Why does my puppy growl when I try to take something away?

Dogs have evolved to be excellent opportunistic scavengers. If we or anyone or anything tries to take away what the dog has acquired, the dog may growl and be willing to fight and bite to keep possession of that item. This behavior is called resource guarding, and while undesirable, it is a normal behavior for a dog.

Why does my dog bite me when I take something away?

Canine possession aggression is also sometimes referred to as food aggression or resource guarding. If your dog has this problem, it may growl, snap, or bite to protect a resource, such as food, toys, beds, or other objects, from being taken away by another dog or person. This is the dog’s way of saying, “Back off!

What to do if your dog growls when he has a bone?

Using extra special yummy treats (usually chunks of meat) is important because you want the reward to be more special than the thing the dog typically guards. If the dog ever growls at you during this process, do not punish her – simply take note of how close you were and stay farther away next time.

How do I train my dog not to growl and bite?

Training Your Puppy to Stop Growling

1. Distract them from their bad behavior.
2. Yelp or call out if they’re growling at you and step away from the situation.
3. Remove them from the situation if they show signs of aggression.
4. Let your puppy calm down in another room or their crate when they’re overexcited.

What do I do if my dog growls and snaps at me?

Instead of Punishing, Back Off and Think! But if your dog growls or snaps, or if you’ve caught one of those more subtle warning signs I mentioned earlier, your best bet is to back off. Exit the situation. Take a deep breath or 50, enough for you and your dog both to settle down. And then think.

Do puppies grow out of aggression?

Will my dog outgrow the aggression? Puppies may go through a biting phase that they will often outgrow. Unfortunately in most cases, true dog aggression often escalates as the dog ages. Keep in mind that the behavior modification methods used to treat dog aggression are often just as beneficial for normal dogs as well.