened. Once he gets a safe distance he is all happy & playful again.
There is no pattern to it, one day I have no incidents, others lots (which I now try to avoid by putting him on the leash immedately when seeing a dog) sometimes its small dog others large. Being a Springer he needs lots of exersise & its proving a nightmare.
Its the unpredictability I cant handle, im constantly looking around me on walks in the wood for other dogs, with the leash ready to grab him.
Ive been to training, followed their instructions, changed things in the home etc. I have Been told that many different things, im loosing hope.
One last thing to add, the mother of the pups had a very large litter 13 & I personally know of 3 males (incl mine) that show aggression. Infact, 1 male tried to kill its own pup! Apparently also, the mother was very strict the breeder said. My springer was also attacked quite badly at around 18mths by 2 slightly older males (brothers) surely this wouldnt have affected him, but thought it was worth a mention for a bit of background info. My bitch is also very dominant over him.
Please, please I am desperate for some advice & help. Its so upsetting & im sure he must be a very unhappy dog when this is happening . There must be some dog owners out there that have been or going through the same experiences.
Sorry for such a long thread.
Thanks eveyrone in advance.