PLEASE help. Aggressive pup

[Harper's mom]

Hi there!
I got my beautiful 9 week old F1 baby girl over the holidays from a very reputable breeder.  She is a sweet girl, but has displayed some very aggressive behaviour on three occasions. I brought her to my school to see the kids and she growled/snarled.. at them. I have had dogs in the past and knew immediately that it was an aggressive behaviour, and not "puppy" growling. I had her in my car one day. She was on my lap and repeated this snarling and biting. Yesterday, she gave me a very low growl when I went near her bully stick. Today I brought her to the vet for her shots, and she became aggressive with him, the trainer at the vet, and then growled at the receptionist when she said "hello" to her and came up to us. The vet and the trainer both held her in a position until she became submissive, but she would repeat the behaviour the next time they picked her up. I cannot believe this is my baby... I just don't know if I can fix this or not.. Has anyone had this problem with such a young pup, and were they able to stop the behaviours? I will do whatever it takes, if I can be sure that she will not become an aggressive dog towards others later on. I am just beside myself.. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so happy that you've decided to keep working with her.  I really, truly believe she's going to be fine with your TLC and training.  I would definitely start her in puppy classes, as long as it's a real positive trainer.  It will give her the opportunity to be successful with some real simple, basic commands and it should help her build confidence.  It will also help her to bond with and trust you.  Also, I'd let the trainer observe her in class.  She may help you to understand what's going on with her and help with some guidance on the best way to respond if she does show these "fresh" behaviors.  She needs to know that whenever she does this, all the fun is over.  When my "tough Dood" did this (at about the same age), he got a very firm "NO", I refused to look at him, and he went immediately in his crate for a few minutes.  It only took a few times for him to figure out that just wasn't going to "work for me".

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

There is also a puppy group on DK!

[Heather & Brinkley]

Hey There,

 

I don't know how true this is but our trainer told us that while they were young and learning their boundaries (and while in training) that they should not be allowed on sofas or beds.  He told us that allowing them onto "our" spaces especially while they test their boundaries allows them to become more dominant and aggressive b/c they then believe that they are the boss, not the other way around.  Once our Brinkley was through all the training, we allowed him to get up on one sofa (an old loveseat in the sunroom where he likes to hang out most of the time) and he comes up on the bed by permission only.  He isn't allowed on any of the living room furniture, mainly b/c it's white, but he knows it.  

 

Just one more suggestion to throw your way.  Good luck!

[shelly]

I'm so sorry you are in such distress.  I think a good exam is good advice. I wonder why the vet didn;t suggest that... I agree with making her earn everything and probably keeping her tethered to you while 'lose' in the house would do her well too.  We took Tori to classes and she was less than thrilled the whole time she was there... she tried to run away and would not do anything while she was there... the only thing we all got out of it was getting techniques to do at home - which she did beautifully - kind of reminded me of when I tell parents their children have difficulty in reading and they say "well she can read at home" - lol.... I think bringing her there and forcing her to stay only added to her anxiety and did not help at all. (We too did it not only for the training, but for the socialization, but it backfired on us really)... good luck!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I had to reread this a few times.  My first response was going to be:

My puppy Spud growled at everything.  His toys, his food, the wind.  Whatever he was excited about as a puppy.  He still growls.  But it is NOT growling.  He talks to his toys, talks to his sister, he barks when he plays.  He is just a chatty dog.  He is sweet, nice to people, and has never been aggressive.   If he is upset though, he has a different tone to his growl.  

I was thinking your puppy may be like Spud.   Just a very vocal dog. 

 

My other dog Starlit, if she growls, it is serious.   She talks a lot.  She moans and sings, but does not growl in play or response to anything unless she is frightened and upset.   It has one tone.

 

Dogs and puppies can/are vocal.  I've met a few puppies who growl at bones, but not necessarily out of aggression.

 

However, you stated the VET did not like your puppy's response.   I guess we would have to see a video.  I am really not there to witness this behavior so I don't know.   Wish you the best.   I've had an aggressive dog and it is a heartbreak.  There are ways to learn to live with and love an animal who is dedicated to you but not to safe to be around others . 

 

 

 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

As a  matter of fact--when Spud was a baby we really thought we were going to name him after a PIRATE.  ARrrrrhg because of his growling play.

[Harper's mom]

Thank you all SO MUCH!!! I am going to stay positive, love her lots and work through this. I am going to keep trying the "no" and ignore with her to see if it helps. I haven't put her in her crate during these times, because I wasn't sure if it would give her a negative feeling about the crate. Maybe I will try short "breaks" when she gets too nippy.

What happened at the vet was that he took her from me and was petting her. She gave him a low growl and nipped at him. When he held her up, she lost it. She yipped and cried and struggled. It was a disturbing sight. After about 20 seconds, she submitted. The exact same thing happened when the trainer/staff member held her. Thanks for your input and I will do my best to keep her comfortable, happy, and safe...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge went through the puppy biting stage with a vengeance and sometimes I put her in her crate for "time outs" for my sanity and her safety :) It often seemed like it helped us both catch our breath and calm down. She might be getting more comfortable and testing her boundaries. I think a class or trainer would be a big help. Good luck.

[Linda and Murphy]

We did this several times with my son's puppy. It took her about 40 seconds to calm down and submit the first time. (I started calling her the Devil Dog.  My other son was in Marines ROTC and he said "oh Teufelhunden"...so we switched to that.) She has a very strong personality and he will have his hands  full.

 

[Kyoko]

HI!! I have to toally agree with Jane!! Obedience training is sooo important, and it gives them confidence and freedom!!

When I notice some concenrs in my puppy Charlie, she was about 12 ~ 13 weeks old. ( She is now 2 ) It was at the Puppy K, she barked at the rottweiler pup who tried to drink out of the same bowl as Charlie. I, too was heart broken, because you want your puppy to be this nice friendly cute little thing. We had gone to numbers of puppy social groups, took her to meet various people, gone to pet store etc... so she can socialize. I thought I did the right things to get her used to other dogs and people....After the puppy K, I seeked trainer who deals with behaviors as well. We had some private lessons which the trainer took total inventory of her habit, behavior at home, etc... We did basic obedience, CGC, with this trainer, and now we have been doing Rally obedience for a little over a year, and agility for may be 3 months? Through these classes and training, I now understand her threshold and learning to keep her focus on me, so that she does not have to worry about whatelse is going on around her and get fearful thus aggressive. My trainer told me that just like human, their temperments are all different. Some are more laid back than the others, and vice versa. I think the approach is rather than  to "FIX" her brehavior, but to support her in order for her to be more confident. For example, you cannot fix a shy kid, but can help him to build confidence in reading out loud in class. With your consistent effort,  support, and a good trainer, I am sure that she can be a confident girl who does not have to fear too much!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Very well said!

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

Hi! I obviously haven't seen your puppy so I can't be sure of your situation but it seems kinds like mine. Ollie used to growl a lot at around 9 weeks. It got even worse around 12  weeks. I was very disheartened. I almost regretted my decision to get a puppy. Please read my posts and early blogs and you'll know what issues I was facing. Thanks to the kind and experienced people here, I got a lot of good advice. I have been very consistent with him about training and showing that we are all alpha and now at almost 5 months, he is a real sweetheart and showers me with kisses.That said, he always loved people and kids. He just hated being picked up. He also hated having his play or chewing interrupted, Now all those issues have almost disappeared. I know what you mean about repeating her aggression after being held down in a submissive position. Ollie used to do that too. He also used to get very afraid and stressed  so I stopped doing that and started using time outs where I tied him with his leash to a door knob for a few minutes away from all of us until he was calm. If he repeated his bad behavior, off he went again. After a few days he got the hint. He is very smart and that made him try his best to be alpha. Now he is a sweetheart  99% of the time and that 1% when he acts up I just need to say a stern 'NO' and he stops. I'll  tell you what others told me. train and socialize. Teach her that nothing is free and make her obey commands before you give her food/ take her out/ play with her. I also used my calm assertive touch and talk when he was hyper/ mad and it truly worked/works to calm him down. Please take a look at the following. Hope that helps.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/have-i-ruined-my-puppy?com...

 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/did-you-ever-question-your

Hi! I obviously haven't seen your puppy so I can't be sure of your situation but it seems kinds like mine. Ollie used to growl a lot at around 9 weeks. It got even worse around 12  weeks. I was very disheartened. I almost regretted my decision to get a puppy. Please read my posts and early blogs and you'll know what issues I was facing. Thanks to the kind and experienced people here, I got a lot of good advice. I have been very consistent with him about training and showing that we are all alpha and now at almost 5 months, he is a real sweetheart and showers me with kisses.That said, he always loved people and kids. He just hated being picked up. He also hated having his play or chewing interrupted, Now all those issues have almost disappeared. I know what you mean about repeating her aggression after being held down in a submissive position. Ollie used to do that too. He also used to get very afraid and stressed  so I stopped doing that and started using time outs where I tied him with his leash to a door knob for a few minutes away from all of us until he was calm. If he repeated his bad behavior, off he went again. After a few days he got the hint. He is very smart and that made him try his best to be alpha. Now he is a sweetheart  99% of the time and that 1% when he acts up I just need to say a stern 'NO' and he stops. I'll  tell you what others told me. train and socialize. Teach her that nothing is free and make her obey commands before you give her food/ take her out/ play with her. I also used my calm assertive touch and talk when he was hyper/ mad and it truly worked/works to calm him down. Please take a look at the following. Hope that helps.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/have-i-ruined-my-puppy?com...

 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/did-you-ever-question-your