Gertie's Boyfriend, Max

[JMFS]

Max is a Gorgeous Rottie and Gertie's "boyfriend," as we like to joke.  He's had a behavioral change lately, though, and I'm worried about him.  I don't know what may have happened and wanted to see if your pups ever went through any sudden changes around the age of 4 (he and Gertie are almost to the month in age). 

He used to be an easy going, affectionate kind of guy and I would go to the gate to love on him.  When I was there Friday last week he was Not the same Max I used to know.  He was standing at the gate, tail wagging, but the rest of his body language said, "not today."  His head wasn't level with the ground, but it wasn't held up high, either.  His mouth was closed and his shoulders were tense.  His butt wasn't wiggling with the tail wag, either, and he was watching me rather intently so I avoided eye contact and did some test vocals with him.  He didn't respond, just kept wagging and staring.  Normally he would have opened the gate and come to "butt hug" me with all his 120 pounds of poochliness, pushing his head into my hands, rubbing those mud flaps of his all over, for copious amounts of ear scratches.  This time it was like he was frozen in place.  No vocalizations, just that watching and a wag.

I couldn't get much out of the owner without being intrusive - we have a friendly business relationship and those are tough waters to navigate sometimes.  I do know that he now spends lots of time with their son, who seems to be a warm and kind individual, and the son's girlfriend, who is energetic and upbeat.  I don't sense any abuse from them and this arrangement took place at least before Covid was a thing.  I think Max now lives with them at the shop in the apartment above the showroom.  Previously he lived with the owners at their house and traveled back and forth, normally going where the Mrs owner went.

Max was the type of dog who would let you take a rawhide from his mouth - he actually offered it.  He even shared his treats with Gertie on one visit.  I was so sad not to get my Max time in last week, but I truly felt I would be pushing his threshold if I moved any closer than I did.  I stopped at about 6' away because I sensed he wasn't receiving visitors at the moment and the girlfriend did caution me that he'd been grumpy lately.  It has been raining for 3 weeks, but I don't know how long he's been surly.  I know my girls are getting antsy because they can't play - we have a mushroom field that I keep picking, but the darn things keep popping right back up as the rain is not letting up and identifying mushrooms is not in my wheelhouse so I just keep Esther on a leash.

If there's any advice I can give them, or questions I can ask, to help get Mr. Max back to his affectionate sweet self I'd like to.  I am going to suggest they take him for a vet check up to rule potential health issues out.  I won't take Gertie to go see him until he's out of this rut.  Esther isn't ready for in-dog meetings, yet, so she also won't go visit.

[Adrienne]

Hi Jennifer,

Sorry to hear about Maxs' behavior change. I am not sure what may have happened in regards to this unusual behavior change. There are soooo many things that can go on. Things that come to mind, somebody teasing him or scaring him by the gate area, not feeling well, his routine being disrupted and putting a toll, use of outdated training methods or conflict in the home causing stress, neurological issues, thyroid problems in this breed are quite common, even skin issues can cause behavior changes in some dogs, etc etc. 

The fact the girlfriend admitted him to being grumpy, confirms that something must be brewing. I hope they can take him to the vet for a thorough check-up. That would be a good starting point.