Pack Aggression

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Way back when, before pugs, I had a collie/shepherd mix named Winnie who had epilepsy.

She and all of the other (all large breed) dogs got along well. All were wonderful sweet dogs and rarely fought over anything. But when Winnie would have a seizure the other dogs "lost their minds" and would attack her viciously as a pack when she was unable to defend herself. We would have to pull them off of her. They seriously acted like they wanted to kill her. As soon as the seizure would pass, it would be back to normal and they were the best of friends again.

My vet said that the other dogs react to her seizure in a primal, pack way and were trying to eliminate the "defective" dog from the pack. It was very disturbing.

Well, now I am facing a similar problem on a smaller scale. Poor old Dickson has degenerative disc and walks like a drunken man, he is also incontinent. the rest of the dogs have never bothered him at all. But lately for some reason (Alzheimers, crotchetiness, aging) Dickson has begun to growl at the other dogs when they come near his toys or food bowl or while he is getting attention. This growling sets the other dog off, he has started a few fights he was not equipped to finish. Before it has always been one on one and I've broken them up without any injuries.

Yesterday I was gone and Dickson ended up being viciously attacked by the entire pack. Luckily the woman who works for me came while it was going on and pulled them off of him. She said they were like wild animals trying to kill him. Luckily pugs don't have much for teeth and he suffered no open wounds, but he was bruised all over and very sore. I took him to the vet and he said he would be okay, just sore for a few days.

I am going to have to separate him whenever I leave from now on. Last night he still growled at the other dogs when cuddling in bed and Peaches and Bugsy were ready to jump him, so he obviously didn't learn that growling at the alphas brings an attack.

So my questions:

Has anyone experienced the "wild pack mentality" where the dogs become like wild animals and viciously attack a weaker dog? If so, what is the best way to handle this behavior, my experience in the past with the big dogs was that the dogs, once in the attack mode were unresponsive to voice commands...kind of in a blind rage. Even being doused with water wouldn't stop the attack but momentarily, until they were physically drug off the other dog.

Any ideas to lessen Dickson's confrontational attitude with the other dogs? he has had a physical and was fine. there is no UTI or anything that we know of causing him to be extra cranky, it has just been a slow progression as he ages. I'm afraid it may be a touch of doggie dementia and the others are picking up on it. They never bothered him before, even though he is down in the rear. It seems to be his attitude, not physical problems that set them off.

We will definitely be separating him whenever no one is home, but this really had me scared and upset. Any ideas or thoughts?

Take care,
Lisa

[shaynapug]

I have heard about it! I do separate my older ones from the young ones when I'm not home!!!

I do a further separation...as I have a poop eater...and some poopers!! So....the young ones are crated.....the poopers or when Isis has a possible bladder infection...go into the kitchen with baby gates....and kelev..he poop eater, gets run of the house!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Bailey and Sammy (both deaf) slept through it all, but even Cleo, the old fat girl who can hardly breathe, was in on it, biting him.

The vet said if they had all been about any other breed that Dickson would be dead. I'm so glad pugs have jacked up teeth and jaws!

Take care,
Lisa

[Rosiepug]

Rosie and Pudding have had a set too at times recently. Sometimes Rosie is the instigator and other times it's Pudding. Surprisingly as you mentioned, when they are in the zone, the only thing that works is physically getting in there and tearing them apart. I've always been in the melee before we've had any injuries. I always leave them separated, Puddi in a crate but Rosie lying next to it if I leave the house.

I don't know anything else that works apart from recognizing something is about to kick off and intervening before hand.

[Chloesmom]

I have worked with this trainer in the past when I had pack issues. He has a lot of good information. Please read his blog on Aggression Towards Old Dog. Also I would recommend individually crating all your dogs when you are not home. That's the only way you will be 100% sure that your dogs will be safe while your away.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

I don't have that many crates or places to put and store that many crates in the house...lol! There are 9 pugs here. They are not aggressive toward the other older dogs, just the one who growls at them. Thanks for the link I'm going to read it right now.

Take care,
Lisa

[Pat's Crew]

I just went through this with Zeena the other day..she attacked the blind pug here for reason that I could see and that of course sets off the whole pack. any one other day she does not bother with him at all. he was fine but shook up no doubt.
I had to get in the middle of a few discussions amongst but my dogs but they usually settle things out without much to said or done.
Zeena is also known to attack the one bulldog for no reason at all either........if she ever turned on Zeena it would not be a nice sight......she just growls and she then leaves her alone. the females they say are the worst for being alpha and two alpha queens in the household does not help.

[Wonka & Nilla]

I haven't dealt with this specific issue, but I've dealt with a lot of pug fights since we adopted Nilla and it is always upsetting and scary. Rarely do verbal commands do anything - if they are into it, you just have to get in there and pull them apart. I've heard some people throw a bucket of water on dogs to break them up, but I don't usually have buckets of water just around our living room!! The best thing to do is take a preventative stance and crate Dickson when you are not around, for his own protection. I'm sorry that you are going through something like this.
In recent months, our two old cats have declined both in mental and physical health and Nilla seems to be more and more hostile to them (she used to just totally ignore them)... I think that, partly, it's because the cats are doing "stupid" things that just last year they knew better than to try... like sniff her tail or a bone she is in the middle of chewing. They are senile and seem to have forgotten appropriate behavior. And I think part of it is that Nilla senses they are weaker now and that we, the humans, are acting differently toward them (such as, offering tasty morsels only to the cats when Nilla thinks she should have some too). Their time is drawing short and while we all can see it, Nilla seems to feel like she needs to do something about it. I realize it's probably natural "pack" behavior, but it just makes the whole thing more stressful for me.

[Lilos Mom]

Lisa I'm very sorry this has happened...Many years ago before I know what I know now I had one of my boys Buster attacked in my home. He was weak the other Pugs packed up and really hurt him. Trust me even with Pugs horrible teeth they can do major damage. What I learned, they will take out the weak and/or old. I've trained with Chloesmom and the trainers site she suggested, he's awesome!! All Pugs are crated in my home now when I'm not home now. Busters attack happened when I was at work and my teenagers were home but upstairs. To this day Buster carries the scar of what I allowed to happen to him. Hugs to your boy.

[PugLady3]

The vet said if they had all been about any other breed that Dickson would be dead. I'm so glad pugs have jacked up teeth and jaws!

Just because they are pugs does not mean that they cannot do fatal damage. I know of several people who have/had multiples and came home to a dead pug due to "pack mentality" and it wasn't just the older pugs that were targeted. I'm glad to hear that Dickson is going to be ok.