This might sound crazy but here goes.... sleepwalking? I used to do it when I was younger and my parents tell me I also seemed vaguely dazed and aloof (I never did attack anyone though). Dogs definitely dream and move around in their sleep, maybe she dreamt she was being attacked and responded accordingly. I'd be interested to know what she's like tomorrow morning. If she's back to normal then maybe the fix is to crate her at night when she sleeps.
Dog attacks full force out of deep sleep
Hello all. Brief intro, I live with 5 dogs and a husband 
The two youngest ones are Polly, female Am. Staff. Terrier 1.2 years old, and April, female Am. Staff. Terrier, 1 year old. (all my dogs are altered)
April, the youngest came to us two months ago. She is a shelter dog with unknown past. All the others came to us as tiny rescue puppies.
Back to April: sweet, reserved, not overly active, loves to snuggle, showed mild food aggression on day one, but we nipped that in the bud, it's not an issue. She goes nuts when the doorbell rings and attacks the door. But we are working on desensitizing her to the door bell by keeping her on the leash and having neighbors ring the door bell, and guide her through the response.
Other than that, she is a sweet, sweet dog.
Polly is the other young pibble. Polly is fun loving, high strung, nosy, non-confrontational, loving, always having to be in the middle of things, moderately high energy. But all that really does not matter in this case. The two of them get along famously! We were so happy to have found a great match.
Last night, out of a deep, deep sleep, no warning, no growling, April attacked Polly, who was getting ready to curl up next to April as they always do.
I pulled April off of Polly, who wet herself and was terrified (non-responsive), and April went right back after Polly. I separated them again, locked April in the bathroom for a while, checked for damage (none), and reintegrated April into the living room.
April was very aloof but friendly, did not play, was not threatening - like in a trance, like the first day she came here ... very uncommonly unattached.
I have lived with dogs for 25 years. I volunteer in rescue for the past 10 years and thought I was pretty well versed with dogs ... but I have never seen anything like this. I mean out of solid deep sleep and went straight for her buddy, was on top of her, and just did not have time to sink her teeth into anything - I think, because I was too quick.
Does anyone have any educated guesses? PTSD? Seizure? Indigestion? or crazy dog?
The two youngest ones are Polly, female Am. Staff. Terrier 1.2 years old, and April, female Am. Staff. Terrier, 1 year old. (all my dogs are altered)April, the youngest came to us two months ago. She is a shelter dog with unknown past. All the others came to us as tiny rescue puppies.
Back to April: sweet, reserved, not overly active, loves to snuggle, showed mild food aggression on day one, but we nipped that in the bud, it's not an issue. She goes nuts when the doorbell rings and attacks the door. But we are working on desensitizing her to the door bell by keeping her on the leash and having neighbors ring the door bell, and guide her through the response.
Other than that, she is a sweet, sweet dog.
Polly is the other young pibble. Polly is fun loving, high strung, nosy, non-confrontational, loving, always having to be in the middle of things, moderately high energy. But all that really does not matter in this case. The two of them get along famously! We were so happy to have found a great match.
Last night, out of a deep, deep sleep, no warning, no growling, April attacked Polly, who was getting ready to curl up next to April as they always do.
I pulled April off of Polly, who wet herself and was terrified (non-responsive), and April went right back after Polly. I separated them again, locked April in the bathroom for a while, checked for damage (none), and reintegrated April into the living room.
April was very aloof but friendly, did not play, was not threatening - like in a trance, like the first day she came here ... very uncommonly unattached.
I have lived with dogs for 25 years. I volunteer in rescue for the past 10 years and thought I was pretty well versed with dogs ... but I have never seen anything like this. I mean out of solid deep sleep and went straight for her buddy, was on top of her, and just did not have time to sink her teeth into anything - I think, because I was too quick.
Does anyone have any educated guesses? PTSD? Seizure? Indigestion? or crazy dog?
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That is an interesting twist. Yes, this morning she was all normal, like her own self. She is a relatively detached dog, likes to be left alone, not overly playful, so it's hard to tell if she is not normal ...
Actually, come to think of it, I have often observed her in her sleep running and growling and snarling viciously... Excellent idea aiw.
...Actually, come to think of it, I have often observed her in her sleep running and growling and snarling viciously... Excellent idea aiw.
Becoming instantly reactive out of sleep can also be related to seizures.
I would have a vet visit, just in case
I would have a vet visit, just in case
Thank you all for the comments. Definitely well worth thinking about. Any other thoughts on this are still welcome. We are somehow hoping it was an isolated incident. Due to the conditions in our home (disabled person) we cannot have dog fights. It is too dangerous for the disabled party if they are in the path or nearby (psychological trauma, risk of fall, dog bite) and we would have to take the dog to the pound. She has one more chance... because we really like her otherwise.
because we really like her otherwise.
I'd look into seizures, too. It could just be dog aggression, but when I have seizures, I am awake and look "strange, unfocused and detached" according to my husband.Becoming instantly reactive out of sleep can also be related to seizures.
I would have a vet visit, just in case
I appreciate all the responses. Basically, I am no further than I was after the event ... but I am glad that there is such a wide variety of responses. I don't necessarily buy into the breed explanation, because I have an Australian shepherd that was quite aggressive for a while, especially with new arrivals. He has chilled in his older age, and I think there is a point to the 12 to 36 months theory.
In our home we do not have room for crating, so we will have to think of alternate methods. I have stopped letting the dogs sleep with me, and taken myself (one of the great possessions) out of the game. I am also looking into correlations of food and aggression. I read that high protein diets aggravate the issue, as well as thyroid issues, so I will be taking April to the vet this coming week for a thyroid test. I am hoping we don't have a recurrence of the nightmarish event before we can figure out / rule out the reasons.
... but I am glad that there is such a wide variety of responses. I don't necessarily buy into the breed explanation, because I have an Australian shepherd that was quite aggressive for a while, especially with new arrivals. He has chilled in his older age, and I think there is a point to the 12 to 36 months theory. In our home we do not have room for crating, so we will have to think of alternate methods. I have stopped letting the dogs sleep with me, and taken myself (one of the great possessions) out of the game. I am also looking into correlations of food and aggression. I read that high protein diets aggravate the issue, as well as thyroid issues, so I will be taking April to the vet this coming week for a thyroid test. I am hoping we don't have a recurrence of the nightmarish event before we can figure out / rule out the reasons.
An Aussie and a Pit/Am Staff are two different animals.... I am not saying this might not calm down later.... It may never happen again......I appreciate all the responses. Basically, I am no further than I was after the event
In our home we do not have room for crating, so we will have to think of alternate methods. I have stopped letting the dogs sleep with me, and taken myself (one of the great possessions) out of the game. I am also looking into correlations of food and aggression. I read that high protein diets aggravate the issue, as well as thyroid issues, so I will be taking April to the vet this coming week for a thyroid test. I am hoping we don't have a recurrence of the nightmarish event before we can figure out / rule out the reasons.
But if you look at what you have now.... Two young adult, same sex, fighting dogs, game terriers, etc.
It is a fight waiting to happen.... I am not saying you should not have them both..... I am not saying you cannot manage it.... All I am saying is that it happening is not a surprise....
IF it was my house, I would separate during times that might cause conflict.... Feeding, resting, when toys are present....
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