When you first get that bundle of love the last think on your mind is that you have an aggressive puppy. Sometimes owners don’t even see that their puppy has aggressive behavior; they’re just a playful puppy, right? However, a responsible dog owner needs to take these behaviors seriously, and take adequate steps to get their aggressive puppy under control.

What makes your puppy aggressive?

Dominance Aggression can be displayed when a dog is feeling out of control in their social environment. If they want to have a different social position, they may challenge you or others. To do this your dog may growl when you try to direct them to do something they don’t want to do. They may also change their demeanor at the drop of a hat.

Fear-Motivated Aggression will show through when a dog feels threatened or scared. Often a dog with this type of aggression may misinterpret harmless motions like reaching out to pet them. Your dog might see that movement as a threat that you’re going to hit him.

Territorial Aggression can be displayed when your dog wants to protect his territory. This also comes into play with their food and they exhibit “guarding”.

Protective Aggression is when the dog is very protective of his “pack,” essentially you. This happens when the dog sees himself as the alpha or the leader, and not you. Though aggression can be tough to deal with there are some ways to work through it. The most important thing is not to panic when your dog shows those signs. Instead, take a breath and remember these important tips:
Do not think that by confining your dog you will break them of their aggressive tendencies. Being confined can lead to boredom, and dogs that have been shut away and are bored are often the ones that snap. They have so much energy that they haven’t been able to get out of their system. Instead, make sure that you give your special pet plenty of exercise. Play with them, walk them, get them moving, and that can greatly reduce puppy aggression. Don’t ever hit your puppy as a response to their aggression. Answering aggression with aggression does nothing but reinforce the negative behavior and teach the dog that it’s okay to react physically. Instead, you need to use a strong voice and gently nudge the dog or pull on the back of the neck to correct their aggressive behavior. You are not trying to inflict pain on the dog, but instead, you’re just trying to snap him out of his current state of mind. Probably the most important thing about preventing aggression in your dog is to start training them adequately from an early age. Instill positive core behaviors in your puppy with proper training.

There are great resources out there to give you even more tips and tools to help you train your dog to keep from succumbing to aggressive tendencies. With a little bit of research and effort your sweet puppy will stay your sweet puppy.

By: Lisa Gold

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