Why is my dog suddenly aggressive and fighting after a family loss?

Question

My sister has 2 dogs who are siblings and has had them since they were pups. My sister recently lost her husband and since then the female has been trying to assert dominance over the male -- used to be the other way around. She is now more aggressive - fighting with the other dog and then the other day she got out of her collar/leash and went after a neighbor's dog. My sister doesn't want to give her up and is willing to try anything....any suggestions? Pet's info: Dog | Puggle | Female | 25 lbs

Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA · Accepted Answer

I'm so sorry to hear of your sister's loss. I'm sure a loss like that has created a great deal of stress in the household. Dogs can react to stress in their owners and the dogs maybe grieving the loss themselves as well. This can lead to behavior changes such as anxiety and aggression. Given the severity of the behavior changes, I would recommend that Lucy is seen by a veterinarian to ensure there is not an underlying medical condition. Once Lucy is deemed healthy, your veterinarian may recommend a trial of an anti-anxiety medications such as Prozac. It also may be worthwhile to contact a trained animal behaviorist in your area. They can evaluate the interactions between the dogs and may be able to offer a plan to help get the dogs back on track.

Why is my dog suddenly aggressive and fighting after a family loss?

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