Shocked! Chloe keeps going for the kids!

[*Adele*]

OK I'm totally beside myself at the moment as I've just had to give my daughter medicine and comfort her after the dog bit her! She hasn't punctured the skin but not far off at all! You can see bite marks and there's clearly going to be a huge bruise! This is the 3rd time this week that she has gone for the kids but the first time proper contact has been made, previous times there's just been a scratch. The 1st time the kids were playing with her and I was sat right next to them when it happened, there was no apparent reason for her to do it, no warning at all! The 2nd time my daughter just walked past Chloe in the hallway, now it was dark and Chloe may have been asleep but that could be the only reason for her doing it, she leaped at my daughter! This time Leigh was just walking past Chloe again in the hallway and I didn't even hear a noise out of Chloe unlike the 1st two times!

She's due to go to the vets on Tuesday for her jabs so I can ask them to look her over but at this moment in time I don't even want her in the house near the kids! Whether it's her eyesight I don't know, she's not shown any sign of pain or discomfort or anything, in fact she seems to have so much more energy and life about her since she was spayed on the 5th November she's surprised me totally!

I've put her in her cage whilst I try to think what to do, I'm speechless! 

[KatieJean]

Sorry you are going through this. Your vet is probable the best person to talk to. Did she do it before she was spayed. She may not be feeling too good. If its out of character there is usually a reason. You said about her sight. Does she have problems with her vision, if so she may be suprised when someone goes past. Hope you get it sorted.

[AnnieM]

Hi, I am so sorry you are going through this with Chloe.  It could well be her hormone levels changing if she was only spayed on the 5th of this month, she could also still be in a little discomfort, I know Jade was fine most of the time but even up to 6 weeks later, she would occasionally yelp out when jumping onto the sofa or doing the wall of death around the lounge.     Have a word with your vet about it, but I am sure Chloe still loves the kids, it certainly is worrying though and I know I would be devastated if any of mine ever even growled at the kids. (I am a childminder, they can growl all they like at mine he is 19!!  )  I really hope you get it sorted out with her and peace resumes soon.    

[*Adele*]

Hi guys and thanks for the replies. I've spoken to the vets receptionist who was very helpful, not! She said that I obvioulsy needed to train her!  Needless to say that didn't impress me one single bit! She did give me the number of a behaviourist whom I've just spoken to quite in depth, they have offered to come around but all they're going to see is a very well behaved dog! So there's little point in them doing that. She did say that it could be her hormones and all I can really do is keep them all seperate unless I'm supervising until things sort themselves out! Great idea but the 1st time it happened I was present, the other 2 times my daughter was just walking past her in the hallway!

I'm still in shock I think and not sure what to do for the best, this just brings flash backs to when I was a teen when our 4 year old border collie bit someone and he was put down straight away without question as my sister was only 5 and often had friends around, my parents wouldn't risk having a dog who could snap like that. 

[Helen]

Has Chloe got eyesight problems?

[Ori1]

Did chloe jump up at the kids before she was spayed? Not even to bite, but to jump up and play???

The reason i'm asking is that this could be the progression of that...just like any puppy does with their litter mates they jump about and nip...and I wonder if she sees the kids as just her playmates??? It doesn't seem like it's aggression from what you've said so it maybe play gone too far???

I would think about what the kids 'do' for her...as in do they help feed her etc...wipe her paws when she comes in, groom her etc...just so it is not always 'play' time.

I'm only guessing, and it's hard to guess when you don't see it in action...but just a thought...

I hope you get it sorted soon,

 

[*Adele*]

Chloe has cataracts in both eyes but still has enough sight not to walk into things inside or outside of the house.

She's never had a nasty bone in her body and very rarely jumps up at the kids, if she does it's because my daughter encourages her to do so so they can dance together! The kids don't often play with her to be honest, that's my job if anything! The kids know only to play with her when I'm around and then I don't let them get too excited by it all.

Thanks for all replies again!

[cazza]

When were the cataracts last checked?

Can you get her into the vets before tuesday and get the vet to give her a check up and perhaps do her jabs then too?

What time of day were these incidents? Sorry just trying to see if there is a pattern for you to speak to the vet about

[sarah25]

Sorry to hear about this Adele & i hope your daughter is OK

[Ori1]

The thing I'm describing is not a nasty thing...just a way that dogs do play...please don't take from what I was saying as chloe is nasty - I really don't think she sounds like that at all.

Might it be her trying to instigate the 'dancing' - as a play thing???

I'd be surprised if it were her eyes as dogs use far more senses than just their eyes...and use these to work out who it is...such as smell etc...

 

[*Adele*]

Sorry Ori, I didn't take you as meaning she was nasty at all, the last 2 times she was just laid in the hallway when my daughter walked past, not in a playful mood whatsoever.

She saw the eye specialist during the summer Cazza, I'll try and ring the vets again tomorrow, still shocked by the receptionists attitude!  Each time the incidents happen it's around tea time, I don't think it's a hunger thing but will mention the time of day to the vets. To be honest the kids are only around downstairs at this time so it may just be coincidence, dunno.

Thanks again.

[Top Barks]

You need to get her checked thouroughly at the vets and if I explained to my vet that my dog had these issues and they knew the medical history such as it is  and they said I should train her I would be looking for a different vet.
Cateracts can be a reason for a dog to bite or show aggression Bayley has them and was due to be PTS.
He sometimes just doesn't see your hand coming towards him sometimes and reacts in the only way he can and that is defensively.
As I have said lots on here you cannot accurately diagnose aggression issues on the internet so until you get this checked out I would not have the children playing with her but if you think it is safe then maybe have them hand feed her.

[minimoo]

i would get the vet to have alook at her spay she could still be in some pain, i know years ago when kizzy was spayed i felt it wasnt 100 % even months after she would groan if i picked her up, with her only being spayed a short while ago she could be still sore,

[Helen]

I really think her eyes are getting worse Adele, and she's reacting from being startled.  It doesn't matter if her other senses are working fine, if something she can't quite focus on suddenly looms in front of her it's bound to make her react    It may be that you both have to use voice a lot more with her so she know's your close and doesn't act out of fright.

And I won't comment on your vet's receptionists attitude....  

[Top Barks]

I agree the spay could also be a factor but that is the problem with the internet we are all clutching at straws and drawing conclusions without seeing the dog or knowing the full facts.