Why is my dog aggressive with only one dog? Is he protecting me?

This can be a sign of food aggression or you may have simply startled him and that is his natural response to protect himself. make sure he knows you are there next time If it continues then you need to seek training and stay on top of that to make sure he understands that is unacceptable behavior

I'm so sorry you are having this problem. It does not sound like Duke is being aggressive (and as you noted he gets along great with your other Pit). The problem is that it sounds like your Pomeranian finally frustrated Duke enough with his behavior of growling and barking that Duke finally had enough. As you said, the problem is that your Pomeranian is so small. So, although I would not be worried that Duke is aggressive, I would be worried that your Pomeranian could easily get himself hurt again. Unfortunately, I think I would keep your Pomeranian away from Duke. It is too easy for a dog that small to get hurt by 2 larger dogs. I hope that helps. Good luck!

Sorry to hear about your dog's aggressive behavior. This breed, among others, has a tendency to be protective and territorial aggressive towards people. The causes can be related to the blood line or as a result of environment. Best bet here is to consult with your local veterinarian on a plan to help alleviate the problem through behavioral modification and medical management through neutering. There are also specific medicines available to help deal with certain behavior problems. You might ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behavioralist in your area, who specializes in these kinds of problems. Together, I hope they can lend you some solid answers to this difficult but serious problem with your dog. Please feel free to reach out for a consult with me if you have further questions. All the best, Steve Popish, DVM.

Jack Russell terriers are know for being loyal and also very protective of their owners. In general terriers are more quick to bite than many other breeds. With my terriers I keep them at home and have them in a crate or separate room when people come to the house. Mine are loving and fine with me and my family but not with strangers. Additional training may help but not always. I recommend eliminating any chance of Macho Man getting near anyone new so he doesn't bite as that could result in a serious injury. Also it may force you to get rid of him which would be sad as the two of you are great together. This is definitely more difficult to manage but the best solution is to keep his away from others so this biting behavior is eliminated. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Macho Man.

Leash aggression is actually pretty common. When an animal feels threatened or scared they need fight or flight. When they are on leash you have now removed the option of flight so you are way more likely to have a fight reaction and this is why you are noticing this on leash vs. off leash. This is something that needs assistance of a professional trainer, working under the dogs threshold to address the issue. You can see varying amounts of improvement depending on the severity of the case but it's going to take a lot of work and commitment on your part. Please seek help from a qualified professional. Not addressing this issue now will only make it worse and harder to deal with later.

Hello, sorry to hear about Jax. He could indeed getting older and losing his puppy playfulness. This could also be associated with weight gain or environment temperature. If his lethargy continues to progress or he becomes inappetent, develops vomiting or diarrhea then he should be seen by his veterinarian. In terms of his aggression, it sounds like that may be associated with territorial aggression, which could indeed become a danger to himself and others. Here is some more information on managing his aggression. Hope this helps and best of luck. Introduction Aggression is a common problem faced by many dog owners. It is commonly misunderstood to be based in dominance. In actuality, there are various reasons that dogs can react aggressively. Most commonly these acts are based in fear or anxiety. This handout, will attempt to help you differentiate whether your dog’s aggression is based in dominance or another stimulus, like fear or possession. However it is not meant to replace visits and discussions with your veterinarian. Common types of aggression • Fear aggression: Many commonplace human behaviors are threatening gestures to dogs, but their reactions are often times very subtle and easily missed by most people. Anything that can cause your dog to feel distressed or uneasy can illicit an aggressive reaction. Such things include: sustained eye contact, pressure over the top of the head, lifting the dog, bending over the top of a dog, certain force-based training techniques, or trying to take something of high value away from the dog. • Territorial aggression: Dogs can react aggressively when a person comes into an area that it regards as its home. There is often a basis of anxiety in dogs that have territorial aggression. • Possessive aggression: When aggression is directed toward a person that the dog views is approaching something of high value (food, toys, family members). • Redirected aggression: When the dog is frustrated by the inability to reach an object or person that elicits its aggression and instead acts aggressively toward a person that is within reach. • Dominance aggression: True dominance aggression is very rare. Most often aggressive acts are based out of another type of motivation. Usually what is assumed to be dominance aggression is actually based out of fear or anxiety.

It is usually quite obvious is they are aggressive for example they may growl or snarl when you put food down. They may be defensive about their bed or toys. You might notice on a walk that they growl and bark at other animals.