Why fight if a hard stare would send the message?

Third in a series

A healthy canine brain is programmed to communicate with body signals and occasionally words like, “Grr!” Knock down, drag out fights in the wild can happen but they’re uncommon. Nobody has to take it. If you get seriously bullied you can get the heck outa Dodge. But, confined by the walls and a fence of their loving human domicile, neither Tandy nor Atticus could escape each other.

There was another wrinkle: From my observations, and a lot more information gathering from Jason and Sylvia, I came to learn that Tandy also struggled with a significant anxiety disorder. When circumstances weren’t just right, her agitation escalated fast. Watching Sylvia cook, and waiting and hoping to snag a hot chicken leg, her low-life underlying Atticus foolishly made physical contact with the chef. Tandy’s tenuous grip on impulse control instantly evaporated. She attacked.

Hearing this story, you can bet I was concerned about Atticus’ safety. I also knew that Tandy-the-tyrant could pay an even bigger price. When victims of assault are backed into a corner they’ll fight tooth and nail to survive, inflicting far worse damage on their tormentors. The mayhem didn’t end there. Sylvia freaked-out, dropped her frying fork, and grabbed her dogs’ collars to break up the fracas. Nothing went as planned. Rather than enjoying a home cooked meal with her husband Jason, they spent the evening at urgent care. Their dogs walked away spitty but otherwise unscathed.

If we’d focused only on the obvious aggression, other important factors would have been missed. It turned out that Tandy was hypervigilant during leash walks, stopping often to look behind her. She was easily startled by almost anything: normal household noises, a fly in the grass, a leaf blowing in the yard.

Home surveillance video showed Tandy and Atticus doing just fine together when their people were away. They never mixed it up on leash walks either. Avoiding competitive triggers would be a must but what about Tandy’s short fuse? Could she abandon her seething hostility when her subordinate approached? Could she live with him and food in the same house? Her wellbeing was suffering. Would medication help?

Next week: If Tandy could relax, would there be peace on earth?

For help with behavior problems, you can sign-up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist. He provides consultations in-person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions through my website, drjeffnichol.com/contact/ or by US Post to 4000 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuq, NM 87109.