Why is my dog suddenly growling and barking for no apparent reason?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Benny. I am sorry to hear about his behavior changes. That is very upsetting. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. My first thought is that he could have a medical problem contributing to the change you are observing in him. For example, if a dog is painful from arthritis, an ear infection, periodontal disease or some other issue, he may act out aggressively. Another consideration is if he has dementia. This is common in older pets and is frequently observed at night. The veterinarian will thoroughly examine him and determine how best to help you both. In the meantime, be careful around him to keep yourself safe and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

First thing you need to do is to get Yoko to your vet for an exam. Often times when older dogs have a significant behavior change it is due to an underlying medical condition. So, you need to rule that out first. She could be having vision or hearing issues. She may be in pain somewhere (arthritis). If nothing is found by the vet then you really need to seek the help of a professional IN-HOME dog trainer. Hope this helps.

I certainly sympathize with your situation. Since Digby is 7 years old and this is a new behavior, I would start by having your veterinarian examine Digby to make sure there isn't a medical condition that is contributing to the change in his behavior. Your veterinarian may recommend trying medication depending on Digby's situation and behavior. If everything is normal on examination, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation for a behaviorist or trainer. You will need to commit to a training regimen to change Digby's behavior when he sees another dog. This can be a long process, but will be worth it. Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

One of your statements may point to the reason for Henry's behavioral changes. You say "He normally wasn't like this before." We need to know . . . before what? Think very hard about what changed at the time this behavior started. It could be as complicated as his being abused by someone to your simply rearranging the living room furniture. Dogs are creatures of habit. Did you move to a new home or area? Did anyone move in or out of your home (even kids going off to college and returning)? Do you have new neighbors, or area kids that are teasing or tormenting him? Did you get a new pet? Please give this a lot of thought, and send us your question again with any ideas you might have about what may have triggered this aggression. You can also click on the prompt to start a consult, where we can discuss this in depth.

I wouldn't jump to thinking the end is near from what you're seeing so far. I think he needs a general exam and full blood work to see how his organs are working. It would be helpful to get a video of the barking event to show your vet (and also probably nearly impossible, but give it a try). Also try to notice if he is aware of his surroundings when the barking episodes happen. If not, I would be more concerned about seizures, which would be more serious. I hope you find out nothing serious is going on soon!

At his age, it could be a degree of canine cognitive dysfunction (senility). You would need to have Chewy examined by your veterinarian for confirmation. If this is the case, there are medications and other treatment options. https://www.petcoach.co/article/aging-gracefully-6-things-to-know-about-canine-cognitive-dysfunct/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-signs-of-cognitive-dysfunction-in-dogs/

It sounds like something really agitated poor Lucky! If it is daytime, checking for anything that could have caused it such as new people in the area, strange animals, etc may let you know what the problem was. If he starts up barking again, or is agitated even during the daytime, or has other strange symptoms, having a vet take a look at him may be helpful. Hounds are VERY good at smelling and hearing things that people can't (as that's what they're bred to do) so while there may not be anything in your direct area, he could still be smelling an animal nearby! Keeping Lucky distracted with a puzzle toy, new smelly piece of food to deter his nose, or a Kong stuffed with treats may help.