The behavior associated with Rage Syndrome includes outbursts of aggression that are intense and at times unpredictable. These episodes also tend to be large dramatic responses relative to a seemingly benign situation. Affected dogs often freeze, stare, and may rapidly escalate to biting.
The episodes characteristic of rage syndrome can usually be stopped with anticonvulsant medication, such as phenobarbital. While some dogs only need a single dose, other may need lifelong treatment with periodic blood testing to monitor the results, as well as any side effects.
Certain breeds seem more prone to suffer from rage syndrome, including Cocker and Springer Spaniels (hence the once-common terms – Spaniel rage, Cocker rage, and Springer rage), Bernese Mountain Dogs, St. Bernards, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and Lhasa Apsos.
The sudden onset of the rage episodes occurs between 1 – 3 years old. The dog may demonstrate a glazed or possessed look in its eyes just prior to the episode. They may also seem confused.
Rage Syndrome in dogs is a debated phenomenon involving sudden and unprovoked aggressive behaviour. Its causes may include genetics, neurological abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, and environmental factors.
Infectious agents such as rabies, hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism, psychomotor epilepsy, hyperkinesis, neoplasia, and a variety of genetic and metabolic disorders can cause or predispose a dog to aggression.
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse-control disorder characterized by sudden episodes of unwarranted anger. The disorder is typified by hostility, impulsivity, and recurrent aggressive outbursts. People with IED essentially “explode” into a rage despite a lack of apparent provocation or reason.
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age. Your puppy will not grow out of these behaviours. On the contrary, it is more likely that these behaviours will worsen if not addressed early on.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
What if my dog suddenly becomes more aggressive? If your dog suddenly becomes more aggressive, schedule an exam with their regular veterinarian to check for underlying conditions that may be causing the sudden aggression. Your vet will likely do a physical and, if necessary, a neurological exam.
Be suffering mentally and have a low quality of life due to the management requirements for their behavior. Present a high bite risk towards humans or other pets in the home. Present a high bite risk towards humans or other animals outside of the home.
Buspirone. Buspirone, a nonsedating anxiolytic, can be useful for generalized anxiety. Because it has been anecdotally associated with aggression disinhibition, it may be best limited to treatment of anxiety with no history of aggression to humans or to other dogs.
Some sources suggest that the condition affects less than 1% of dogs, while others suggest that it may be more common in certain breeds or bloodlines. Note that aggressive behavior in dogs can have many different causes, and not all cases of aggression are related to rage syndrome.
It is frequently confused with Idiopathic aggression, a term for aggression with no identifiable cause. Rage syndrome is most often a misdiagnosis of dogs with an unrelated, but more common, form of aggression. Although the scientific evidence is limited, it is thought to be genetic in origin, and is heritable.
The Senior Stage
Dogs cycle through their life quickly and they fill our lives with so much joy. It is important to cherish each stage as a dog's golden years will begin roughly between the ages of 7 and 10.
Your dog is disobedient
A dog's senses of sight, hearing and smell lessen with age and they can appear less obedient. 'Because dogs rely so heavily on these faculties, their loss may lead to anxiety and avoidance of once-straightforward situations,' says Claire.
In most cases, dominant behavior occurs when a dog has reached maturity, somewhere between one and three years old. However, it's not uncommon for dominant behavior to occur in older dogs or puppies.
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months). During this time, they'll often test their owners, seeing what they can get away with. Being firm and consistent with your training will help establish boundaries.
Spoiling a dog means giving him anything he wants including making excuses or ignoring bad behaviors. 'He doesn't really know what he is doing' or 'he didn't mean to do that' or 'but she so enjoys it' are all phrases we as dog trainers have heard.
Overall, the researchers found that the dogs' attentiveness and ability to solve problems changed a lot during life, improving up until about 6 years of age and then remaining stable.
When anxiety turns to anger, it is because an individual who expresses anger will have an underlying fear about something in their life. When individuals are scared or worried about something, they often choose anger, unconsciously, as a way to feel as though they are in control of their anxiety.
While anger is not commonly a symptom that is associated with anxiety, there is evidence to suggest that when a person has an anxiety disorder, the rate and intensity of their anger can increase [source].
We may associate anxiety with being worried or scared, but some may also feel a sense of anger, something experts say is common, but shouldn't be ignored. Dr. Melanie Badali, registered psychologist and board director at AnxietyBC, says in general, anger is not usually considered to be a symptom of anxiety.