puppy aggression

[Dizzy247]

I too think I have an agressive puppy. Spence is now 14 weeks and whereas he used to mouth and nip and bark it has esculated to standing in front of me and OH and properly growling, nose curled up with his teeth showing. I took him to the vet last week for a checkup and he bit the vet (she was not impressed). She said that behaviour was not good and he should have calmed down by now. She also said that he is showing a dominant side to him, she then proceeded to book me and Spence in with a councillor at the vets, which we attend in 2 weeks.

[Cob-Web]

I too think I have an agressive puppy. Spence is now 14 weeks and whereas he used to mouth and nip and bark it has esculated to standing in front of me and OH and properly growling, nose curled up with his teeth showing. I took him to the vet last week for a checkup and he bit the vet (she was not impressed). She said that behaviour was not good and he should have calmed down by now. She also said that he is showing a dominant side to him, she then proceeded to book me and Spence in with a councillor at the vets, which we attend in 2 weeks.

Oh goodness, how sad that such a young puppy has been labelled    Puppies have been behaving like this for generations, it is a critical part of the maturation and socialisation 

I increasingly believe that the expectations now-a-days are so high for normal dog behaviour to be suppressed and for dogs and puppies to fit some hypothetical "ideal" that suits us, rather than us accommodate their normal behaviour   

[Elmo]

I too think I have an agressive puppy. Spence is now 14 weeks and whereas he used to mouth and nip and bark it has esculated to standing in front of me and OH and properly growling, nose curled up with his teeth showing. I took him to the vet last week for a checkup and he bit the vet (she was not impressed). She said that behaviour was not good and he should have calmed down by now. She also said that he is showing a dominant side to him, she then proceeded to book me and Spence in with a councillor at the vets, which we attend in 2 weeks.

what was the vet doing to him when he "bit" her? Was it a proper bite or just a wee nip? What do you and OH do when he does the growling thing?

I think its a shame that people dont put as much pressure on parents to have better behaved children as they do on puppies. 

I agree with what Cob-web says in that there seems to be this pressure to have a puppy that doesnt do "puppy things". Whether its the ever growing televised quick fix dog trainers or something else that is to blame at the end of the day we all welcomed biting, growling, barking furry creatures into our homes....so we cant complain when they carry out their natural behaviour We just have to learn to understand it better.

[Bluebell]

Ditto what Rachel and Elmo have said. How can we expect an animal who has only existed on this planet for a mere 14 weeks to have all the manners and skills of a mature, well bought up adult dog?
I know of many, (if not all )children who were complete horrors at some stage during their early years, and am sure on many occasions a complete embarassment to their parents, but with consistent and clear boundries, have turned into fantastic, kind, well mannered young people. Why can we not apply the same reasoning to the behaviour of our young dogs?
 

[KatieJean]

have just been reading this and am I relieved. We have willow who is only 3 months old and improving every day but over the last 4 days has bitten my grandchildren just playing. It has caused an enormous row with my family. I should know better she is the 8th puppy we have had [6th cocker] but things have been very upsetting. I feel it would be best if we didn't see the grandchildren until the puppy is a little older but I know I am being extreme. She hasn't broken any skin just nipped but I have to get this sorted.

[Cob-Web]

I feel it would be best if we didn't see the grandchildren until the puppy is a little older but I know I am being extreme.

Not at all - several of us with young children have kept their young puppies and children apart except under incredibly close supervision for several weeks...

Visiting children are a bigger challenge than resident ones, imo - it is more difficult to teach both the puppy and the children the rules if they  don't share the household, the puppy is more of a novelty and excitement to the children and it is a lot harder to *train* someone elses child if you don't have the support of the childs parents