I have hesitated to post anything on here recently, perhaps naively hoping it would get better but Archie has bitten my eldest daughter twice in the past 2 months
She is 11 so not a toddler. The first time was completely unprovoked, we were both in the kitchen talking, I left to go in the living room to get something and within 2 seconds heard him lunge and her scream. He'd bitten her on the bottom as she turned to the sink. As you can imagine, the pain she had sitting down at school for the next week was excruciating
He bit her again this past Friday, we were all standing round chatting (family were visiting) and she went down to stroke him as he lay chilled next to us. I didn't even have time to react - he crinkled his nose and immediately attacked - no warning growl etc given that I could observe. A huge bite/teeth weals and bruise on her upper thigh - fortunately she'd pulled away in time otherwise he'd have got her face.
He has always been very noise reactive, but his behaviour has got worse in the past two months, this has included him growling/ snapping and going for my husband, if he leaves his chair (not even going anywhere near the dog), screaming/strangling noises and barking wildly at a friend's dog, whom previously he'd barely acknowledged and the other day, he spotted a couple a long way off down the street, he tracked them, standing stiffly and again that screaming/strangling behaviour - he has never reacted to people in this way before.
His circling behaviour, which he's always done when excited, has escalated to include high pitched barking and screaming every time the phone rings/door sounds/anyone goes out of a door.
Worryingly too, whenever my daughters (aged 10 and 11) go upstairs (always in a calm manner), he'll race up before them and position himself at the top of the stairs barking/growling and if they react, lunging to make contact.
There is just so many issues, which I am so concerned about, especially for the safety of my children (and their friends visiting) that I don't see many options available. I have spoken to a behaviourist (APBC and APDT registered with 30+ years experience) who said straight off that she would not be able to stop him attacking, she may be able to calm and improve things but not cure him. I have made an appointment at the vets for a check over, although he shows no signs of any ill health whatsoever.
My husband doesn't seem to view all this very seriously, he blamed me for not letting him off lead (his recall is awful so I'm not prepared to let him off to run riot), and not giving him run of the downstairs
(as many of you know, it has taken me till Archie was 15 months old to stop him toileting in the house, he'd do this if I let him wander from room to room).
I can't believe I may lose another cocker after poor Odie, all my life I've wanted a dog....
Does anyone know what the vet may do, I don't want them to order a barrage of tests for no reason. Thanks, Lesley