Puppy biting-to hurt not play-help

[Puppy Madness]

Just recently our puppy who will be 12 weeks started to demonstrate some extremely aggressive behavior, trying to bite viciously. Last week it was when my husband attempted to take away a pig ear that he was chewing on, part of our ritual touching and taking that we have been doing since we got him. He growled and snapped and when braced became vicious-attempting to tear at his hand. Another example is last night we got a new brush-the metal bristled type. I stroked him twice with it and he tried to pull away so I turned the brush over so it wouldn't pull and held him by his collar to help him see it wouldn't hurt and have him adjust to the different brush. When I put my fingers under his chin, in his collar he became instantly vicious trying to tear at my arm and hand. I was able to get my hand around his mouth, only after he bit my finger, and hold him until he calmed down. It was extremely scary and even more so with children in our home. Is this normal for a puppy especially at this age? Any suggestions for us as we are feeling let down by our breeder at this point. Thank you.

[Adina P]

Most likely he's just being a bratty pup. I highly doubt you have an 'aggressive' dog on your hands at this point. My Rosco was JAWS incarnate from 9 weeks to nearly 1 year but with consistency and training has become a sweet mellow love bug. You sound very worried and afraid of your pup right now. My BEST suggestion is to stop looking at it as 'aggression' because that will only make you fearful and will affect your response to puppy in a way that is not useful. Remember not only are you bigger and stronger than puppy at this age (not that you have to USE your physical strength)...you and hubby are smarter. So there's no way puppy can truly harm you, save for some scratches and pokes. IF you look at it as just puppy tantrums (I don't WANT to be combed!!! I don't waaaaant you to take my pig ear away!!!) then you can stay calm and deal with it more effectively.

1) Work on bite inhibition. Ian Dunbar's Before and After Getting Your Puppy book has some great tips on things to practice for bite inhibition to show puppy your skin is delicate. You can find a free download online and somewhere in this Puppy Madness group I posted the links--just type in Ian Dunbar into the search box of this group's forum and you should run across it.

2) I would, for now, stop giving super high value treats like pigs ears until you've gotten a reliable response to "Drop It" with less valuable items. Make pigs ears and other toys obviously YOUR stuff and only let those come out later as a reward for other good things puppy does. But work on "drop it" and gradually use more and more valuable (in HIS eyes) things. Easier to avoid those power struggles if he just doesn't get things to fight over until he's better trained and responsive to you. That comes with time and practice...puppies aren't ever 'trained' at this age.

3) Start creating a positive association with brushes, combs, etc. Don't even try to brush him with it. Instead, show him the brush/comb and then give him a treat. Do this on repeated occasions through the day until you can SEE that he gets excited to see the brush.. Then touch him with it and give him a treat. Touch - treat, Touch - treat..for a few days. THEN work up to one stroke, then brush a segment, then later another segment of his body....etc...work up to it and back up if he starts to resist. Use really yummy treats (in HIS eyes).

What was the "ritual touching and taking" that you were referring to in your post? Perhaps he's developed an aversion to touching while he's got something he likes for fear you'll take it.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[Libby & Bentley]

We had similar behavior in Bentley awhile back...for him it was growling and snapping whenever we came near him when he had this new chew toy. I was very worried thinking he was going to become aggressive...what I did was take it away..made him calm down..and then I would offer him a chew another time..and distract him by offering him a high value treat from turning away from the chew..and letting me pet him..pick up the chew...etc. It really didn't take long to make changes in behavior.. Are you in puppy school? If so, how does he act with other dogs? I know that was one reassuring thing to us, was that he was in puppy school..and interacted well with other dogs..and not aggressive at all.. Don't think you need to worry, but definately don't let him get away with such behavior.