Is my Golden Retriever's neck pain from a choke collar causing snaps?

Yes, the pain could be a part of it but I would expect him to be aggressive with everyone and not just other dogs. Are you doing anything to manage his hip dysplasia? I suggest you speak to your vet about that. Training with a professional, in-home dog trainer is definitely recommended. I like BarkBusters. You will have to contact them to see if they have a trainer in your area. If they can't help you, you can do an internet search for trainers in your area or ask your vet for a recommendation. ( http://www.barkbusters.ca/?_ga=2.243114116.782344675.1568958000-120774648.1566591306 )

Biting aggressively is a serious concern and a very complicated thing to deal with. Leash aggression can sometimes manifest and be redirected toward the person putting on the leash, however if this suddenly happened out of the blue I'd be concerned. A good first step with any behavioral issues that comes on suddenly is to schedule a vet visit to rule out any issues such as pain or illness. Something wrong such as a slipped disk causing pain in the neck or shoulders may make having Griffy's collar or neck handled painful, causing him to bite. If he checks out healthy, talking with a trainer or behaviorist in person is a good next step. They can work with you on a plan to gradually reintroduce the leash to Griffy through positive experiences (such as giving a treat when you bring out the leash, gradually getting him used to it again, etc) and can observe in person what exactly is going on to better tailor the plan. A veterinary behaviorist can also work on both medical treatment and behavioral treatment at the same time to make things less stressful for both you and Griffy. If he is attempting to break the skin while you put the leash on, refraining from doing so until you've talked to a trainer or behaviorist in person is best. You can find a list of local behaviorists in your area by checking out this link: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

I would be very concerned about this level of pain and would recommend an exam by a veterinarian. It could be neurological, a disc problem, a strain in the bones or muscles of the neck or possibly an infection somewhere in that area. The vet may recommend x-rays to get a diagnosis. Please do not give any human pain medication as these can cause serious side effects in animals. It is best to get pain medication that has been prescribed by your veterinarian that is safe for dogs. I hope this helps and that Miky feels better soon!

If Mylo is pulling hard enough to cause that kind of reaction, he should definitely be walked with a harness or gentle leader. Persistent trauma to the neck can cause permanent damage to the trachea and the associated bony structures of the neck. From a behavioral standpoint, Mylo may respond better to a harness or gentle leader as well, as many dogs simply follow the commands of their owners better under these conditions. Hope this helps.

How awful for both your girlfriend and Cruz! Cruz may have some emotional issues. I recommend a full behavior workup with a veterinary behaviorist if this is all possible, since this sounds like a dangerous situation. Your vet should be able to refer you to a specialist in this area. Cruz may need a full exam and medications like antidepressants and anti anxiety medication to help in conjunction with behavior modification.

Sounds like Apollo is in pain. Rest him tonight. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful in the morning, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

If this was a sudden behavior change for Luk, I would recommend having him examined by a vet before doing anything else - he may be sick or in pain, which can often cause aggressive behavior in dogs since they are less tolerant of many things when they don't feel well. Blood work to check his thyroid and other organ functions may also be recommended. If his exam and blood work are normal, then it's likely that you will need a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer to help you with this in person - aggression towards humans is a complex behavior issue that is a bit beyond the scope of what we can tackle in this forum. Generally speaking, treatment for aggression problems involves identifying things that trigger the aggressive behavior, then using positive reinforcement to change how the dog feels about these situations. It can be difficult to do this safely on your own, which is why working in-person with a professional is always recommended.