My puppy growls at other dogs when I'm holding him. How can I help?

Hi there. It's common for some dogs to show this behavior as a form of resource guarding - he doesn't like people approaching you, because he sees you as a very valuable resource. Much like a special toy, or a chew item that he really likes :) It's likely that this behavior is starting to show up now because he's an adolescent, getting close to social maturity. To stop this, you want to teach Luca that good things happen when people approach you, so there's no need to bark or growl. I would recommend keeping a container of tasty dog treats handy whenever you're sitting on the couch. When someone starts to approach you, toss a treat onto the floor - this effectively gets Luca off the couch and away from you, which usually stops the guarding behavior, and also teaches him to associate people approaching with getting a reward. If the problem persists or gets worse, I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a more detailed plan to work on his aggressive behavior. You can search for one in your area here, if needed: www.dacvb.org

Hi Carol! You're right that this behavior is somewhat concerning in such as young puppy - some lines of Presa Canarios can be quite dog aggressive, so this is something to keep an eye on as Karma gets older. Growling or lunging at another dog who gets close when she is sitting with you is a form of resource guarding - basically, she wants you all to herself. To improve this behavior, you want to teach her that good things happen when RaeRae approaches. If RaeRae starts to walk over to you when Karma is sitting on your lap, praise Karma, pet her, and tell her what a good girl she is. If she growls and RaeRae leaves, just say something like "Oh - too bad!" and calmly put her off your lap or on the floor. Basically, you want her to learn that if she growls at RaeRae, she loses your attention and the opportunity for snuggling - but if she allows her to come over without growling, you fuss over her and pay lots of attention to her. You could also try using a DAP pheromone collar to help reduce Karma's stress about this and encourage more social behavior. If you don't see any improvement in this behavior over the next few weeks, or if things seem to be getting worse, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist sooner rather than later - early intervention gives the best chance of a good outcome with behavior problems in puppies, just like human kids.

If he has had his vaccines, consider obedience training and socialization classes. Most pet stores or even your veterinary clinic may offer them. these will teach appropriate behavior and basic commands in addition to acclimating him to other people and pets. Reinforce the training at home by making Zeus "work" for everything. This can be as simple as having him sit or wait to eat, to play, to go out, etc. He should not be allowed to initiate contact or play. This should be done on your terms. He should not be allowed on furniture or bedding. provide a crate or bed on the floor for him. these actions will teach him his place in the pack. Right now, he is trying to establish himself as the dominant dog in these situations. As he gets older and stronger, this behavior is unacceptable as it could escalate. A bite typically follows a growl. You can also discuss early neutering with your veterinarian. Most males are neutered at 6 months of age, but if both his testicles have descended, he could be neutered as early as 4 months. Some pups are done even earlier.

Hi there. Resource guarding is a very common (and normal, to some extent!) behavior in dogs. Do not try to take high-value treats away from her while she is chewing them, as this will only teach her to be anxious and on guard whenever you approach. Instead, leave her alone to chew them in peace. You can also practice walking up to her while she is chewing on something, dropping a tasty treat like a piece of cheese or a hot dog slice, and walking away without bothering her. This way, she learns that having you approach her when she has a "treasure" is a good thing, and not a threat! If this behavior escalates over time instead of getting better, then I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate her in person and help you put together a training plan to address it. Play growling during tug of war is normal, and it not typically a cause for concern.

Hi there. Jazzy is very cute! Unfortunately, it's hard to give much advice without knowing what specific situations tend to trigger this behavior. Feel free to post again with a more detailed description of your concerns, if you like - we would be happy to try and make some general suggestions. For more specific help, I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a detailed plan to work on the problem. You can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org

It sounds like Dune may simply have been startled and reacted fearfully - growling and barking are common signs of fear in dogs. If he settled down quickly and has been acting normal again since then, I wouldn't necessarily worry. If this behavior continues to occur over the next few days or weeks, then I would recommend consulting with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate him in person and help determine why this is happening, so that you can put together a training plan to work on it. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here (www.dacvb.org) or a qualified trainer here (www.ccpdt.org)

I would take steps to curb this behavior. If you are her primary caregiver, have them take more of a role in her life. Have them feed her, play with her and be more interactive. Puppies do growl in play but it sounds like this isn't the case with her. The idea is to have whoever she seems to have an issue with become the people that good things come from. Treats, toys, play, even her food should be provided by them and therefore get her to trust them.