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go birds wrote:Need some advice/input:

my 1.5 year old dog has recently become aggressive towards other dogs, especially ones bigger than him, BUT only when im around.

I took him to doggy daycare and told them to monitor to the situation to see how he responds to other dogs and they said he was fine--playful and full of energy and no trouble at all.

I'd love to believe that he's just being protective of his human, but not sure if that's actually the case.

I read this may just be part of his "adolescence" stage which im hoping that's just what it is because 1) i live in an apartment building where seemingly everyone has a dog and 2) i dont wanna pay a trainer to whisper the little [expletive].

Anyone else have the same experience with their pup? Or does this sound like something i need to address?

My dog is the exact same way. He's 8 now and I probably waited too long to socialize him as much as he needed because my entire dog owning life before this one was just super friendly black labs that wouldn't hurt a fly. By the time I realized my beloved stray mutt had a dominant/aggressive streak, he was already fully grown.

I've found that he's pretty much ok with everyone and everything as long as I'm not around to be protected. When I'm there, I just have to be super careful, especially when kids are there because they often don't realize that not all dogs are ok to lunge themselves at.

Anyway, he's been the best dog and the only real advice I can give is to socialize him as much as is convenient for you but really, the only two essential things you can do is never let your guard down when you're out in public with him and keep up with his shots. The first one because you probably are the key ingredient that makes him aggressively protective. The second one so if he does bite someone, you're not liable for a huge negligence lawsuit.

Radbird wrote:We now have 2 blind dogs.

The older one finally was confirmed with Cushing's disease. And a pituitary tumor. The blindness was caused by SARDS (sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome), a permanent condition.

Little sister has cataracts caused by her diabetes. Completely blind in left, down to shadows in right. We're having her tested next week to see if she's a candidate to have her lenses replaced and vision restored.

It's remarkable how well they're adapting.

Little sister had cataract surgery yesterday. She has to wear a cone for a month and will need about 5 different types of eye drops daily during that time, but she can see again. She was groggy coming out of the anesthesia - just laid there looking at everything with this WTF look on her face.

Ugh. Poor pups!!

Our diabetic gal has been battling pancreatitis and DKA for the last week. They haven't been able to get either under control. Her numbers are all over the place but each morning her blood glucose is literally off the charts. She's lost 2 pounds since Monday

We are at the vet's office this morning waiting for test results. This may be the end.

My dog Rocky is only 5 but not sure if I would be able to put him through a bunch of procedures if he was 10+. Not that I don't want him around as long as possible just not sure if I could put him through all of that stuff just to buy him a few months longer but then I'm not to the point with my dog that you guys are with yours.

RIP Sophie. May there be peanut butter jars aplenty in doggie heaven.

So sorry, Rad. She seems like a sweet girl.

Sorry, Rad. That's too bad.

Sorry to hear that, Rad.

damn, sorry to hear that Rad