I have a really nice 6yr old English Setter that has developed a problem that I can't get a handle on. Problem is in the dog box. I can put him in the box and go to the lease and take him in and out of the box 25 times with no problems whatsoever. Only when I get back home and start unloading him at my house, he becomes mad and aggressive to the point that he recently drew blood when he bit me. This is normally the nicest, friendliest dog you have ever seen 99.9% of the time. He is always in your pocket wanting and getting attention. He is a very lovable and personable dog. Just when he gets home, he becomes angered and I mean real mad. I recently started putting a leash on him and running it through the top of the dog box door so I could grab it and pull him out of the box so I would not have to handle him down (only back at home). He has never had this problem before this year. I am stumped and need advice how to handle this situation. If you have a reasonable solution, let me hear it.

Thanks,

Is he only aggressive while getting out of the box? What about after he's out and away from the box?

I use the command load for the dog box. I use the command kennel for the back yard or kennel. What does he do if you simply open the dog box and tell him to kennel? You will have to try new things because this is new one for most dog owners on this forum.

Yes, only getting out of the box. He tries to defend his turf inside the box only at home. I have to take the box out of the truck with him in it with the help of my wife and line it up with the backyard gate and open the door. Once he gets out and does his business, he is usually fine within 5-10 minutes. He can't be touched while in the box when he gets back home. BTW, he and my other dogs have the nicest kennel and most comfortable set-up that you can buy along with a huge exercise area. It not like he is coming back to shoddy conditions.

Bill,
I have used the same commands with no problems. When I open the door, he becomes a literal mad dog, in the back of the box. He acts like he does not want to come out and defends his turf. It has become a real challenge for me. He is an outstanding birddog. This is the only hole in the dog's persona suddenly and I can't seem to get a grip on it.

Do you only take him to the lease solo, or do your other dogs go as well? Maybe he just doesn't want his fun related to the lease to end, or maybe he doesn't want to go back to sharing your attention. It may do some good to load them up & go around the block then back to the house. If you use a training collar maybe you can reinforce your commands.

I had one of my pups scared & not wanting to load for a while after she fell while trying to load up. After some practicing & reassurance she was back to normal in no time.. Also, I am not sure if yours is jumping out of the box or you're helping him, but he may be getting sore from riding in the box or need some time to get his bearings again.

I hate coming home from the hunting lease too.

Does it only happen after a long drive? What if you stop to air him along the way? Or is it only associated with getting home?

Robby

Is he fixed?

Nope

I wonder if it could be he's in some sort of pain or has a medical issue that's exacerbated by being crated for a period after exercise?

Then the process of getting out causes the pain and why he doesn't want to get out.

Just a thought...

Robby,
Just last weekend I hunted with a friend at his lease. We went in his truck hauling my dog crate for my dogs. We met at his house and returned there Sunday afternoon. After a 4+ hour ride he unloaded perfectly at my friend's house. Put the dog box back in my truck, loaded the dogs back up and drove 20 minutes home. He was mad as hell when we got to my house. It only happens at my house. I have tried two different boxes to no avail. He does not appear to be in pain and his performance in the field certainly does not indicate it. He is a HeMan in the field.....

Open the box and just walk away sometime when you have the time. You're not going to solve this with one trick.

That is where I am now. He will not come out.

park your truck somewhere else?

Keep us informed. You'll work it out.

Maybe a shotgun in hand until you get him in backyard. Or just leave his sour [censored] in it until he changes his mind. I bet he comes out the next morning.

Maybe he is mad he didn't get to ride upfront

Sudden behavioral changes should always prompt a visit to the vet. Thyroid panel and full nuero and physical exam. Barring any health issues you can decide whether you want to fix with honey or with vinegar.

Only thing I would suggest is next time you load him up put a rope on his collar and run it out of the crate so that when you get home you can open the door and give him something like an "OUT" command and pull him out with the check cord. Then after a few tries like this, and he gets to where he should know what "OUT" means, you can work him with an Ecollar. I would be real careful juicing him about the dog box because he might get to where he doesn't want to go in it, but that's really the only suggestion I have. He may start coming along with just the rope pull.

Thanks Tony. I have been debating with myself to as whether I needed to see the vet or not. I appreciate your comments.

Sherpa,
He goes with my other dogs to the lease. All of my dogs have individualized compartments in the dog box. No doubling up at all. I would not put another dog in the same compartment with him when he gets home. That could get expensive or I could lose a dog.

The obvious answer has been omitted from this thread. He hates your significant other. Time to find a new woman.

That is odd behavior. I agree with the others. Vet trip to rule out physical ailment. Then it is a decision between honey and vinegar.

One thing I would try to do in the meantime is not keep conditioning the behavior. Stop short of the house and get him out and let him in the truck for the quick ride to the house. Just try to change something to avoid the trigger that is causing this behavior as the more it is conditioned the more difficult it will be to fix.

My dogs get one free pass for biting or acting aggressive - anything after that they get reminded who the alpha is. Luckily I've only had issues with one aggressive dog. I would correct him in whatever fashion you seem appropriate and continue to correct him until he stops.

I wouldn't mess with a visit to the vet if it's only isolated to unloading at home. Waste of money IMO.

2X
After the results are back from the vet, I would work him on loading, and unloading at home. Even if I wasn't going any where with him that day. I'm a honey when they do it right, and a little vinegar when done wrong kinda person.

If it were my dog the next time he tried to bite me or acted aggressively I'd grab him by the ears and beat the sht out of him. I would t put up with that for a second