An aggressive puppy is undoubtedly a potential problem. After all, aggression is not good for either the dog or the tutor. The dog becomes anxious, stressed and the owner cannot maintain a good relationship.
However, often an aggressive puppy is not necessarily aggressive. After all, there can be confusion between aggression and need for bites in the puppy stage.
But do not worry. In this article, we will clarify everything on the subject. Keep reading and see how not to let your dog grow aggressive – and what to do for the puppy to be calmer on a daily basis.
Aggressive Puppy – Why Are They Like This?
An aggressive puppy can become aggressive for a number of different factors. However, the biggest factor of all is the issue of learning: the dog is in the learning phase and aggression can be perceived at this stage.
Especially puppies that have had very bad stimuli at an early stage of life, can react in more aggressive ways. Biting and even growling during meals is not uncommon.
Sometimes this aggression is confused by the simple act of the puppy biting/nibbling.
In this case, the dog is being aggressive. He ‘s just being curious . In addition to supplying a need for itching that eventually happens in the puppies’ gums.
However, what can you do to ensure that a puppy does not grow aggressive? Keep reading and learn more.
How to improve aggressive puppy behavior
If you have a puppy and you’ve already noticed that he’s displaying aggressive traits, it’s very important to take action. That is, creating environmental conditions so that the dog does not need to be aggressive and, thus, can grow with quality of life.
As much as aggression is linked to the dog’s instinct for defense and protection, this does not mean that it is good for the animal.
Therefore, you must create a suitable environment for your pet to not have stress and anxiety for unnecessary reasons.
How to do this? Here are some tips on how to improve aggressive puppy behavior:
- Avoid stimulating bites.
- Stop interacting when he’s aggressive.
- Avoid paying attention in moments of “peace”.
- Environmental enrichment with toys for bites.
- Puppies have itchy gums.
Next, keep reading.
Avoid stimulating bites
You know those little bites that puppies like to give? So it is. These little nibbles, no matter how weak, can stimulate a series of bad behaviors in your dog. Mainly in the long run.
However, what to do, since puppies like to bite the hand and everything in front of them? In this case, it is important to work with prevention. That is, prevent the dog from conditioning the bites to something positive.
Therefore, create environments and a relationship that does not encourage your dog to be biting “for free”. As much as he likes you, you shouldn’t be the center of attention. Try to deflect those bites towards other objects.
Stop interacting when he’s aggressive
Another factor that helps to avoid an aggressive puppy is not encouraging aggressive behavior. For example, bites. It is important that you do not pay attention to him at these times.
That is, if you are playing with your puppy and, at some point, the dog starts to flirt with aggression, stop immediately.
Stop interacting immediately. Say no more and don’t move for the dog.
By doing so, you automatically stop stimulating the dog. That is, he loses all motivation to do what he was doing (being aggressive), because the tutor stopped paying attention.
Just leave the environment.
Avoid paying attention in moments of “pissing off”
Puppies, especially the more energetic ones, tend to make a lot of mess. That is, they can easily compromise the entire house if there are no toys and adequate energy expenditure.
So, the moment the dog starts to make a lot of mess, move away. Pay no more attention to him. That way, you don’t condition the dog to do something to get his attention. In the long run, he will be much calmer.
Don’t fight, don’t attract attention and don’t direct your voice to the dog in moments of mess. Even if you are “fighting”, for the dog, you paid attention. And in the end, that’s what he wants.
Environmental enrichment with bite toys
Puppies like to bite. There’s no getting around it.
Teeth are coming in, gums are itching and bites are getting better. However, for this to happen in a more controlled and balanced way, it is important to provide objects for the dog to have fun with .
That is, you must provide adequate environmental enrichment so that your pet can find objects to bite. That way, he will spend his energy on something that “everything is fine” and won’t do it on you or the furniture in the house.
Understanding the development process of a dog is very important. And not always an aggressive puppy is, in fact, aggressive. He just wants to bite to get to know textures and tastes.
Puppies have itchy gums
Did you know that puppies have very itchy gums?
Yes, this is very common and dogs tend to get very agitated because of it. As a result, they can bite and gnaw objects (and the tutor’s hand).
That is, this does not necessarily mean that the dog is aggressive. In fact, he’s just getting to know his body and noticing his teeth.
Aggression can happen from the moment the tutor encourages such behaviors. That is, from the moment the owner fights or acts in a way that frightens the dog.
In this case, aggression appears as a defense.
Aggressive Puppy – Start training the puppy from a very early age
And finally, one of the best ways to prevent the dog from becoming an aggressive dog is to train it from an early age. Training and follow-up with a canine behavior professional can help.
By starting to train the dog from a very early age, you ensure that he learns commands, tricks and is obedient. And not by imposition. But yes, by positive reinforcement. For positive stimuli.
In the long run, a dog that starts being trained from a puppy tends to be more balanced, healthy and docile. He comes to understand various situations and does not act in an aggressive, uncontrolled, anxious and nervous way.
Find out more about training puppies below.
Training for puppies – 5 steps
- Positive reinforcement with enticing snacks.
- Reinforce immediately after the hit.
- Don’t fight with the dog if he makes a mistake.
- Make an environment without bad stimuli.
- Consistency is the keyword for puppy training.
With these 5 practical steps, you will be able to train your puppy. Or at least, you can start (which is the most important thing). Next, understand more about each of the steps.
Aggressive puppy – Positive reinforcement with enticing treats
You’ve certainly heard of positive reinforcement, right? Well, positive reinforcement is what will actually reinforce an action/behavior of a puppy.
Therefore, positive reinforcement needs to be extremely positive for the dog. In this case, it is important to offer tasty treats that the dog really sees as a reward.
Reinforce immediately after hit
It is very important that you reinforce the hit soon after it happens. The second the dog does what you asked, reinforce the action with a treat.
Thus, he will begin to see the relationship between getting what he wants and doing what he is asked to do. In a short time, the dog will begin to react to your command automatically.
Aggressive puppy – Don’t fight the dog if he makes a mistake
Fighting with the dog is useless. Teaching it from a fight can be extremely harmful to the dog’s well-being and quality of life in the future.
So invest heavily in praise/rewards when the dog hits something. And not in the scolding when he misses.
Make an environment without bad stimuli
Environmental stimuli make all the difference for you to train a puppy. The more things that catch his attention, the less he’ll pay attention in training – and the less he’ll actually learn what you want to teach.
Build a calm, peaceful environment focused on the dog’s learning.
Consistency is the keyword for puppy training.
Consistency: this is what you need to train a puppy dog.
An aggressive puppy is unlikely to be aggressive if he has an energy expenditure, a routine and consistent training. In other words: that it always happens, and without sudden changes.
