I Have an Older Beagle That Is Now Barking and Aggressive Toward Other Dogs

Updated on April 21, 2016
P.Q. asks from Havre de Grace, MD
9 answers

She is very aggressive to other dogs in the house. This just started last week. Anyway of getting this to stop or is she just getting. Older.

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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

Yes, this is pretty odd. Something is up. Getting senile or she's not feeling good and is super irritable. I'd take her to a vet. Let us know what happens.

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I always was told by our vet who is also our friend that if an animal changes in personality, then something may be happening physically or in their mind. Emotional distress can come from either. But definitely take her in to get her checked. A vet would at least have suggestions on how to work with her to get her to stop or look at alternatives for you.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Take her to the vet. This is a common reaction to pain in dogs.

1 mom found this helpful

T.R.

answers from Milwaukee on

There is a lot that goes into evaluating a behavioral change, especially when other dogs are involved. You don't describe the other dogs, or how long they've been in your household.

Is your beagle intact, or spayed? What about the other dogs? How old/active are they? Have you introduced a new dog recently? Changed the schedule for feeding, or where the dogs are housed? Changes in crating? How is your beagle acting aggressive - when other dogs pass her, or is she resource guarding (aggressive tendency with food/toys)? Does it happen with just one of your other dogs, or all of them? Was there a squabble recently where your beagle might have been in an interaction that she is feeling insecure from?

Without answers to these questions, no one can say for sure. But - acting aggressive to other dogs is not necessarily indicative of pain, if there are no signs of aggression at other times - ie. when moving, being pet, getting on/off furniture, etc. A work-up from your vet is probably not a bad idea, but it's more important to evaluate the home environment & try to pin-point what circumstances might have changed that is driving this behavior, & how to go about either changing them back, or mitigating the issues from them.

Feel free to send me a private message for more discussion, I'm happy to help. I've been breeding & training purebred dogs for 16 years. T. :)

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Something has obviously changed.

Are there any new pets in the home? She could be sick, going deaf or blind.

It's time to get her to the vet and figure it out.

D.D.

answers from Boston on

If its a sudden change then she probably isn't feeling well. Or maybe her hearing and/or eyesight isn't good anymore so she's startled when another dog walks up to her (because she didn't hear the dog or can't really see it). You need to have her evaluated by the vet to see what's going on. If its her hearing or vision you can adjust your household to make her more comfortable.

V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Not enough information to have much of an idea. I'd suggest you take her to the vet for a checkup. Maybe she isn't well and this is her response to feeling poorly or being in pain. Playful romping isn't fun like it once was if you are arthritic and your joints ache to have someone land on you, for example. I'd go for a checkup at the vet and explain what you have noticed at home.
You didn't even say her age. What is "getting old"? Our GSD is 12. That's old. 8 years old, not so much... mature... but not old. If your dog isn't really old old, but just mature, it could be a soft injury, or a tick borne illness that makes her hurt, or changes her mood. Certain tick borne diseases can even cause them to be depressed.
Vet time.

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I would ask your vet, take the poor girl in for a checkup. If this is "new" behavior then something is wrong and she needs professional medical attention.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I agree it is time for a checkup. A dog can get aggressive due to age or illness. And sudden changes means something is wrong.

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