Dogs are enormously complex animals. I think that humans tend to think of them as very simple creatures… until a serious problem develops, and their simple solutions don’t work.
Imagine this scenario and tell me what is going on and how to resolve it.
Key Facts:
1. The owner has two dogs. Young, about a year old, male Border Collie and an older male Dachshund. Main dog in this story is the younger dog. Younger dog has always been friendly with strangers and other dogs on walks. Younger dog pestered the older dog as it grew up and sometimes grabbed at the older dog’s ears. The older dog isn’t very playful. The dogs mostly co-exist, but don’t play together. The dogs don’t have health issues.
2. Owner and dogs are about to leave to visit the extended family on a day off.
2. Very excited and happy younger dog won’t eat breakfast as usual.
3. When the dogs arrive at the other home, the older dog wants to hang out with the owner, the younger dog is still very active, excited and happy.
4. Younger dog still won’t eat breakfast.
5. Numerous people arrive. Younger dog is friendly with them.
6. Older dog rests on the owner’s lap. This isn’t a new thing.
7. Younger dog plays vigorously and happily with a relative’s dog. That other dog is a happy, playful dog.
8. With no warning, no growling, the younger dog breaks away from playing with the other dog and runs over and bites the old resting dog on the neck, causing a significant wound requiring an emergency veterinary visit.
9. This has never happened before.
What just happened? What is your proposed solution? (I won't disclose my diagnosis or recommendations here. This is a thought problem for you instead.)
This is a complex behavioral situation. This isn’t the type of scenario you’d expect to learn in a dog training class, book, or TV show.
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