Bad behaviour

Hi
My 5 year old staff has just recently started getting very aggressive towards everyone in our house culminating in him biting my son!
In the mornings it seems to be worse, he appears very stiff and lethargic with droopy blood shot eyes and will growl snarl and his fur on his back lifts up.
I have taking him to the vet and everything if fine physically.
If anyone can offer some advice I will be grateful.
Cheers

Hi ya Freddie, I split your post so you have your own thread.

This is very strange behaviour. I would immediately have said get him checked by a vet but this has been done. I'm going to ask a few questions to see if we can figure anything out.

1. Have you had him from a pup
2. How much exercise does he get a day
3. What is he fed
4. Has anything in his routine changed recently
5. How old is your son

Also id add what age id your dog?

Hi Guys

Hi the dog is almost 5 and gets a 30-45 minute walk twice a day, I have had him since he was 6 weeks old. He is always fed a dry complete food.
My son is 17 and recently his girlfriend has started staying with him a couple of nights a week, but whether this is anything to do with his behaviour or not is questionable as the dog ( his name is socks ) spent most of his time with them.
I also have another son who is 6 so as you can imagine I'm on edge all the time, although they are never alone in the same room and have fitted a baby gate.

Most strange, everything you've said fits with what a balanced dog should get. Ok more questions, is there any obvious trigger like picking up his toys or being near him when eating ?

Hi Ian
Not really any triggers although he will growl at me first thing in the morning slowly getting louder until he goes out the garden for a wee.
This is so upsetting as 99% of the time he is a soppy bruiser!

I would go to get a second opinion from another vet and also get a behaviourist in - what area are you in? I could possibly recommend somebody. Sounds medical though being so sudden and his body language. Does he ever get told off I.e shouting or physically (smacking?) could he be nervous ?

I'm think that a second opinion might be best too. As there are no obvious triggers and nothing has really changed except the lethargy & blood shot eyes... Almost sounds like he isn't sleeping at night and is waking up grumpy.

he will growl at me first thing in the morning slowly getting louder until he goes out the garden for a wee

This stood out for me. Combine that with the physical things you mentioned in your opening poste and it to me all points towards something medical. I'd agree that a 2nd vet opinion would be advisable, and mention that he is upset before his first morning wee. It could well be that there is discomfort caused by a full bladder. So often changes in behaviour in animals has a physical root, sadly not all vets recognise that.

LizP wrote:

he will growl at me first thing in the morning slowly getting louder until he goes out the garden for a wee

This stood out for me. Combine that with the physical things you mentioned in your opening poste and it to me all points towards something medical. I'd agree that a 2nd vet opinion would be advisable, and mention that he is upset before his first morning wee. It could well be that there is discomfort caused by a full bladder. So often changes in behaviour in animals has a physical root, sadly not all vets recognise that.

I agree too. Odd question but apart from the growling is his wee routine as normal as before this? So it offensive in smell/ does he have a good flow or dribbles/ does it look cloudy? As all these could point to a urninary tract infection, and i know for humans it can cause confusion, aggression, pain etc so would change his personality.