I am hoping for some help with my two dogs. I have two huskies, one is older (9, MN) and the other is young adolescent (1.5, FS). They have for the most part gotten along very well together, my younger dog mostly being overly affectionate and licking his face all day long. When she had her first heat cycle (per the vets recommendation), she did lunge at him once around food, and were told (and also thought ourselves) that it was likely the hormones. We didn't have any other issues during that time, so we didn't look for any additonal resources but did mention it to the vet.
Then she got spayed, and came back a completely different dog, and not in a good way. She hates her kennel, has more separtion anxiety, terrified of strangers (she used to love new people), and was a bit aggressive towards our older dog. When she first got home she growled and maybe, air snapped at him, but she was drugged, in pain, and not feeling herself. After five minutes, once she settled down and realized she was home, she was fine with our older dog. Then she started having a false pregnancy an 'defended' and area that she never went in before. She would run ahead and cut off our other dog from entering the location (under a table). If she was in there and laying down when our older one approached, she would flash some teeth and he would walk away. She did start getting reactive to her kennel when he would walk by, not sure if it was because of the excessive amounts of treats/bones in there to try and get her to like her kennel again, or if she was territorial of the space. We never actaully witnessed this, just heard it when we were upstairs and she was in her kennel eating her dinner. So we moved the crate to a less high traffic area and after a week, they were fine. No territorial behaviors at all. We were in the talks with trainers at this time and our vet but when it stopped they agreed that it was likely brought on by the horomones, pain, etc and to keep an eye on it.
She has been spayed since late June and we have not had any issues until recently and they have escalated quickly. We just went on vacation and had a few family members look after the pets, one was staying at our house but another would come in during the day to let them out once and then put her back in her kennel so she got a potty break since she is not used to being locked up for that long.
We have been home for about a week now, and she has tried to lunge at our other dog almost every single day since we have been back. Most incidents seem to involve food. One was at the bottom of the stairs, I was bringing their nightly kongs upstairs as we were going to bed and while she was waiting for me to open the baby gate she did a quick air snap at him, more of a warning then a true attack or anything. The next time was when I was walking out of the kitchen and they thought I had something. My older dog was interested and came running over, she body blocked him, stood stiff, and then lunged. She may have gotten fur, but no punctures or anything serious. The third time she was defending an area near her kennel, we were able to read her stiffening and were able to avoid it, we also took all bones out of her kennel. The next day, I was eating at my desk and she stiffened up again when the other dog approached, and again I was able to deescalate it. We had no issues the past two days because we were very meticulous in no food being around and how we rotated them, even with people food, she is crated or outside. Then this morning, I was at my desk and my older dog approached, she again tried to body block him, and then lunged. It is close to the area that she eats her breakfast and she did examine that area after she was released, so I am assuming it was more food concerns then guarding me. They apparently got into two fights while we were gone, I was only told this after I specifically asked after the second incident. One was over food and one seemed to be over a spot but it happens so fast that it is hard to be sure.
The worse part is that I am terrified now. They haven't broken skin or really made much contact, if at all, but I grew up with dogs that constanly fought, I have scars from needing to break up the fights. I have two little kids, and luckily none of these incidents have occurred while they are around, but I absolutely cannot have this around my kids.
I have reached out to several trainers but don't know what to do in the meantime, I don't know if my anxiety is making things worse, I mostly have her tethered to my side. I have ordered a muzzle buut it won't be here until tomorrow. She wants to play with him, he wants to play with her, but her escalations have happened so fast, that I am nervous it is going to turn bad quickly. She moves and I grab her collar terrified she is going to go after him. So I don't think I am helping, but I really don't know what to do. She loves him so much and just wants to play but I am so terrified. I have been crying all morning, convinced I will need to get rid of her.
Our older dog, generally seems to be unaffected but I don't like that he can't even approach for attention without her barreling through. I am kicking myself in the butt that maybe we should have gotten the training sooner, but all of these behaviors seems to kick up after stressful events for her, but I also know it is impossible to get rid of every stressor.
Again, I have reached out to several trainers in my area, and the communication seems to be so slow (I get it they have lives and businesses, etc, it just feels like an emergency to me and I am stressed). I have a vet appt set up, but that isn't for another week, and I am not sure what to do in the meantime or if there is anything I can work on now, while I wait for a trainer to get involved. Also, any advice on the muzzle, I am not sure if it is going to make matters worse or not? Please offer any advice or thoughts that you can. I would so greatly appreciate it. Is there any hope with how fast this escalated?
