Expert: Shelley Davis - 5/1/2006

Question
Hi I hope you can help me! I have a 20mth old male St Bernard,i dont know why but for no reason at all  he will bite with no warning.Idont think it is an aggressive bite as he leaves very little marking.I will give you an example, a friend of mine came in to see me she went to put her hand up to his nose so that he could smell her and for no reason snaped at her hand,my main concern is that it could be a child and being at face height (dont want to think about it...)I have 3 children of my own and he shows no aggression towards them evan though my youngest is only 4.Do you think it could be his diet he is fed on eukanuba? I am taking him to the vets to see a behavorial consultant and also get his thyroid checked,are there any symptoms for this condition? I hope you can help me as I love him dearly and I want to help him ,many thanks Kerry.  

Answer
Hi Kerry,

Thank you for contacting me about your St. Bernard.

I am going to take you through several areas of possible explanation for aggression as well as various solutions.  I am extremely pleased to hear that you will be having your dog's thyroid checked as well as consulting with a behavorist.  Please make certain that the behavorist uses ONLY positive reinforcement.  Additionally, make certain that your pooch gets a minimum of a 45 minute brisk walk twice a day.  A tired dog is a good dog, as they say!


Possible Medical Causes of Aggression:

It is advisable that at the onset of any sign of aggression, all possible medical causes are ruled out. BEFORE you consult a trainer.

If an injury, disease or genetic congenital defect, is deemed the cause of the dog's mood swings or aggression, then no training will be effective until the problem has been resolved or controlled.

There are many conditions that can cause unusual or aggressive behavior in dogs. Anything from problems with teeth and eyesight to joint pain.

If the temperament problem is genetic in nature, then the likelihood that the animal can be completely cured of the aggression is minimal. The treatment would then concentrate on the "management" of the behavior rather than an absolute cure.

Other conditions (like Hypothyroidism) can be effectively treated with medication prescribed by your veterinarian. Any condition which causes inflammation of the brain, can also cause neurological problems, including aggression. A chemical imbalance can make their behavior unstable and medication may be required to rectify the problem. A dog in pain can react in a defensive or aggressive manner.

Some of the conditions that have been linked to aggression in dogs are:

Brain chemistry

Hypothyroidism

Encephalitis (bacterial or viral) Distemper

Hypoglycemia

Hydrocephalus in brachycephalics

Epilepsy

Brain tumors

Head trauma

Behavioral Seizures


Brain Chemistry

This condition is not unlike clinical depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, etc., in humans. Serotonin plays an important role in the neurochemical control of aggression in the brain, especially when a component of impulsivity is present. As with humans, the family of SSRI drugs have the most success in combination with "therapy" i.e. behavior modification techniques. There are not many behavior cases which will respond to medication alone.

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome which is associated with age related degeneration can be managed through medication, and environmental and behavioral modification.

Hypothyroidism

A common endocrine disease where the body produces an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormones. An autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland, which affects more than 50 dog breeds and crosses.

Encephalitis(bacterial or viral)
Distemper and rabies are a viral form of Encephalitis;

There are two common forms of Encephalitis;
Acute encephalitis Commonly seen in young dogs or puppies and Chronic encephalitis seen in older dogs, even those with a good vaccination history.

There have been studies, which show that the distemper vaccination, can actually cause an animal to contract distemper

Hypoglycemia
Is a medical term meaning low blood sugar. Symptoms of a hypoglycemic attack can include:

Staggering or collapse, Weakness, Aggression, Moodiness, Glassy eyes, staring, dazed look

Hydrocephalus in brachycephalics
Or water on the brain, is a condition that affects the toy breeds and the "brachycephalics" dogs with very short noses, like the boxer, pug etc.

Epilepsy
There are many causes of epilepsy so diagnosis is not always easy.
Primary Epilepsy - is a hereditary condition which is more common in certain breeds.

Other causes include; Canine Distemper, Encephalitis, Meningitis, Poisonings, Liver and kidney disease, Head injuries, Brain tumors, Strokes and Cerebro-vascular disease, Hydrocephalus etc.

Many of the causes of Epilepsy still remain obscure.

Brain tumors
A brain tumor can cause changes in temperament, some or all of these changes might be observed in an animal afflicted, at varying times and degrees:

Changes in mental status, aggression, confusion, irritability, increased vocalization, apathy, hyper excitability, tremors, weakness, disorientation, visual deficits, circling, falling, sleep habits, abnormal postures, exaggerated gait, head tilt, pain, house soiling, staring, trembling, decreased appetite, seizures, paralysis

Head trauma
When the brain has suffered trauma or injury, swelling or bleeding may result. This swelling or bleeding will interfere with the normal function of that part of the brain. Many unusual neurological symptoms can result, including aggression.

Behavioral Seizures
Or what has been called "Rage syndrome"
Partial seizures occurring in a region of the brain that controls aggression can cause sudden unprovoked aggression.

For more in-depth information on these conditions please see:

Medical Causes of Aggression In Dogsby: Dr. Nicholas Dodman http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1807

Guide to Hereditary and Congenital Diseases in Dogs
Published by The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, P.O. Box 208,
Davis, CA 95617-0208
First printing: August 1994
http://siriusdog.com/genetic.htm

"My Pet has Changed: Understanding Aging-Related behavior Changes in Dogs", summary of presentation by Dr. Ilana Reisner, at the Annual Cannine Symposium held at VHUP

Impulsivity in Dogs - Assessment and Treatment
by Jaume Fatju, Spain, World Animal Veterinary Association, World Congress - Vancouver 2001, (discusses brain chemistry in terms of impusivity and aggression)

Behavior-Medicating Misbehavior in Dogs
First printed in the October, 1997, issue of Your Dog newsletter from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia Animal Hospital, Columbia, MD

Epilepsy in the Dog
The UK National G.S.D. Help Line
http://www.gsdhelpline.com/vetad.htm

Rule Out Hypoglycemia
by Darleen Rudnick, Pet Nutritionist
http://purelypets.com/articles/epilepsyarticle.htm

Thyroid Dysfunction as a Cause of Aggression in Dogs and Cats
L.P. Aronson DVM & N.H. Dodman RVMS
Presented at the 43. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Veterinarmedizinischen
Gesellschaft Fachgruppe Kleintierkrankheiten
29-31 August 1997 in HCC Hannover
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This is a very volatile sitution that needs to be seriously addressed.  Nipping can be a precursor to a serious and vicious attack and must be addressed as such.

Most aggressive behavior does not go away on its own. The longer your dog's aggression continues; the more intense it gets, the more frequently in occurs: the worse the prognosis is for treatment.

Avoid what sets your dog off.

Dogs are pack animals. The average pet owner does not understand how strong the genetic instincts are that float under the fur of their lovable pets.

Here are some of the issues that develop when people build a dog pack:

Dogs are territorial (like wolves).

They have a pack or rank order which includes a pack leader. Every dog in the pack knows it's rank.

The worst dog fights are amoung bitches (they are fierce) and unneutered or neutered/unneutered dogs.

Once attacked a dog will always be leery of meeting new dogs. Many will automatically become fighters the rest of their lives.

When aggression has excalated as you describe, allowing the  dogs to work things out themselves is a big mistake.

You may need to start working with a crate.  Training the dogs to wear a head halter or body harness with trailing leashes and a basket muzzle will increase the owner's level of control and safety.  

If your dog growls, give a correction but not so hard as to cause physical injury. Remember, YOU are the pack leader in this family. Pack leaders determine when the pack members get aggressive. Your house dog genetically understands this. If you have a rank problem with your relationship then  this needs to be addressed and corrected.

The pack leader is the one who determines if and when a dog will fight. So if your position in the pack is firm (as a result of solid obedience training) a correction for growling will tell the house dog that "YOU WILL NOT ALLOW AGGRESSION TOWARDS ANOTHER DOG."

Do not allow any posturing. This means your dog trying to show dominance you. You will see one dog "T" off to the other. It will put it's head over the top shoulder of the other dog and press down. This is the beginning of showing dominance. Mounting is the excalation of this behavior.  You could try using a squirt bottle or squirt gun when and if you see this behavior toward any member of your family or any visitor.  If water is not enough of a deterant then add a pinch of lemon juice or vinegar to the water.

If there is the slightest possibility of aggression use a muzzle. At the first sign of posturing you should be giving firm verbal warnings. If that does not work, then a very firm correction, such as a squirt of water or shaking a penny can,  is required to show the dog that "you are the pack leader and he must listen to you".

Make your dog wear a drag line if necessary. Additionally you can have your dog go lay down and stay in one spot.  Your dog can only move out of that position with permission. It will become very clear who is the boss (YOU !)

Again, use a muzzle if there is question.

Also never allow your dog on the furniture or on your bed. That's just asking for dominance problems. You will have enough pack juices flowing in your dog at various times without allowing things to happen that increase these pack drives.

One of the most common causes of dog bites in the home are fights over food and toys. Never allow your dog to be dominant with with toys. Toys are triggers for dog bites, as your dog guards it "prey."  The bottom line on this process is that owners should always err on the side of caution. Go slow and don't try and skip steps. That's when problems develop.

Again, you must establish a strong leadership role over your dog via a non-confrontational dominance program. Owner leadership is essential for safely establishing and maintaining a stable social hierarchy. I recommend working with a trainer or behavorist who specializes in aggression and uses positive reinforcement in their training techniques. Clicker training is extremely effective.

You need to identify all sources of conflict and competition and change your management strategy so that you can prevent future aggression.

Remember that in nature, a strong, decisive pack leader can determine the fate of the entire pack.  

Verbal correction directed towards the subordinate pack member may be effective at curbing aggression.

Anxiety-reducing drugs or natural suppliments,  or antidepressants are the medications of choice when necessary.  Sometimes using these for a short period of time will change a dog's brain chemistry enough that it will effect the way the brain reacts over the dog's life time.

The usual background adjustments of providing appropriate daily aerobic exercise, an all-natural non-performance diet and regular daily obedience training sessions are highly recommended.

Some dogs (individuals and particular breeds) may be genetically predisposed to developing a dominant temperament.

Whatever you do, do not leave your dog alone with your childen, no matter how reliable you think your dog is.

Here is some helpful information:

You must be willing and able to dominate your pet.

The first thing to do when trying to correct this problem is to change the pecking order of the pack – in this case the hierarchy within your family.

Dogs are always happier not to have to be pack leaders. Your dog needs to be at the bottom of the pack. You must become the pack leader. Husbands are often more assertive than their wives which is why many dogs that I see in my practice obey the husband and not the wife.

To gain control of your dog you need to dominate every aspect of the dog's life.

I would suggest that games like Tug of War be eliminated totally.

When you feed your dog, make her sit and wait and do not let her eat until you give her a command to come and take her food.

Do not let dominant-prone dogs sleep in your bed or in the bedroom. Reserve that space for your family.

Crate or tether your dog during meals and feed her last.

If you have a dog that is prone to aggression or bad behavior of any kind always have your dog sit and heel before petting, going outside, or entering and exiting the car.

Dogs should be taught to sit calmly when you snap on their leash. These may not seem like important things but they help define the rules that apply to all activities that you and your pet will share. They also teach the dog that you set the rules.

You must be totally consistent in your praise or criticisms. Your dog will quickly learn that a given behavior always illicits a given positive or negative response from you.

Never let her win a showdown or take charge. If you give an inch they will take a mile.

Praising and loving a dog spontaneously out of the blue confuses the dog. It also elevates the dog's social status and can lead to dominance aggression. It is much better to have him shake hands, sit or fetch and then give him all the praise you want.

You can try to alter triggers in your home that lead to outbursts of dominance aggression.

For an aggressive dog, the sofa or chair should be off limits.  

Always reward your dog when she show signs of submission. These signs include laying her ears back on her head, licking her lips, rolling over, sitting, avoiding eye contact and curling in her tail.  

Dogs that are severely dominant aggressive often stubbornly resist change to their status in the family. There are professional dog trainers who will attempt to modify your behavior toward the dog and the dog's behavior toward you.

If there should be fighting or biting behavior
the halter gives enough control to stop the behavior in most cases. Reminding your dog that you are in control and giving her something else to think about by making her follow commands such as "down" is a very good
idea and it is good that she responds to this.

There is a very strong possibility that your dog's dominance over the older one was apparent to the trained eye, a long time ago. There are many cues that can predict where a dog's behavior is heading.

Every time a dog does something, it reinforces that behavior. What this means is that every time your younger dog attacks the older one, the repetition of this behavior become more and more normalized in your dog's mind...making it more and more acceptable. Prevention is one of the keys to successful behavior modification.

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You asked about diet.  Feeding your dog a natural diet is the best approach to good health and a calm disposition, merely for the fact that your dog is getting and absorbing all the necessary nutrients, as nature provides.

A reliable place to start: http://www.petdiets.com/main.asp

If you want to feed a real food diet you can read up on it at: Dr. Pitcairn's Natural Healing For Dogs & Cats as well as Martin Goldstein's The Nature of Animal Healing.  There are also groups on Yahoo that address feeding everything from BARF to a home cooked diet.

Some decent commercial foods are Solid Gold Fish and Potato, Venison, Rabbit, or try Spot's Stew or Avoderm.  When you switch, it will have to be slowly so as to prevent diarrhea.  When you start switching, include some canned pumpkin (no spices) to help with stomach adjust.

Adding Prozyme to your dog's diet (J&B Wholesale Pet Supply) will ensure that he has proper digestion and absorption.  To give him the nutrition that his body needs include Missing Link (also from J&B) and Probiotics (B-Natural).

I wish you the best of luck in dealing with your dog's aggression.

Best,
Shelley Davis
www.bednbiscuit.com










I wish you the best of luck in dealing with this situation.