Why does my rescue Rottweiler puppy bite me and fear strangers?

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.

It appears Toffee is a puppy. This needs to be addressed now so it doesn't become a problem. Rottweilers can be awesome dogs but if not socialized and handled as puppies their size can make them dangerous. Please talk to your veterinarian about his behavior and ask for a referral to a trainer for basic obedience work. This will likely get worse if not addressed. Dr Sophia Yin wrote a great book on puppy behavior. https://drsophiayin.com/product/perfect-puppy-in-7-days-how-to-start-your-puppy-off-right/ That website also has helpful articles. Good luck. He's a cutie!!

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.

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.

Your puppy is still young and has a lot to learn. You need to work with her on potty training (consider crate training), socialization, and basic commands like sit/stay/come. Take her on walks frequently to help her energy level. All of these things will help foster and grow your relationship with her. Let her know that it is not appropriate to bite or growl by correcting her and then ignoring her after she does it. Some dogs have a more independent personality and she may be one of those dogs. But if you continue to work with her I'm sure you two will have a great relationship some day soon.

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Buffy. It's not unusual for behavioral issues to take a few weeks to show up in a newly adopted dog - there is often a "honeymoon period" while they're still getting comfortable and adjusting to their new home, before these issues start to emerge. Aggression towards other dogs and humans is a complex behavioral issue that's difficult to address properly in a forum like this, but I can try to give you some general information that may be helpful. Treatment for aggression issues is generally based on identifying what situations tend to trigger the aggressive behavior - then either finding ways to avoid them, or working with the dog to teach her to respond differently using reward-based training techniques. If this is something you want to work on, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Buffy in person and help you put together a detailed treatment plan to address her aggressive behavior. For now, if the aggression only happens with dogs and people she doesn't know, I would recommend keeping her separated from visitors for now until you are able to get a more detailed plan in place to work on the problem. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are likely describing teething which is basically a normal type of behavior when puppies are growing up and it is secondary to mouth discomfort as teeth are growing. I recommend that you get her teething type toys which you can get at your local pet store or online. Anytime that she tries to nibble at you, you say no and give her the toy. This is likely going to resolve the issue. Good luck and have a great day!