Puppy aggression issues...?

Question

I know I have a puppy thats a bit aggressive and playful at the same time. I dont know if shes aggressive because sometimes she treats me as the dominant "leader" ie: she licks me all the time, she stops whatever she is doing with my "hey" command, and she comes everytime I call her, she doesnt growl or anything when I touch her food, etc.. But sometimes she shows what I think is aggression (but maybe its playfulness i dunno, thats where I need your help) when she runs all over the house and randomly jumps on me, sometimes when we play and I grab her she growl a little, when I try to pet her she has her mouth open as if she'd bite but she just licks mostly and nips sometimes. Its like everytime I try to pet her she starts nipping like im playing with her, she never seems to enjoy it as petting, just play. WHat should I take from all this? Sorry for the detailed description, just sooo confused!

Answer 1

Puppies by nature are playful. It's their way of developing there social skills for adulthood. However biting and aggressive behavior should not be tolerated. Most puppies when they're playing do have a tendency to be a little mouthy. When you feel your puppy is a little too aggressive most vets recommend making a yelping noise like the puppy does when they get hurt. Then you can't play with them for about 5 min. That's how they would learn in a pack. Watch how dogs interact with each other. If one makes a yelping noise the play does stop at least for a couple of minuets. Also a very good trick is to grab the puppies mouth shut for only a couple sec and tell her/him "no biting, bad". You are his/her mom and everything they'll learn will come from you. If that doesn't work you should bring him/her to obedience school. I believe it's free at PETCO. Good luck. Don't give up. It will take time but it's worth it in the end!!!

-jacqueline

Answer 2

This is play but it can become an aggressive behavior. Needs to be stopped now. Turning your puppy over on it's back and holding it there until it stops squirming is a great way to get your dominance across without hurting your puppy. When your puppy is still continue holding them in this position for a few seconds then let them up. End your play session. This is a natural approach that wolves and other canines use. When she nips give the command OUT in a short firm growly sort of way. This immitates a dog giving a warning. You can also grab her by the scruff of the neck and give a quick firm shake while saying out or no. Then stop the play. I have seen adult dogs do this to puppies when they wouldn't listen to a verbal warning. It does not hurt the puppy but puts them into submission pretty quick.

Answer 3

That sounds like pretty typical puppy behaviour to me actually - especially if you do permit that sort of behaviour during play.
Puppies can sometimes expect that petting will lead to play and will react as such. It's extremely common and not really aggressive behaviour.
What you might take from this is that perhaps this puppy just adores you and wants to play with you constantly and has a lot of energy.
How you should respond to this is make sure that you are giving the puppy the correct amount of exercise.
As or more important than this is to make sure that any aggressive behaviour is nipped in the bud - for example, if she does nip, say "ouch!" as though you are hurt and a bit angry and then very firmly ignore her.
The same goes when you pet her and she tries to turn it into a game. If she does that, cease to pay ANY attention to her at all. If you do, it is reinforcing her behaviour, unless you punish it, which can have negative consequences and doesn't really sound particularly necessary.

Growling during play is pretty common and isn't necessarily aggressive. I have a dog who will growl as if talking to people when he wants to play. It is a very different growl to the one he uses when he is being aggressive.

Answer 4

Do you have kids? If so well you should already now the answere to this one. Puppies and Kittens and all other animals are like children in many ways. You have to show who's in charge and who listens. With children you have to know when to say no and when to say yes. You have to know when is a good time to console and when is the good time to discipline.
To be a little more exact; some children are a little more aggressive than others when they play. That is the way they learn their boundaries. Thats how they learn how to play, how to work as a team and how to defend themselves. YOU as a parent need to know how to except this. Some parents panick and go running to their physcologist saying; "my child is got a problem."
They just don't want to figure things out for themselves because they have had someone else do it for them. NOW; if you have a child that is more than aggressive (ie; Constant fighting, stealing, trying to seriously injure you or others) then I would say it is a good time to take that child and get help.
If your puppy is playing harder than you would like or are wanting than YOU need to show it "NO" and discipline it to a parental extent. Tap it on the nose or on its butt. Say "NO" when you do that. Still show it some affection but remind the puppy that no is no. Eventually the puppy will learn and remember.
It's not a serious thing to worry about. The puppy is just being a puppy. Let it. Now as it grows up and it progresses into seriousness then take it to a school to train dogs. Or do it real soon. Its not a bad thing to ship it to an obediance school.
Eitherway, just remember to let it be a puppy and don't force anything on it. It'll grow out of it soon enough. If not; obediance school bound!

Answer 5

She is playing with you. Playful puppies growl, it's not a problem, especially if you grab her, she sees you as another puppy trying to "pin" her down and growling is part of the game. The open mouth when playing signals, "what are you going to do next? I'm waiting for more fun." It is also a sign of being submissive.
Being nippy and chewy is part of being a puppy. She'll grow out of it. Get her lots of chew toys and don't ever let her bite at your hands while you are playing with her.
Consider a puppy training class. Even little dogs need training and a class will teach you how to train her without driving both of you nuts.

Answer 6

Get professional help. Suggesting you would dump a dog because its a puppy tells me you should not really own a dog. A puppy WILL mouth. That is a DOG. If the dog is biting/mouthing you - ask yourself how this came to be? You are human - smarter than dog. You have a dog that makes decisions for you because you allow the dog the freedom of choice. Remove that choice by leashing the dog in the house and out - and teaching the dog commands - ie training - to redirect the behaviour to something positive. To be specific: Your puppy is on lead - and tries to bite your ankle in play. You anticipate this and gently pop the lead and turn the other way, at the same time, saying "no biting" (or some other short command) - and then "sit" and immediately encourage puppy to sit with a treat in one hand, raised above her head. When puppy sits, you praise "good sit". My Doberman puppies are like crocodiles for about 4 months - they will repeatedly bite at my ankles and legs while I walk (the woosh woosh woosh of snow pants really gets them going) and they love a game of bite the hand. It requires patience and perserverence to redirect without defeating the dog. Get used to it - because this is not going to fix itself in a day. This is NOT aggression. This is a puppy playing - and the more you allow the dog to mouth you, the more the dog understands this is OK. Do NOT punish the dog by hitting, rolling or scruffing - you don't need to physically defeat the dog. Get puppy classes - and get help. Or rehome the dog before the dog develops so many bad habits no one will want it. PS: If you give up that easily on a dog - I really don't believe you deserve one. IT WILL get harder as time goes on and new behavior problems develop - and based on your post, I think you would be happier with a cat - or a plush toy. Having a tiny scrape from a puppy bite and deciding this is the end of the dog is really shameful. ********** Put the dog on LEAD and control her ability to go for your hand. A dog repeats that which is proven successful. When puppy goes for your hand, or leg, say "no biting" - gently pull the dog off your hand calmly (getting angry just makes things worse) and give the dog the toy instead. It will take several hundred repetitions for puppy to give this habit up. Buy a lead, get the dog in puppy classes, and get education - or give the puppy to someone who will.

Answer 7

She sounds a little unsure of herself and her position with you. You need to be firmer with her when you pat her. She needs to know she is safe. So you need to show more kind firmness. Her nips should be corrected - just tell her no - and stop playing with her when she does that. Keep reassuring her with firm hugs and light strong strokes on her head and back. If you are confused then she is confused so take charge. Do not hit her or yell at her she will respond to your kind firm handling. She probably needs some puppy training as well. You should have a strong routine with her in terms of her feeding times and walks. This should even out when she gets more confidence. She sounds very skittish and needs routine. She will settle down and become adaptable when she begins to trust you and herself.

Answer 8

Your puppy loves you very much. It's ok to play but you have to be very firm about who's in charge. (Don't smack her - it will cause more aggression) You gotta be the alpha. I'm not really sure how. I'm not a dog trainer or anything. But I do know that aggression will be retaliated by aggression. No matter what you've heard, it's not healthy to smack your dog on the nose, etc. Dunno but good luck!

Answer 9

first, i need to know what breed of dog she is and have you "mounted" Her yet to show her that aggression will not be tolerated? mounting a dog means to lay them on they're backs and don't let them move or turn over you force them into submission of your alpha status in the pack email me at: [e-mail] and let me know how things turned out....

Answer 10

Did u buy any chewing toys for her, has she start to lose her puppy teeth?