My 6-month-old pit bull nips faces. Will spaying stop aggression?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this is a sudden behavioral change I would have her examined. She could be painful or not feel well and she is acting out because of that. It is better for her health to be spayed, she is at risk for an infected uterus which is an expensive surgical emergency. Hormones can affect temperament, so it MAY help but it might not be the solution. If her exam and blood work are normal, you can have her spayed then consider training and medications to control her aggression. I hope this helps and I wish you and Bella the very best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That should definitely help. Often times a few to several weeks after a castration their behavior changes dramatically in terms of less aggression. However, this may not resolve the issue. If it does not, I would highly recommend you seek help from a veterinary behaviorist or dog trainer who can help you in person as those issues do require some hands on training but they are fixable most of the time. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the information you provided, it sounds to me like Molly needs to be enrolled in a behavior class to help train her. I am sure that there are many trainers in your area, so I would begin calling them and see what they have available for classes. This is beneficial at this age because Molly is so young so take advantage of her age and train her early. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, spaying (or neutering) does not have significant impacts on any aggressive or temperamental behaviors. It tends to reduce sexual behaviors (and eliminate the risk of pregnancy and infections of the uterus), but there is no guarantee that spaying her will change her behavior. I would consult with a Veterinary Behaviorist who can make recommendations for Kali's specific behavioral issues, as not all are treated equally. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using PetCoach! A couple ideas: try something like FreshPatch which essentially sends you a patch of real grass in a cardboard container. Or, try crate training since most pups will not pee in their “house”. Here is a good link for crate training. http://www.aahneenah.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/crate-training-your-puppy.pdf As far as the aggression, you’ll need to get that under control as soon as possible. Any form of aggression toward humans should be met with a firm “no” and stopping all play/walking. Practice just walking by and touching his back end frequently so that it’s normal and no big deal. Neutering often helps with aggression so keep that in mind. Finally, some dog require more intensive care so talk with your vet about anti anxiety medication or professional training.

It could honestly be a lack of socialization to other animals from a young age. Puppies should start to be socialized young and if they are aggressive, should be put into training with a professional behavioral expert. It could also be related to hormones, as I see Destiny isn't spayed.

Spaying both dogs is going to help, as it will take hormonal cues out of the equation. You may need further socialization and dog-dog aggression help as well. Please consult this fantastic dog behavior website for more information and free tips: www.dogstardaily.com.