Dog snapped at us for the first time

[Feasty]

Just looking for opinions and advice really.

We have a 4 year old Springer Spaniel that we've had since a puppy, he's a great dog, been very loyal, loving and fun. A year or 2 ago he started becoming slightly aggressive towards other dogs - but only when they approached and bothered him, sniffing him etc. He then had a snap at a stranger who bent down to say hello to him one time, which he'd never done before.
This behaviour has gradually been getting worse, we've spent the last year or so visiting the vets, paying a fortune seeing university behavoural specialists and generally getting the best advice and care we can for him.

Nothing has massively improved other than we've got a lot better at finding isolated places to walk him where other dogs won't bother him. And his recall and interest in us and playing with his ball has really improved. Unfortunately you can never be completely secure and have eyes in the back of your head, there have been times when other dogs have run up without us noticing and again he has snapped and growled, a couple of times this has turned into a bit of a fight but without any actual contact - and this is whilst he is on the lead. This isn't a good experience for us, or other dog owners.
we also have another dog and the 2 of them get on great with no issues, plus a cat. He's always been very good with the cat having known him from a puppy, except more recently he's taken to growling at him and lunging if the cat has a higher place, like on the sofa.

The other night he had a go at the cat again, who is very old (16-17 yrs) and experiencing problems getting about in his old age. My wife told the dog off, sent him to his bed and was giving him a telling off when he did a growl and snap at her, he's never done this at us before. It's really shook her up and made us very concerned as we also have a 9 yr old daughter.
Whilst he is lovely and friendly again after that, we're really worried about trusting him and if he is truly safe with her anymore. She adores him and they've always played well together, but his history tells us this behaviour won't go away and is very likely to get worse.

As per advice, we've also been training him to wear a muzzle for when we are on walks, but we're not quite at the stage of him wearing it outside yet. Do this too soon and he'll be against that too. But he can hardly be expected to wear it inside, or all the time.
We've spoken to the vets and it's looking like he may have to be put down, both for our families safety in the long run and for his sake if he carries on getting worse. It's heartbreaking and I can't believe we're having to consider this, but if not now then how long do we wait...
Where's the line he has to cross, the first snap at owners? The first snap at our daughter? How do we know he's not just going to go in for a bite next time he doesn't like something someone is doing?

It's a horrible situation...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Pjay]

Working dogs should never be fully treated as house pets.
They are hunting dogs and only in recent years have the been used as pets. It's not natural for working dogs to be expected to be the perfect family pet, it's unfair on the dog.

People should look into the breeds of dogs when they buy them.

[J4mes]

[Rogerborg]

[Pjay]

[Simple]

Can you message me via my facebook page and I will help you Www.facebook.com/wigglydog


Pjay. You talk shit

Thanks for the heads up on this thread, you know who you are.
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Insta - FemFeral

[Simple]

[Feasty]

Believe me, we did a LOT of considering and research before choosing a Springer. They have a good reputation as a house dog, loads of people have them and they are generally a very soft and friendly breed.
He's never shown signs of being bored at home, he gets 2 walks a day plus longer walks at the weekend. He's got toys in the house and regularly has access to an enclosed back garden. We also got a second dog, a Sprocker, for companionship and they get on great. They've never fought and share the same bed, even when there's another bed available!

Even the specialists couldn't work out why he's got like he has got, only that they think it's learnt behaviour and over time he's obviously found that behaving like he has gets him the result he wants.
We have been and are working on changing this behaviour and making sure he's safe. It's just the goalposts have suddenly moved when it goes from dogs and strangers, to acting like that to his owners in his own home and there is a child around.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Pjay]

[J4mes]

Thats funny because my working gun dog is Snoring her head off beside me.

Her mother went beating and retrieving every weekend of the season, her father was from Sandringham estate. My family own the mother, siblings, cousins. About 15 dogs from the same family.

Take her to a lake full of ducks answer she'll go belting after them. If commanded to do so. Or she'll stay by my side in any circumstances if commanded to do so.

Amazing with other dogs, cats, strangers, my 3year old daughter.

Never ever shown aggression to anything or anyone. Had her since she was 7 weeks old, she's 8 in may.

On another note, I was out in Germany last year when two dudes walked in to our hotel with knives, guns and a sausage dog. As soon as it saw my lab it went apeshit and they could barely restrain it. What was it? The local fucking badger hunter.

But it's OK, sausage dogs are tame because pjay says so. [/code]

[Pjay]

Yeah just twist what I say to suit.

I have already stated that the best pet I have ever owned was a Springer, and a working one at that.

I am saying that working breeds are closer to their natural state than domesticated breeds and can be a lot harder work, as they are more intelligent, more active breeds.

I am pissed with owners that buy a working breed and use it as a pet only to abandon it because it acts like a dog.

[J4mes]

So what breed should they buy?

[Pjay]

[Polarbear]

I've had dogs all my life, mainly German Shepherds. I had one dog that I never trusted totally which was a rescue dog I was fostering. A mongrel with mainly terrier characteristics.

The first time it went for one of my kids it was gone. No ifs, no buts. It had growled before. When it hid under the kitchen table and in its basket the kids knew never to touch it then but one day it bit my daughter, a reaction snap from being startled but I was on the phone to the rescue centre saying I was bringing it back. It was later destroyed.

If I can't trust a dog not to bite humans it has to go to doggy heaven, for a myriad of reasons. Not least that I couldn't stand having a dog in a muzzle all the time. Dog ownership is meant to be enjoyable and if you have done all you can to sort out any problems and they still persist, draw a line under it as hard as it is.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Pjay]

[Ste]

You can't put it to sleep.

[Poundshop Dave]

I have a little Jack Russell, she is the mini breed. Use her for ratting etc, she sleeps in the bedroom with us, best doorbell we've ever had, anyone comes within 20 feet of the front door and she barks.

She is aggressive towards other dogs, stupidly so. Rotty, Doberman no problem; she wants to take them all on. People though she is fine with.
So disagree working dogs can't be pets.
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Proud to be from Birmingham

[M.C]

[Loui5D]

Any sort of trauma in the past few years?

The dog that my grandparents have had for nearly 14 years pretty much forgot who everyone was, wouldn't go near anyone. It was like she had memory loss or something.

[Poundshop Dave]

[grr666]

My doberman/weimeraner cross is sound asleep on my sofa, she's a big girls blouse round other dogs. I've seen
a puppy a 1/4 of her size chase her away yelping. My mum has 3 rottweilers that haven't hurt a hair on
anyones head their whole lives. I'd rather have working dogs, they are usually smarter, easier to train and more
rewarding to own. My only gripe with my Gracie is she's very front paw tactile, she's more likely to clump you one
with her big fat feet than bite you. She can let herself in from the back garden using the door handle.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Feasty]

He's not had any big trauma happen - that we know of anyway, and we've had him from a pup.

Jack Russell's are well known for being nippy and feisty, which is why we didn't get one.
The difference here being our Springer is BIG for his breed, he's approaching 30kg and that's not in roundness either. He's a lean, fast thing and when he sits on your knee for a hug - you know about it!

I'm not saying he's going to be put down and that's that, it's just an option that's been put out there. It's an extremely difficult thing to work through though when there is a risk to your child.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Ste]

Message wigglydogs, working through the problems with your dog rather than putting it down is a much better result for all concerned.

There's no need to even be thinking about considering that putting it down might be an option. If for whatever reason you're not able to work through all the problems then rehoming is preferable to putting it down.

Message wigglydogs and see what she's got to say about it all.

[Nexus Icon]

Is he entire or has he had the chop already?

I'm guessing he has or the vets would've suggested that quite early on.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[weasley]

Would 4 years old be about the time of life that a large male dog might start thinking about usurping the pack alpha?
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