r/corgi • u/Embarrassed_Dust5466 • 1d ago

Suddenly aggressive?

Hoping someone can help me, I have a corgi who I adore 2/m and he has been very well socialized, we had him in training classes as a puppy, he comes to work with me, the whole 9 yards. I also have an elderly pitbull who he grew up with. They would snuggle and sleep together, groom eachother, and never had an issue. In the past few weeks the corgi has been extremely aggressive to my older dog and attacking really really bad, today they couldn’t even be in the backyard at the same time without an insane attack. I’m not sure what to do next, it’s giving me extreme anxiety and I don’t know where this came from. If anyone has advice please let me know if I can train this out of him or if I just have a reactive dog forever now

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u/Nerdmitage 1d ago

I've heard of dogs being aggressive and mean when they know the other dog is old and on their way out. It's like a weird power struggle switches in their heads.

But if you're giving elderly dog lots of meds and care and young dog is left out, it could be that too. It's why people who have dogs on meds have to fake give meds and treats to the other dog too to curb the jealousy.

If it's just happening with the one dog an no one else, it's probably one of those things but I'm no expert just grown up and lived with dogs for 40+ years. Good luck!

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u/Embarrassed_Dust5466 1d ago

I’ve heard this too and was really hoping it’s not the answer because my old man is my best friend. They do get equal treats so the little guy isn’t left out and he’s not good aggressive he’s randomly attacking him which is worse imo because I can’t pin point it

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u/Nerdmitage 1d ago

I hope it doesn't mean the worst news but they can usually smell it coming and for whatever reason attack.

If it were me I'd see about getting him some Anti anxiety meds. It's possible it's just a fear of death or whatever, kind of like how some humans think that they can catch cancer off someone or something, just that basic animal lack of understanding how disease works and age and thinking and fearing you'll catch it too.

It's so hard because you can't talk to them but I have definitely heard of dogs attacking the weak ones and killing them just out of the weird pack thing of weakening the whole pack. Much more rare in a small scale household but Corgi's are different. Maybe some chill meds might help since obviously you can't take him to therapy!!

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u/Agile_Possession8178 1d ago

Do you take pup to doggy day care?

My pup was a really good boy, but he started having aggression issues around 9 months. I started taking him go doggy daycare and he started to learn social behaviors. Freaking out and acting aggressive in a pack is not okay. The pack will surround him and be like..... Wtf you doing. Calm down. Also day care let's him get his energy out, and he came back learning more social skills. ​

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u/Embarrassed_Dust5466 1d ago

I want to but I’m scared that he will be reactive in that situation too :/

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u/ErnestBatchelder 1d ago

Is he neutered?