I’ve been reading these threads about dog aggression and I saw someone mention Prozac. I have a 6 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback that I got at a shelter at the age of 4. I’m very familiar with the breed, having owned Ridgebacks for the last 30 years and have tried to deal with his “issues” as best I can. He has a past history of abuse and he’s fear aggressive. His latest issue, which has come on in the last few months is aggression to our female dog. We;ve had her about 18 months, she was originally a foster & we adopted her from the breed rescue about a year ago. She’s 10 years old, very sweet and while I wouldn’t call her submissive, she’s completely benign. She is your typical older dog, quiet, super laid back…happy just to be laying on her bed and watching the goings on in the house, but also loves to go wherever you go. IF there is any drama to be had in the house, she steers clear of it. I also have a male GSD who is definitely the alpha dog, there aren’t any issues with him, he’s a very secure, happy dog that gets along with everyone. …I only mention him for the sake of full disclosure. The male RR has taken to “moving” the female. He’ll go up to wherever she is sleeping, doesn’t have to be the “prime” spot…and growl at her to make her move. If they’re milling about the house, he’ll growl at her to move her out of the way. He’s fear aggressive in regards to people coming/going out of the house. Every person in/out of our driveway is cause to sound the alarm, bark like crazy, jump on the windows. I have to move him off to open the door to anyone , he’s fine once people are inside, but a bit nutty while they’re on the wrong side of the door. He does the same thing when we come home, even if he can see us coming up the walk. ONe day last week, he attacked our female dog while I was opening the door, I had to kick him to get him off of her. She had a few puncture wounds, but nothing that required the vet. I chalked it up to his anxiety, but it scared me…now I’m reading these threads and I’m thinking he needs to be medicated. For those of you that have used Prozac on an aggressive dog…did it help? Any side effects? Is it expensive?
I use it on one of my rescues who in two days instigated two fights and had all five of our dogs on antibiotics. Since the prozac - not a single fight! It is a miracle. Acts like he did before something when bonkers in his head. Before we went the medication route we did a lot of things - tried only supervised time with the other dogs, separating, training etc, but it made it worse, hence the call to the vet because I was concerned that we would have to re-home him which I did not want to do. I don’t see any side effects. I have a Walgreens Prescription card and get it filled at Walgreens for $5 a month.
One interesting fact to keep in mind about almost all anxiety meds. They often lower bite inhibition. Meaning if they work great, but if the dog has a breakthrough it is MORE likely to bite than it was before. So a dog who growled may now snap, one who snaps may now break skin, etc.
A lesser known anxiety medication is Trazadone, which when I researched meds with our behaviorist he liked it better for dogs who may be inclined to bite. It seems to have less of an effect on bite inhibition.
I point this out not to steer you from medication at all but to make sure you’re aware of this potential since you RR male has already broken skin.
Thanks to both of you. My vet mentioned it a while back and I kind of dismissed the idea, thinking I could manage the situation without the use of drugs. I think I’m going to discuss it with him further. Re-homing this dog is not an option, he’s got way too much baggage.
sounds a little like barrier frustration to me. I’ve not had any dogs on prozac, but I believe as Horsegal984 mentioned, it lowers bite inhibition.
if this were me, I’d be splitting him off and walking him down from the female, protecting her as it were. I have a talker here, who growls at other dogs in his space bubble and when the noise gets to a level I can’t tolerate, I split him off and walk him out of the room. He seems to pull himself together after that.
[QUOTE=threedogpack;7266675]
sounds a little like barrier frustration to me. I’ve not had any dogs on prozac, but I believe as Horsegal984 mentioned, it lowers bite inhibition.
if this were me, I’d be splitting him off and walking him down from the female, protecting her as it were. I have a talker here, who growls at other dogs in his space bubble and when the noise gets to a level I can’t tolerate, I split him off and walk him out of the room. He seems to pull himself together after that.[/QUOTE]
WHen I can, that’s exactly what I do…I put myself in between the two of them and make him retreat. When someone comes to the door, I make him retreat and lie down before I’ll open it. What I’m worried about with my female is that I’m not always there, and the growling is done throughout the house, sometimes over a resource…like a favorite dog bed, sometimes just because she happens to be in between him and somewhere he’d like to go. She will NOT enter his space, she knows better, I wouldn’t say she’s submissive…but when he’s around, she’s always aware of the exits, if you know what I mean. The only attacks (and there have been two) have been at the door when someone is coming or going. I don’t know enough about the term “barrier frustration” , but he’s car aggressive as well, and has bitten people twice since we got him, both times when he was trapped or hurt and panicked. He is not at all aggressive out in the open, with strange people or strange dogs. He’s on his last strike with me, but he’s hubby’s dog so that’s the only reason he’s still here.
