Since the biting incident on September 9th, there have been a few instances of Indy being petted or scratched and him reacting with a snarl before getting up and walking away. I feel it should be noted that Indy actively, and frequently, seeks attention, and usually rolls onto his back for belly rubs and scratches. When we met with the trainer back in July she said that she would keep up with Indy’s progress via this blog and that she would touch base with weekly phone calls. Unfortunately the calls never happened and I reached out repeatedly for her advice after the biting incident, including this past Friday evening. I have yet to speak to her, the only communication being an email along the lines of “My pup ate my phone but I will call you tonight”. She didn’t.
Friday, 10/5, evening: I am sitting at my desk in our home office with Ben and Indy sitting on the floor behind me having “Indy Time” (as I’ve written before, this boy can be very demanding for attention when you’ve been away from home, even for a bit). Ben was scratching Indy’s butt when Indy got up snarling and went to sit under my desk, behind my legs against the wall. He sat there looking around my legs at Ben as he continued snarling. I jumped up and started yelling “No!” at Indy, but he kept snarling. He was ordered to go to his kennel, to which he willing goes usually, but he instead left the office and went into the laundry room next door. I again ordered him to his kennel and he went down the hall to the bathroom, snarling the whole time. At this time I stopped trying to send him to his kennel and let him remain in the bathroom until he calmed and emerged on his own, probably fifteen minutes later. He was fine, but submissive for the remainder of the evening.
All aggressive incidents with Indy have involved him being touched on or around his back side, so his issue has probably not been food/resource guarding all this time, but a reaction to pain. Regardless of this realization, this was my breaking point. I had visions of a bloodbath when he was between my bare legs and Ben, snarling. I was an emotional wreck for the rest of the evening and came to the decision that I cannot continue like this. Indy is such a good boy and I love him dearly, but I had lost any remaining trust in him and I am – to put it plainly – scared of what he can do to anyone in my family; looking back now and remembering friends who have visited and played with Indy, I am so grateful that they didn’t touch him in the wrong place.
I spoke with both Edith Saturday morning about the previous evening, how he has been since September 9th, the lack of help from the trainer, that his trigger was probably not food but some sort of pain or touching issue, and about my fear of what could happen. Amidst many tears, the very hard decision to return him to SECR was made. I spoke with Kavita that afternoon, sharing much of my earlier conversation and about the next steps.
Tuesday, 10/8, afternoon: We have definitely determined that Indy’s trigger is pain somewhere in his hind quarters. Every incident we have had with him has involved touching his lower back or tail, and if I am remembering correctly, his previous bites were after bumps from behind. When Ben came home today Indy was very excited to see him and jumped up at him, but when he landed he yipped loudly, followed by a single snarl. He did not continue snarling this time, but went and laid on the floor, as would be expected after the stimulus (pain) stopped. Perhaps the occasions when he continued to bite and snarl after the touching stopped means that at those times his pain continued, so the behavior continued. I will call the vet in the morning and get him seen as soon as possible.
It has been mentioned that perhaps Ohio weather is affecting his pain levels, but it has been hotter here in the Ohio valley than on Hilton Head Island. We have seen no evidence of pain in his movements and activities, he hops onto all the couches and beds, including ours that is quite high, his running around the house and play level has increased, and one of his favorite activities has become running the fence line with the dogs next door. We have noted that Indy rarely “sploots” and I wonder if there is some pain in the position for him.
Tuesday, 10/8, evening: I have called the vet this evening and left a message asking for an emergency visit tomorrow, the pain seems to be worse and Indy is even more reactive. He and Ben were sitting on the kitchen floor as I made dinner, and as is his usual, Indy rolled on to his back for belly rubs. Ben was rubbing his tummy when he saw Indy start to get tense so he removed his hand. Indy got really aggressive and tried to attack Ben again, but he managed to hold him down to the floor and get only a couple abrasions. After Indy calmed down – which took longer than I expected it would – he did go to his kennel as instructed, and he’s been very submissive since. This is three incidents in two days – added to Friday and the other times – it is needless to say, scaring me. I will not be touching Indy south of the shoulders. Crazy thing is that Indy is begging to go out in the garage where Ben is as I write this, so I know it’s not related him.
Indy watching Ben read the post about him.