Expert: Elaine Allison CPDT - 10/2/2008

Question
Hi,
We have a 2 1/2 year old miniature schnauzer named Sasha.  We've had her since she was 8 weeks old.  We have been living abroad for the last 1 1/2 years.  Sasha has been with us most of the time, traveling to Spain twice.  When we got to Spain with her this year we ended up having to send her back to the states to stay with our son due to circumstances beyond our control.  My son told us last week that Sasha has started to bite.  She hasn't bitten him, but she has bitten or tried to bite his friends.  She's done it 3 times in the last month.  I'm thinking that this is due to her being moved around so much and being separated from us.  She is very attached to us and we are also attached to her.  She's like a member of the family.  Is there anything that can be done about this?  We will be returning to the states in 6 weeks and won't be traveling anymore.  So she will be settled back at home again.  Do you think the biting will go away?  Thank you for any help you can give.

~Wendy Wiggins

Answer
knowledgeable Wendy,

It's hard to say what the trigger is. It may be separation from you, it may be her age, it may be any number of things.

I would have your son have someone knowledgeable in aggression come out and assess. That way you will have a better idea about the likelihood of recurrence. Try www.ccpdt.com

He needs to reduce her stress level, if it's strangers then she needs to be under control around them, if it's space then she needs her own space...