Our galgo Bracken has been with us for 11 years; he has always been a sensitive dog, happy in the pack of hounds and walking the meadows every day…on leash, as he has a hunter’s nose! However, since we sold the farm in January 2021 and downsized back to the UK, he has caused us concern by showing aggression to other dogs.
This link takes you to an extensive article on the causes of aggression in dogs.
In Bracken’s case, we guess there are a few causes.
Firstly, my galga Carmela sadly passed away in April 2020. Then in September we started packing up boxes of belongings to bring back to the UK. In mid January we packed up the caravan and brought Bracken, Polar and Bebe back to the UK. We went into rented accommodation whilst we house-hunted, so Bracken had new surroundings, new places to walk and new dogs to meet. Even though he was walked with his buddy Polar, Bracken showed aggression towards other dogs. This concerned us greatly as it was so out of character.
Then in April Polar was pts after being diagnosed with lymphoma – from diagnosis to pts was 3 weeks. So poor Bracken lost his best buddy. At the same time we were out in the car every day looking at properties to buy. Travelling on the UK roads was unpleasant and Bracken got to hate being in the car.
We eventually completed the purchase of a permanent home in mid April but travelled from the rental to the new property every day for 3 weeks until our furniture could be moved in. So poor Bracken was very unsure which was his base.
As the property is on the edge of a small town, he has to go in the car every day to his walks, alongside the river, always on a long lead. Here he meets other dogs and walkers, so yet more strange surroundings, more strange dogs and a new routine. Poor boy. Meanwhile my little 18 year old podenca Bebe has taken it all in her stride.
Finally, this week, a breakthrough, 6 weeks after moving in! He has accepted the advances of 2 dogs, one a boxer rescued in Spain! So we are daring to hope that this dear sensitive galgo is finally feeling reassured that this is his new permanent home and these will be his new friends.
Which is all very well, but we are quietly concerned about how he will cope when aged Bebe finally passes. In the time Bracken has been with us, which is 11 years since he came to us from Tina Solera of Galgos del Sol, he has lost his buddies French lurcher Floyd, galgas Sahara and Carmela and Polar. It’s a lot for a sensitive dog.
Comments
2 responses to “Aggression in dogs – what are the causes?”
Very informative Beryl, but I’m having difficulty trying to decide which form of aggression my dog has as it’s only related to one dog in the pack. The rest of them he gets on with perfectly fine, including the little ones. He’s a teenager so I’m wondering if it’s a dominance thing, and trying to be the boss over my Galgo Kacey. And yet with the little dogs he is so submissive and rolls on his back, whether male or female. And my little timid Pearl absolutely loves him. Just can’t work it out at the moment. Btw he is a galgo x, possibly with a mastin
When my little podenca Bebe arrived many years ago, she had run ins with my Swedish Valhund bitch…both of them were dominant dogs. The galgos have all been submissive, which is why Bracken’s change of attitude so surprised us. Has your boy been with you for a few years; is the galga dominant? Who was there first? Glad you found the article informative and thanks for reading and commenting.