How to handle puppy aggression

When your young pup’s in their early developmental stages, and training is at its most crucial - you may wonder whether your puppy’s scrappy, playful behaviour borders on aggression. They’re experiencing everything for the first time, so they’re going to act out from time to time. Not to mention they’re going through teething, training, and experiencing rapid growth spurts - all of which can be overwhelming for them!

That said, it’s super important to nip aggressive behaviours in the bud, so that your pooch can live harmoniously with you as they grow, and integrate easily among other dogs, animals and people. 

Here’s our rundown on how to recognise aggression in your puppy, and how to redirect them to healthier coping behaviours so they grow into a calm, good-natured pooch. 

Is my puppy being aggressive or playful?

Firstly, how do you know if your puppy’s being aggressive? There are distinct differences between aggressive and playful behaviour in dogs. In general, playful behaviour is looser - your puppy’s body will seem more wriggly, smiley and bouncy; whereas aggression is usually defined by stiff muscles, frowning and tension. Here are some examples of playful demeanour in puppies as opposed to aggressive behaviour: 

Playful puppy behaviour looks like…

• A ‘smiley’ expression, with lots of bouncing and bowing. 

• They often pose in a classic play position, with the front legs lowered and bum in the air, tail wagging. 

• They won’t bite hard if they’ve already been trained, but will playfully nip or bite without it hurting badly (although it might be annoying). 

• They’ll take turns being ‘the chaser’ and ‘the chased’, rather than crossing boundaries with you. 

• Barking will be short and high-pitched, like little yelps.

Aggressive behaviour looks like…

• A stiff position with hunches raised, tail tucked between legs and a ‘frown’. 

• Your pup might grit and bear their teeth, and emit a low growl as opposed to playful little barks. 

• They might bark loudly and won’t quickly stop.

• They may show the whites of their eyes, and their fur might stand on end. 

• If they nip or bite, they’ll do it to hurt/warn you and won’t retract or soften quickly (like if it were playful). 

It’s worth noting that it’d very unusual to see true aggression in a puppy before puberty

Why is my puppy being aggressive?

Puppies can be aggressive before they’ve been properly socialised or trained. If they don’t yet have an understanding of how they should behave in the human world, they’ll act more on their ‘wild’ instincts by being territorial, possessive and/or fearful of others. 

At other times, they’ll just be being playful, but don’t yet understand how far is appropriate to go. Here are some common reasons or ‘triggers’ for a pup getting angry… 

• Food possessiveness. It’s a canine instinct to hide or protect food from other animals and litter mates, so if not trained to do otherwise, your puppy might show aggression at feeding times. Those who are regularly having things taken out of their mouths and taken from them in general, are more likely to become possessive.

• Showing dominance. Your pup might have an issue understanding who’s in charge, which could be down to their breed, lack of training, or potentially how they’ve been treated in the past.

• Fear around other dogs. Pooches often act with aggression when they’re scared, and the only way to channel that anxiety is to bark, growl and bite.

• Being territorial. Aggression can appear when your puppy’s being protective - either of their owners, the house, their personal space or even just a favourite toy. 

• Breed/genetics. Some dog breeds are more prone to territorial aggression or ‘surges’ of energy as puppies, including German Shepherds, Huskies, Dobermans, Jack Russells, Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. That said, any untrained or unsocialised dog can demonstrate aggression. 

• Lack of socialisation. If your pup hasn’t been around other dogs or people enough, they may experience a surge of energy when around them which comes out as aggression.

• Not trained enough. If training has become a bit slack, it might result in more aggressive behaviour. An untrained dog will be reactive and less responsive, becoming harder to control.

• Frustration. Sometimes puppies are just frustrated. If they want something or someone’s attention and they can’t have it, they’ll excel their behaviour until they’re noticed.

• They’re in pain/unwell. If your puppy’s usually well behaved but suddenly starts to act aggressively when touched or approached, they may have sustained an injury or been unwell.

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How to stop puppy aggression

So, how do we stop aggressive behaviour in puppies from becoming a real problem? The simple answer is training, training, training. Training a puppy to behave appropriately when they feel territorial, anxious or protective isn’t something to take or leave as a pooch parent. It’s essential to get it right from a young puppy age and throughout your dog’s life - so that they don’t develop unruly behaviours that will be harder to change as they get older. 

Here are some solid foundational tips to reduce your pup’s aggressive behaviour:

• Recognise their aggression triggers. Take note of when your pup gets aggressive and over time, you’ll start to recognise triggers. Perhaps it’s meal times, larger dogs, cats or visitors at the door. Initially you’ll avoid triggers, but over time you’ll gradually expose your pet to them, while providing coping mechanisms and reassurance.

• Learn your puppy’s body language. Your dog will be communicating with you all the time. They rely on you to know that they’re anxious when they yawn and lick their lips, or they need your help when they’re frozen still and have ‘whale eyes’. Ignoring these cues can lead to escalating cues, which results in growling, snapping and even aggressive attacks.

• Reduce stress. Puppy’s have a ‘stress bucket’ that gets filled up and can then ‘tip over’ into aggressive behaviour. If they’re getting triggered by things that worry them all day (think loud noises, unpredictable toddlers, negative interactions with other dogs), they may struggle to cope over time.

• Redirect their attention. As soon as your pup starts growling, nipping or being otherwise aggressive, immediately redirect them. This could be by pulling their lead in another direction (if outside), calling them to face you, offering a substitute toy or chew, or getting them to sit or stay. 

• Expose them to triggers. Rather than live a life of avoidance in an attempt to suppress your puppy’s outbursts, exposure therapy is the way to go. Once you’ve identified triggers, gradually introduce them to scenarios in which they’ll have to confront them, so they get enough practice in learning to behave. Of course, only do this if it’s safe. If you feel their aggression might put others at risk, get in touch with a behavioural specialist. 

• Reward good behaviour. If your puppy learns to calm down when directed, or even if they’re just displaying chilled behaviour more often, be sure to reward them and give praise. The more they associate calmness with getting a calming puppy treat, the more they’ll understand the best way to behave.

• Be sure they’re getting enough exercise. Dogs need regular and thorough outdoor exercise to boost their endorphins, get exposure to different sights and smells and expend their big bursts of energy. Without it, they’re likely to behave in undesirable ways, becoming destructive, attention-seeking and possibly aggressive to others.

• Establish a consistent routine. Puppies are just like children (and adults!) in that a daily routine helps them feel grounded, calm and safe. If you think you’ve been a bit too loose around sleeping times, meal times and walkies, it could be worth tightening it up and seeing if there’s improvement.  

• Consider their nutrition. A puppy fed on high sugar, fatty foods such as human leftovers and lots of artificial treats is more likely to be hyper, reactive and fidgety, which could result in aggression. Be sure to give your pup regular meals of nutritious puppy food with natural, whole ingredients. Changes in mood begin in the gut, and if your puppy receives healthy ingredients, their digestive system will calm down - and so will they.

• Use interactive toys or chews. If your pooch is showing aggression at home, a puzzle toy or a long-lasting dog chew can offer them something to get engrossed in and use excess energy. Chewing is actually proven to help calm dogs down, so use them to your benefit!

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When to seek professional help

If you feel you’ve tried everything and you’re still not getting the desired results, there’s no shame in seeking help. Puppy-rearing can be challenging, and some puppies are more energetic and chaotic than others. Seek assistance from a canine behavioural specialist, a qualified puppy trainer or your vet, who can pass on some resources and recommendations to you. 

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