HEEELLP! My rott-mix has fear+aggression issues all of a sudden!

[taylorrr]

in the last 2 months my 11 month old Rottweiler/Lab mix, Maddox, has started showing signs of fear driven aggression.  I plan to find a behavior specialist to help with the situation, but I'd love some advice.  It started with barking at homeless people in the park, and shying away from people petting him.  -Now- I'm scared. 

Two weeks ago, he escaped a friend's backyard during a thunderstorm, and when the neighbor tried to bring him back to the house, he bit her thumb!  I was mortified, but thought it must have been the storm that made him scared.  But just yesterday I dropped him off to play with a different friend's dog, and the two apparently escaped the fence and ran to a neighbor's yard, where Maddox then allegedly started fighting with their dog (i've never seen him be aggressive towards a dog before, even one that's attacking him) so they called Animal Control.  Somehow my FRIEND's dog ended up being picked up by mistake, and Maddox was just hanging out back in the same yard when we went to pick him up. 

He growls at the vet, barks ferociously at people from the car, and all of this in the matter of a few months!  What is going on!?!?!?  What happened to my awesomely well-behaved, well-trained dog?  I can't just treat this like a "phase" ...I don't trust him at all!

I thought I was doing things right--He's not allowed on the bed or furniture, sits/works for food, treats, leash, etc.  Walks out doors -behind- me, heels, etc.  What should I do?  Anybody? 

[patrick]

He definitely needs to see a behaviorist and hopefully he is already neutered.  But you can also get medication from the vet to help him deal with his fear until he is actively underway behavior retraining and often they use the two together.  Drugs commonly used are Clomicalm, Elavil or Prozac and sometimes are almost like a miracle in effecting behavior change.  And they don't need to be on them for life either- just until he is able to get a handle on his fear and anxiety.  This problem usually does first surface right around this age - the 'teens'  He also should undergo a physical and lab work- hypothyroidism can sometimes show up first as aggressive behavior.

[Ali]

Oh no! How scary! You are right to act on it now before it gets to far out of hand. I wonder what is going on with him?? Have you asked the vet about it? I hope your friend's dog got sprung from animal control alright. Good luck with the behaviorist - I hope you can find a good one that can make a difference. Poor Maddox - he must be so confused. I guess that's a teenager for ya...

[taylorrr]

Thanks so much Patrick.  I plan to set him up with a behaviorist this week.  It really helps to hear positive advice from people, as this has just been stressing me out like crazy.  One friend said "maybe he's just getting to the age where his real personality is coming out" and that made me really sad... to think that there was nothing I could do to help.  I don't give up that easily though.  He's a great pup with amazing potential, and I'll definitely spare no expense to get him through this.  Thanks again for the encouragement.  

[Sillygoose]

I hope everything works out with Maddox. He is such a handsome boy. Keep us posted with your progress.

[London_Pyr_Lover]

I hope everything works out for you.  You came to the right place for advise though.  This is the most helpful friendly group of people I've "never" met.   
I'm positive that you'll be able to get a handle on this situation.  Just remember to always be consistant and loving, along with everything else and I'm sure you're boy will come around. 
Best of luck!

[Jas2Cats]

I hope all goes well with the behavioralist~!  Maddox looks absolutely adorable.  Maybe you should also have a vet check him (like Patrick said). 

Best of luck~!

[taylorrr]

We're going to the vet today at 4:00.  I'm so curious to see what the vet says... I would love to know if there is something specific triggering this, if that can even be determined.  All I know is, I want my sweet, loving Maddox back!

[navarre1316]

Navarre was the same way!  I was told to socialize him even more, take him everywhere, get him around everything, etc.  A lot of people think that once obedience is over that's all that needs to be done, training never stops.  With Navarre, as soon as I moved and it was just he and I in the home he was a different dog, and he was much older than Maddox at this point.  I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not, maybe he was confused as to his place on the ladder, but that's when I really noticed a change.
Maddox is 11mths old?, this is not the end all so don't worry!!  With a little time and training I'm sure he'll be fine, but it is a good idea to have him checked with a vet just in case.  It does sound like he needs a better fence though    Navarre, by the way, turned into a 130lb baby!!
Good luck

[GoldenPyrs]

I just wanted to say "welcome", too!  I don't have anything to add, it looks like everyone's already given you some great advice but I think that if you hang around that you'll find a lot of helpful, supportive people here that love dogs.  Welcome!