You may think it’s cute when your little puppy growls at you every time you try to take away his favorite toy. But, this behavior is not something that should be taken lightly. Growling is a sign of puppy aggression and it has the tendency to develop into something more serious unless you take care of it at the outset. If you want to raise a happy and healthy dog then you will have to learn how to identify, prevent, and correct puppy aggression. This article has been written to provide foundational advice on effective training methods, tips, and techniques to help you understand and solve your Puppy aggression problems.
Puppy aggression can be manifested in different ways. Growling, nipping, loud barking, and lunging are just some of the manifestations of aggression in puppies. These types of aggression can be shown not only to humans but also to other animals that come into contact with the puppy. Possessiveness is one of the most common reasons for a puppy to become aggressive. Puppy aggression is often manifested whenever a puppy feels that someone is about to take something which he considers as his prized possession, such as his feeding dish or favorite toy.
Fear As A Cause Of Puppy Aggression?
Some experts also believe that fear is a common cause of puppy aggression. Whenever puppies feel threatened by a person or another animal, he attacks. This is because most puppies feel that attacking is the best way they can defend themselves from external threats. Certain dog breeds also use aggression as a way to defend their “pack” against strangers. This is why some dogs stand in front of their human owners and bark or growl at approaching strangers. This is also their way of showing his dominance over both the subject of aggression and protection. It is vital to be considered by your Puppy as their ‘Alpha Leader.’ This way they will obey your commands readily and willingly.
Prevention/Correction
While you may think it cute the first time your puppy growls at you, it is not advisable to encourage this kind of behavior. If you provoke the puppy in order to make it growl repeatedly, the behavior might become ingrained. The danger lies in the fact that your dog could do a lot of damage if he takes to snapping and biting when he becomes an adult. It is therefore very important to nip puppy aggression in the bud. Ignoring is also a bad idea as regards puppy aggression. You need to let your dog know that such attitude is NOT acceptable. Ignoring will only make him think that it’s no big deal.
Begin Home Training At The Earliest Opportunity
Following tried and tested Home training methods is the first port of call for dealing with any form of Puppy aggression. The younger your Puppy is when you begin this, the quicker they will generally respond to your commands. In the vast majority of cases, following an expert guide for 6-8 weeks will eliminate all of the common Puppy disobedience problems. In extreme cases where Training doesn’t work, then you will need to consult a Vet and ask for expert advice. The vet can check to see if the aggression isn’t a result of some physical ailment. If there is no physical ailment identified then the next step would be to seek out a professional dog trainer who can guide you in correcting your dog’s aggressiveness. While you are still working on correcting puppy aggression, be careful to NEVER leave your dog alone with children or other animals, as you never know when he will lash out.
Puppy Aggression is just one aspect of Training that you need to deal with effectively in order to enjoy a perfectly behaved Pup.