Why is my dog suddenly growling and barking when I try to pet him?

I hate to hear this is happening and unfortunately, it's impossible to know the real cause of the behavior without being able to observe it. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. I also recommend to have Cezar neutered. Intact males tend to be more aggressive but again, aggression is complex and it may not solve the problem. Best of luck.

That's a frustration habit for Bruno to pick up. There are many many possibilities here. Bruno could be experiencing anxiety, territorial aggression, physical pain, resource guarding, or another behavior problem. I would recommend a behavior consolation with your veterinarian first so they can determine if this is a medical issue or primary behavior problem and get you connected with the best person to help Bruno feel better. In the meantime, don't punish Bruno for barking - instead try to distract him with treats. Ultimately, i expect you're going to need some hands on professional help. Good luck!

Since this is so out of character for him he certainly could be injured. If a dog is hurting in a specific spot, they will sometimes becomes hypersensitive in that area. They will sometimes become aggressive. I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to localize the pain and start him on pain meds if needed. You may also have to put him in a short course of anti-anxiety meds until he feels better. Your vet will also be able to do X-rays if needed. I hope this helps!

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.

Poor Caesar. There definitely sounds like something has changed. There are so many things that can cause him to be acting this way. He could be hurting somewhere, ill with an infection, or stress from an environmental change. You could try an adaptil calming collar but if it isn’t improving then I would have your vet look at him. Your vet can do some bloodwork to rule out any infections or liver/kidney issues and also try to locate any possible painful areas. Your vet can also start him on a medicine for anxiety if needed. I hope this helps!

Hi there! Thanks for you question. Oh dear, sounds like a lot is going on! Thank you for the picture- he looked like a sweet guy despite the troubles you mention. From you description, it sound like he may have a little fear aggression as well as anxiety. I would strongly encourage you to seek the council of your full service veterinarian as well as seek advice from a canine behaviorist and dog trainer. Depending on what they diagnosis, he may need behavioral modifications to his and your daily routine, Rx medications if warranted by your veterinarian, and some dedication with training on your part. I hope all goes well and best of luck to you and Ceasar!

You need to take him to a vet for an exam. Any abnormal behavior, especially towards the side of aggression, need to be taken seriously. It very well could be a brain tumor. I don't know. It could also be the beginning stages of seizure activity. It could be from pain somewhere in/on his body. He needs a vet exam to try to find out what is going on with him.