My 8-month-old dog suddenly barks at animals. Is it puberty?

I certainly sympathize with your situation. Since Digby is 7 years old and this is a new behavior, I would start by having your veterinarian examine Digby to make sure there isn't a medical condition that is contributing to the change in his behavior. Your veterinarian may recommend trying medication depending on Digby's situation and behavior. If everything is normal on examination, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation for a behaviorist or trainer. You will need to commit to a training regimen to change Digby's behavior when he sees another dog. This can be a long process, but will be worth it. Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You’ve reached the teenage stage. Plenty of exercise is needed to get him tired which will lessen this adolescent behavior. Neutering will help also but mostly it will improve as he gets to be an adult. I do recommend a group obedience class. That will help him learn to focus on you with other people and dogs around and will challenge his mind also. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Guido.

I do not think it is anything you are specifically doing wrong. As dogs age they can have a change in personality but it is important to start training to turn this behavior around. IT sounds like she is scared and having some anxiety. I would recommend starting with basic commands like sit, stay and come. I also would recommend getting her in training classes so you can start to redirect her behavior. Once she starts feeling more confident it most likely will help with her behavior around other dogs. i hope that helps

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Nala. Many dogs develop issues with fear aggression or reactivity around 12-18 months of age, so this is a fairly typical time to see a problem like this pop up. It's unlikely that it has anything to do with her coming into heat, or being spayed - more likely that it's just her age. Advice for addressing this issue would depend on knowing more about the specific situations that cause her to bark - does she do it when she's home alone? When she hears noises outside? When she sees people or dogs she doesn't know? Etc. In general, treatment for excessive barking is based on identifying what triggers it and using reward-based training to teach the dog a different response. To give more details on how to do this, we would need more information about what she barks at. Feel free to post another question with more details, or request a one-on-one consultation for a more in-depth conversation if you prefer. We would be happy to try and help.

As an unneutered male, he is starting to feel the effects of male hormones, which can manifest in aggressive behavior. You can try to help him acclimate to other dogs by introducing them in a controlled manner, with both dogs on leashes and through a fence initially until you can see how they will react to one another. Some barking and growling is normal but by reassuring them both without getting too excited can help. The more excited you become, the more he will, and he may feel he needs to be protective of you. Additionally, work with your dog away from other dogs. Play, take him for runs (Huskies are born runners and are very high energy, as I'm sure you are aware.), get him involved in obedience, play fetch, get him involved in dog agility, flyball, anything and everything to keep him well exercised and tied. This will help him be calm and well behaved the rest of the time since a tired dog is a happy dog. And, unless you plan to breed him because he is an exemplary example of his breed, consider getting him neutered. This will remove the primary source of the hormones most responsible for aggression and will also help with other behavioral issues in the future, as well as reducing the urge to roam in search of females. This will keep him safer and less likely to be hit by a car if he does get out on his own.

Unfortunately, this is a really common change in 2 year old dogs. Molly is reaching social maturity and things that used to bother her slightly but not cause a reaction are causing BIG reactions. She was probably always a bit nervous around other dogs, and now she's showing it. I recommend backing off her interaction with other dogs, so she's not practicing this aggressive behavior. No dog parks, etc. Then ask your veterinarian for a referral to a good trainer who can work with you on counter conditioning and desensitization to help Molly learn that other dogs aren't scary. This book is also very helpful if you don't have access to a trainer: https://www.amazon.com/Feisty-Fido-Help-Leash-Reactive-Dog/dp/1891767070

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!