Female dog aggressive since her first season

Dogloverrrrrr Icon representing the flag French

19/01/2022, 00:52

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Hi everyone,

I’ve been having a bit of a problem since my dog’s first season. The relationship between my 5-year-old male and her (7 months) has become very strained... they’ve fought several times; there were no injuries, but it’s really scary to watch. We’ve had to separate them for now while I try to sort things out, so he’s currently staying with my parents.

Before her season, everything was fine—they got on really well and were always stuck to each other's sides.

I’ve also noticed she’s starting to show aggressive behaviour towards other dogs, which she never did before, and even towards people (barking and growling), which is also completely new...

Has anyone else been through this? How did you sort the problem out?

I have to admit I’m at my wit’s end... and leaving my dog at my parents' house long-term just isn’t going to be sustainable for me.

Thanks for your help.

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Boxy

19/01/2022, 13:12

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Hi there,

When they’re in season, female dogs can go through all sorts of moods: restlessness, over-excitement, tiredness, nervousness, grumpiness, being less patient, or even feeling a bit down...

The order of these moods depends on the individual dog, and not every dog will go through all of them.

Try to stick to her usual routine but step in calmly if she gets nervous or snappy towards everything that moves. You need to be clear with her so she understands that you're there to protect her, that there's actually no danger, and that she can relax just like she used to.

During her season, you can also increase her physical and mental activity (depending on how she’s feeling). The same applies to rest. For instance, with ours, we do more activity a few weeks before she’s due and during the first phase, then more rest afterwards... And after her season, she tends to get a bit mopey.

If your boundaries are clear to start with and you stay consistent during her first season, you shouldn’t have any problems in future cycles. She’ll also get better and better at managing her own moods.

Regarding your male dog, if he isn't neutered and is being pushy, that might be the cause of the scraps... She likely feels like she’s being pestered.

Overall, you need to intervene to teach one to leave the other alone and to help the other stay more tolerant and relaxed.

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Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French

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19/01/2022, 12:47

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Hi there, Aggression in female dogs can be caused by either behavioural issues or hormonal changes. From what you’ve described, there has been a clear shift in your dog’s behaviour towards males since her first season. It’s quite likely that these changes are due to the hormones produced during her heat cycle. In fact, aggressive behaviour can often increase right at the start of a season. If she settles down after a while, then the aggression is probably linked to the hormonal shifts in her cycle. In this case, getting her spayed might eventually help to reduce the aggression. As for the consistent aggression towards strangers and dogs she doesn't know, it’s possible that you are tensing up during these encounters because she has been aggressive in the past. Your dog can sense when you’re on edge, which then leads to her barking or growling. This behaviour definitely isn't permanent; you'll find that if you can stay more relaxed yourself, she will be much calmer. Hope this helps, Jeanne

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