[Dailydrool] At-home aggression

[Drew McQuade]

<< Bailey has his aggressive moments only with me and only at home.>>

Oh, Pat, you don't know how good that line made me feel. I'm not the only 
one with this problem! Abner has only ever bitten me here at home. 
Admittedly, he was just post-surgery, but he still snaps and growls at me, 
which makes me very leary. Since I'm the only one who puts myself in his 
way, I guess it's not surprising that I'm at the receiving end of his 
aggression. Drew never medicates him or deals with anything else that would 
cause Abs to snap.

Most of the time, this boy is sweet, sweet, sweet for me, as he is for 
everyone else. But if I just try to change his leash on a day when he 
suddenly doesn't want it done, it's another matter. I'm beginning to think I 
unknowingly do something that triggers his aggression. Perhaps I somehow 
remind him of  his painful time at the vet's. But who can figure? If he goes 
to PetsMart for a spa day, he's fine with them. The vet outright told me 
this isn't an aggressive dog--he rolls over on his back for him. Is it just 
me?

I told the behaviorist that I think he holds his back surgery against me. 
No, he says, dogs don't think that way. But I'm not fully convinced. Heck, 
I'd hold it against me, if I were a dog. That surgery was painful!

Meanwhile, I can do anything I like with Bel and Jane, and I trained Jane as 
a puppy. It's not that I'm a complete wuss, but Abner's snapping can really 
get to me.
Pam, with all the Dashing Bassets