Why is my dog suddenly growling and barking at familiar people?

I’ve had good success using a sonic egg. It’s a portable bark deterrent. You could use it only when needed. I would also give her a no bark command to reinforce what you want. You can also teach her to go to her place. A bed, cushion or spot on the couch. Give a treat when she’s relaxed and quiet in addition to praise. Training takes consistency, time and patience. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Pumpkin.

It sounds like Toby was frightened and overwhelmed by the dog park - some dogs don't enjoy crowded places like this with lots of other dogs. I would suggest walking him in quieter places where he's comfortable, if he has problems with barking and growling at dogs in other situations, it would be best to make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a training plan to help him learn to be more comfortable around strange dogs and people. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org or a qualified trainer here: www.ccpdt.org

Congratulations on adding Teddy to your family! Puppies can be frustrating at times. The behavior described is consistent with a frustrated puppy. It is not unusual for a puppy that is frustrated to bark, growl or completely ignore things that you say. He is not trying to exert dominance he just may not really understand what you are asking. Your best bet for getting Teddy to follow your directions is to have a consistent training plan and use high-value rewards. When you tell him no, he doesn't really understand what you want him to do. You will likely have better luck telling him what you would like him to do. For example, if you want him to walk nicely on a leash it's better to teach him a look command rather than just yank on the leash to get him to go where you want. Using a look command will tell him what you want him to do which is keep his eyes on you rather than what's going on in the neighborhood. This is a great resource for starting a training program with your puppy: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/store/The-Puppy-Primer.html

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and Bailey in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a great day!

At his age, it may be fear aggression that is driving the behavior. The more you can socialize him and reward appropriate behavior from him the better. Here is an article with great advice on doing just that. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/socializing-your-dog Here's some great information about aggression in dogs, explaining the different types of aggression, and giving you advice on how to help the behavior. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression Good information on introducing dogs: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/introducing-new-dogs I hope thats helpful for you! I'm sorry for your recent loss, and I hope Laddie III brings you all joy for many years to come. Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not a normal behavior in puppies. I recommend you seek the help of a dog trainer or behaviorist to try to deal with this while he is still a puppy which is a lot easier than when he becomes an adult. Good luck!