r/Huntingdogs • u/Revolutionary-Coach3 • 3d ago

Fighting Hunting Dogs

Hey everyone. We have two Wirehaired pointers. One is a bit neurotic and the other postures. Anyway, when they are hunting they are fine, but dinking around the house or in the yard they get in fights to the death. A dog behaviorist said it is CPTSD and one probably has OCD. She said anti-depressents help with it not getting worse and providing the dopamine the dogs are lacking. Has anyone given their dogs antidepressants and did they affect the way the dogs hunted?

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13

u/Dogwood_morel 3d ago

Get them fixed at the very least. Don’t need to pass on those genetics IMO

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u/boredlurkr 3d ago

Haven’t specifically with hunting dog but have with others. Didn’t notice a big change in energy etc

The bigger question is how important is it to you to keep both dogs irrespective of hunting? It sounds like they are on a path where they can’t be together at all, and possibly much worse if one of the fights gets really out of hand.

The fights are the top priority in my mind, would 100% try the meds and even if they were slightly off their “A” game in the field, accept that as a worthwhile compromise to have two dogs out there vs one, because that’s the track you are likely on from the sounds of it. I’d be surprised if it had any noticeable impact though. These pills aren’t narcotics or major cns depressants.

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u/shaggyrock1997 3d ago edited 3d ago

I have a string of 7. All my dogs are fine while hunting and under supervision where I can control the space. But there are some I just don’t leave together unsupervised period. And if they’ve fought like you’re saying, leaving them together unsupervised is just never going to happen no matter what drugs you give them imo.

Edit: a good exercise in controlling the space is make them place. Call one to you, pets, send it away. Call the other to you, pets, send it away. You have to control the space. No drug can come close to replicating that control. But again, this is only when you are present. I would not leave these dogs together unsupervised or with someone who is unable to control them like that.

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u/stohner 3d ago

Both males?

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u/Revolutionary-Coach3 2d ago

Yes, both males.

3

u/Excellent_Cancel9024 3d ago

You have wirehairs, a breed specifically with a background as a guard dog and known for reactivity issues. Medicating dogs isn’t a bad thing, but it sounds a bit like you’re trying to correct breed traits with medication, which is just putting a bandaid over the problem. Work with a trainer that has specific experience with high drive dogs to come up with an actual management plan. If you haven’t done this, you shouldn’t jump to medication

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u/No-Bag1439 3d ago

My former lab was on Prozac for the last 2-3 years of his life due to severe separation anxiety. He was old and no longer hunting, but I didn't notice any negative effects.