[FitzLovin]

I have an almost 10 y/o male ****-a-poo, Jackson. I've had him since he was 6 weeks old, so I am definitely his "person". He has had some behavior issues in the past and I did dog training when he was a puppy. He gets territorial over his bed and can growl if you go near him. My wife and I had a son 14 months ago and a lot of visitors came . Jackson would herd me away from my son when I would be up feeding him in the middle of the night. Or sort of walk under me or lunge at my feet and make me stop walking (if that makes sense). Once the visitors died down some he was ok. He would act a little funny here and there from time to time. Just the other night out of the blue I was walking by him and he lunged at me completely unprovoked. I stopped and talked to him (because that's what dog owners do!) and when I started walking again he jumped up and nipped at me, didn't break the skin but left a mark. This is not like him at all. Now today he was fine alllll day. All of a sudden he sort of hid behind couch, and he almost didn't come with me to go outside. Well one of his favorite things is to "go to bed". He darts up the stairs. He wouldn't come out from the side of the couch and kept growling at me when I was calling him out. He loves being in my room, and he's still downstairs and I'm in bed. This is the first time ever he hasn't gone to bed. It makes me so sad but it also makes me worried. I have a child now, so Jackson doesn't get all of my attention anymore. I don't know why he is acting this way, and out of the blue too. ? Sorry for long post. I really am not sure what to do. -Erin

 

[jagger]

How is the dog when interacting with your son?

 

[PoppyKenna]

Have you seen a vet? He's older and if this is uncharacteristic of him I would definitely be having him checked out.

 

[FitzLovin]

He mostly okay with my son. He has growled a few times the baby has been too much. But sometimes I think he's protecting the baby.
I'm not sure. I haven't been to vet yet because it's so sudden and recent. He was fine today, seems at night he acts the strangest.

 

[PoppyKenna]

Well, to start with it sounds like he has some issues with resource guarding. For example, his bed. Sounds like he also guards you.

That's not a huge deal but I would recommend private sessions with a trainer to work on it so no one gets hurt.

The suddenness of some of the behaviors suggests, to me, a medical cause. It's possible his hearing or eyesight is starting to go and you are startling him in some way and he's trying to protect himself. This could be compounded by nighttime. I definitely suggest you talk to your vet.