Why does my puppy bite and growl when I try to pet his head?

There are a lot of things going on here, so I'm not sure exactly what your question is. In generally, I would recommend going everything you can to be calm and consistent with your new pup. You should walk away whenever she mouths you inappropriately but not yell, etc. Try to become very boring whenever he's too rough. It's also important to offer appropriate chew toys for his normal need to chew. Keep a close eye for behavioral issues to develop over the next couple years and try to schedule a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist who can help you through them.

Brutus is probably still getting used to his new surroundings and is testing the new boundaries. I would strongly recommend getting this behavior under control as soon as possible so it does not lead to more aggression in the future. You need to start training him with basic commands like sit/stay/come. This will help define your relationship with him and help him understand that you are in charge. It is also important to exercise him frequently to help drain some of his excess energy. When he is acting aggressive it is best to ignore the behavior (as opposed to scolding him for it). If you are still having issues with his aggression after a few weeks I would strongly recommend seeking the help of a behavioral expert. The older and larger Brutus is, the harder it will be to change his behavior. I am sure with effort on your end Brutus will be a great dog. Best of luck.

Hi there. At this age, you should be focused on helping Tobi learn that the world is a safe place and that you are fun to be around - this will help him grow up to be a calm, easy-going adult dog and will help with all of your future training. You can also start working on specific obedience skills such as sit, down, come, etc. All training should be reward-based using treats, and sessions should be kept short and fun. I would recommend enrolling Tobi in a good puppy kindergarten class if you have one nearby. This is a great way to help socialize him to other dogs and people, and will also get you started with some training you can work on at home. You can search for a qualified trainer or puppy class instructor in your area here: www.ccpdt.org.

Rottweilers, as a breed, can be very good pets - some are aggressive, but many are friendly and easy-going. I'm not sure if there was something about your puppy in particular that may have concerned your vet, such as signs of aggression or extreme fearfulness during the visit - if so, early referral to a veterinary behavior specialist would be the best option to determine if there is a problem and start working on it early in life. If the puppy is acting normal (friendly and curious, not overly anxious or aggressive towards anyone), there is no particular reason at this stage to think that he won't be a good pet when he's older.

What you are describing may be normal puppy behavior for Bear because some puppies respond very poorly to dominance type of behavioral training. However, I would be concerned with the behaviors that you are describing. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian or the foster organization for a recommendation on a trainer to work with to have someone else observe Bear's behavior to help you decide where to go from here. The longer this behavior continues, the more serious it will be become, so this needs to be dealt with immediately. In the meantime, I would not reprimand or challenge Bear since that seems to escalate the situation. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately, it's relatively common for behavior issues like this to develop between 1 and 2 years of age - this is the period when dogs reach social maturity. Often, they may have been fearful or nervous about many things when they were puppies, but don't start to act out aggressively until they are a bit older. Aggressive behavior in a large dog like this can be a serious problem, and is best treated by a professional who can work with you and Molly in person. I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate her and put together a treatment plan to work on the problem. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist here: www.dacvb.org In the meantime, I would recommend keeping her away from people and dogs as much as possible for safety reasons, and to avoid making the problem worse. Treatment for this problem is generally based on teaching the dog to associate good things (such as treats) with seeing people or other dogs, starting at a distance where they are comfortable and gradually working close from there. The behaviorist can help you with this, since it can be hard to do on your own! Punishment of any kind for this behavior (including verbal scolding, leash corrections, shock collar corrections, etc.) is not recommended, as it tends to make the dog more fearful and has a high risk of worsening the aggression over time.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In my experience these situations will become worse if not handled correctly. I recommend taking Rosie to your vet to discuss behavior training. There is a lot you and your family can do to prevent it getting worse but you may need to talk with a specialist. Your vet can help you find someone in your area but I recommend setting this up soon. Good luck and kisses to Rosie!