9 Week Old Puppy Getting Increasingly Aggressive

by Jackie
(Utah)

I've had my female a week and a half now. She ate some of our other dogs weight management food which made her not feel very well. She hadn't eaten much so I mixed a bit of wet food into her regular dog food.That's when the food aggression came out. She bit my boyfriend when he petted her and tried to move the bowl. She didn't snap right away, but is very possessive and growls and snarls. I wondered if it was simply because she hadn't eaten much and was super hungry, but when tested again the next day, she wasn't as violent, but still aggressive. I've hand fed her and tested this when I got her with her regular dry food and there's no aggression what so ever. Only when wet food or special treats are involved. I don't give her treats around our other dog, so that's not where the competition is stemming from. Then just this morning I went to put her out to go to the bathroom and as I picked her up like usual she aggressively growled and tried biting me. She did have a bone before, so I'm wondering if she felt like going out meant no bones? She's done well with training to sit and lay down, hasn't had an accident in the house since she whines when she needs out, even during the night and has since day one. I want to correct this, but am not sure how to correctly approach this one since I've never encountered this aggression in a puppy before. Please help! Kids are involved, so this aggression can't carry on.

Comments for 9 Week Old Puppy Getting Increasingly Aggressive

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 05, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Food agro pup
by: Anonymous

Is she from a real breeder or a farmer/ byb. Do not try and pin her get physical with her. It will make it worse and she will lose your respect snd trust. Try hand feeding her. Start working with her snd teaching her things like sit stay down and following you on a walk instead of leading the way. If it ws from a breeder contact them.
Jan 05, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Aggression
by: Donna

Nine weeks is too young to have such an aggressive puppy.

It sounds like you have been working consistently with pup by hand feeding.You need to work more with pup by continuing to hand feed the wet food. It's of higher value. Bones, well, those are highest value. Trade with cheese or something smelly that she likes.

You always need to train your kids never to go near the pup when eating or take things away. However, more work is obviously required in trading off goods. Have a positive-reinforcement trainer come in to help you. No punishment at all.

Kibble is pretty dull stuff. Not much value in it for some dogs unless they've been starved.

Did you pick her up when she had a bone? As in, she didn't want to be taken away from her bone? Dogs aren't going to relate with being picked up with not getting their bone outside.

My guess is she didn't come from a reputable breeder as in a breeder who breeds for sound temperaments and health and the dogs are registered with a recognized kennel club. You would normally go back to the breeder and they would help you with this.

Nine weeks is just too young for this behaviour.

Pup must always work for food in this case. Don't just feed pup. Take that bowl of food and put it on the counter. Take a bit and make puppy sit. Good pup and some food. Lie down, good pup and puppy gets some more of his dinner. Do this until bowl is empty. No free ride for pup.

If he is getting a bone, hold onto it while he chews. Take it away and give him some cheese. Then, give bone back. He needs to know he will get the bone back but you need to be able to take it away. Always hold it while he chews and keep doing the trade off.

Again, find a positive-reinforcement trainer come in to help you out. They will also be able to advise you much better since they would be there to see what is going on.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Great Pyrenees Questions.

CLICK TO FOSTER A PYR
PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE


Breaking News

RSS

  1. Shelby

    Mar 01, 21 11:40 AM

    ADOPTED Shelby's family sent the photos along. She is a lovely dog and a great fit for their family. Congratulations! Her story: Shelby, a big white

    Read More

  2. Highway 281

    Mar 01, 21 10:26 AM

    Three weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon we decided to drive to Red Cloud, Ne to mail a couple of letters. We were sad because we had recently lost our beloved

    Read More

  3. Incontinence and humping

    Feb 26, 21 08:32 AM

    Has anyone had issues with their female Maremma puppy at 3 months old after being house trained started wetting herself at four months all of a sudden

    Read More

  4. Howling

    Feb 22, 21 10:57 AM

    Why does my Great Pyrenees howl when my rooster crows?

    Read More

  5. Always loving, always working

    Feb 22, 21 10:30 AM

    Samson was added to our family 15 months ago he’s not only growing in style and grace he’s growing in beauty as well. But, when you first meet Samson

    Read More

  6. Love this story

    Feb 16, 21 03:56 PM

    I have had a Great Pyrenees for the last 34 yrs. Not a “working” dog except in my home. Trust them with my life and I too, would do anything for them.

    Read More

  7. Cold - 6-week old pup outside in room

    Feb 16, 21 01:28 PM

    Its currently 36°F here outside in texas. I have a 6 week old GD pup. He is sleeping in a little room outside so its technically cold too. I go check up

    Read More

  8. Crate Training

    Feb 16, 21 01:16 PM

    We are providing a temporary home during the 12 month deployment for a now 13 month old GP, Luna. We've had her consistently for 4 months. Prior to the

    Read More