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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>I have a situation and I need some insight. We
previously owned a female Bagle, Abbie - no problems...loved her and lost
her to chronic liver failure. We adopted Murphy who is full-fledged
Basset, the most lovable and responsive dog we have ever owned - needy....very
needy, friendly as all get out and loving EXCEPT - this is the third time when I
have been talking to Murphy and petting his head and down his back that
he starts with a low warning growl and on one occasion escalated to him
actually baring his teeth and snapping at me, throwing his head back towards my
hand resting on his back. Are male bassets more prone to this type of
aggressive behavior than female bassets?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>I am devastated. Murphy is assumed to be between
five and six. He almost didn't make it when the rescue found
him because he was in HORRIBLE shape and had to be treated by loving people
<U>twice</U> for heartworm. He was certifiably ready to be with us in
January and we adopted him in March of this year. I don't understand why
he has growled at me while petting and talking to him, and once he really went
for me, although I don't think he would have bitten me, when I was petting him
and he was sort of in a drowsy state.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Is there something about the heartworm treatment that
he went through twice that would cause him to react to me that way? I
can't have an animal in my home that doesn't trust me or that I'm becoming
afraid of. It happened this morning and I scolded him. While I was
scolding him, he wagged his tail a little bit. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>I just refuse to give up on Murphy. We love him
so much, but it's killing me and because he bared his teeth and really snapped
at me, I am now afraid to pet him. He loves to sit on our lap and he loves
to press against us, looking up at us and saying "just love me." He runs
the full length of the house when my husband arrives home and is generally a
very happy dog. But this situation is puzzling to me and downright scary -
hostile behavior from a very loving dog - can ANYONE HELP ME?
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>I'm showing him that his response is not acceptable
and that I'm the boss and not afraid of him, but that's not really true when his
growl causes me to be fearful. Are we just not giving him time or could
there be something about going towards his backside that he will not tolerate
from anyone?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="BernhardFashion BT" color=#408080 size=5
FAMILY="DECORATIVE" PTSIZE="18"><B>Charmaine</FONT><FONT lang=0
face="BernhardFashion BT" color=#000000 size=5 FAMILY="DECORATIVE"
PTSIZE="18"></B><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="BernhardFashion BT" color=#408080
size=4 FAMILY="DECORATIVE" PTSIZE="14"><B>My face is a mask I order to say
nothing about the fragile feelings hiding in my soul. </FONT><FONT lang=0
face="BernhardFashion BT" color=#408080 size=2 FAMILY="DECORATIVE"
PTSIZE="10">(Glenn Lazore - Mohawk)</FONT><FONT lang=0 face="BernhardFashion BT"
color=#000000 size=5 FAMILY="DECORATIVE"
PTSIZE="18"></B><BR></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Get fantasy football with free live scoring. <A title="http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020" href="http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020" target="_blank">Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>