clockThis article was published more than 7 years ago
Dear Dr. Fox:
Last month, I adopted a 7-year-old beagle mix. He gets along with my other two beagle mixes. But at night, he occasionally starts a fight with the other male dog.
Can this be a night tremor? Or some repeated dream stemming from, perhaps, previous abuse?
L.H., Cleveland
DF: I commend you for adopting an older dog. When I had three dogs, I had a pack, and that was both entertaining and excellent social stimulation for them.
Our recently adopted 3-year-old dog came up to the shelter here in Minnesota from an overcrowded shelter in Alabama. She showed clear signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. These included sleeping most of the time for the first three to four weeks we had her, and awakening with a startle and seeming disoriented. She made running movements and whined or growled in her sleep, and on three occasions, she gave the most heart-wrenching long, deep howl that I have ever heard — all during her dream state. We would often gently awaken her and give her reassurance.
In my opinion, your dog most probably suffers from PTSD, and his behavior and emotional state while in a semi-awakened state could upset one or both of the other two dogs and trigger aggressive interaction.
I recommend giving him three to six milligrams of melatonin before the long night’s sleep, this being effective for many older, anxious dogs in helping them get a more restful sleep. If that does not prove effective, discuss with your veterinarian a prescription of trazodone (not tramadol) for a few days, which can help dogs with separation anxiety and acts as a mild sedative.
Dear Dr. Fox:
I don’t take my dog to the dog park because you can’t count on people to know whether their dog is malicious, and it can get dangerous quickly, as you witnessed.
I board my 10-year-old pug at a cage- and leash-free facility in Fairfax, Va., where the dogs are all carefully vetted before being admitted.
I am very protective of my dog, and all my questions about possible dangers in this environment were addressed in a manner that indicated that the young woman who owns the facility understands dogs. The woman grew up with a mother who bred golden retrievers. I have a dog-walking and pet-sitting business myself, so I know dog behavior and recognize when others do.
The pack thing can work if there is someone around who is vetting the dogs, but there is no vetting in the dog park, and many people who have dogs cannot be trusted. The best thing to do is go to the dog park during weekday afternoons. It’s not crowded then, and Kota will be less likely to encounter a big bully dog.
M.G., Fairfax
DF: Thanks for your words of sound advice from firsthand experience.
Just an hour before writing this response to you, my wife and I decided to return to the dog park and see what dogs were there.
This time, there were no bullies or rough-playing dogs that like to pretend to kill you, which many dogs do with great self-control and enjoyment, but which can scare other dogs and may trigger a pack attack on the underdog. Our dog Kota had a good time with these young and gentle dogs.
But then, in came another person with her Kota-size dog, which immediately engaged in play, chasing a 6-month-old pup and knocking him over repeatedly — with no intent to harm, just rough play.
The young dog was becoming quickly exhausted, and my wife and I were glad we did not have to intervene, because the owners of both dogs intervened and stopped the rough play.
Rough play of any duration is not for a young dog that could sustain traumatic injury requiring costly orthopedic surgery. When mature dogs are getting too rough and excited, a few minutes of restraint and a time-out are prudent. It is notable that most dogs in a melee will give one another a time-out, but not all dogs learn fair play!
Michael W. Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. Send letters to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
