10
Sep
Puppies and dogs use the very same body language and growl during play as they do for aggressionthey just use the signals in a mixed-up order or exaggerate the behavior to show theyre just kidding Play aggression with puppies that dont know how to inhibit their bite though can be painful and scary. Why your Labrador is aggressive to other dogs A lack of exposure to other dogs.
My female black lab Shadow has just recently started to show aggression towards stray dogs and now its the occasional passerby she will lunge atno growling just up from sitting lunge at the perceived threat.
Why is my labrador puppy aggressive. Take your Lab pup to the vet for a checkup if he begins showing signs of aggression including nipping growling or snarling. Sometimes a medical condition such as hypothyroidism an infection a seizure disorder or an injury can make your dog irritable and more likely to become aggressive according to the Labrador Retriever Rescue. Being a keen dog-parent will ensure you can observe and correct the signs of aggression.
With more love and care your dog can be the calm Lab it is meant to be. Know that by being aggressive your dog is trying to communicate something. It is your responsibility to find out what it is and resolve it.
Learn more about Labs here. Aggression due to fear food object guarding and idiopathic biological aggression are just a few examples of more serious behavioral problems. These are all atypical behaviors that a dog exhibits in response to pain or fear or to communicate conflict or threat.
There are lots of theories as to causes and methods of treatment for dog aggression. Some possible causes of Labrador behavior problems are as follows. Poor health pain or illness Fear or being scared of something or someone in their environment Inadequate socialization when they were a puppy.
Some possible causes of pain include arthritis bone fractures internal injuries various tumors and lacerations. Other illnesses may affect your dogs brain leading to seemingly unreasonable aggression. Conditions such as cognitive dysfunction and brain diseases or tumors may provoke the onset of aggression.
The puppy has become aggressive about biting especially if the bites break the skin and cause bleeding. Its a sign the dog is trying to be dominant. You need to take action immediately when a puppy wont stop biting and cant be distracted from doing so with treats or commands.
If pain isnt causing your dogs aggression then ruling out illness is extremely important. Seizures low or high thyroid levels anxiety and chronic illnesses can cause sudden aggression in dogs to happen so always see a veterinarian first. Find a Professional Dog Trainer.
Why your Labrador is aggressive to other dogs A lack of exposure to other dogs. The cause could be that it was not around other dogs much as a puppy. It could be the case that your Labrador does it because it is being dominant.
This would be more likely if it. A truly aggressive puppy is in fact a frightened puppy. Before attacking an aggressive pup will cower and hide perhaps accompanied by a low growl.
If their efforts to avoid you have been unsuccessful an attack is usually the last resort. There are ways to deal with an aggressive puppy. Its very common to see puppies that have an overly rough play style low bite inhibition low frustration tolerance or even mild resource guarding issues.
When I get a call about an aggressive puppy from a client its almost always a puppy that fits into one of these categories. Joy I guess it depends on your dog but I disagree. My dog loves to wonder off and do things dogs do on walks.
He jumps through puddles swims in ponds sniffs bushes plays with other dogs runs about finds sticks etc and he loves this. He doesnt need to stay by my side nor does he crave my attention as hes distracted by other things. The younger a dog is when it shows serious aggressive behaviors such as growling or snapping when handled the more likely it will bite and injure humans in the future.
Punishment methods of training have been shown to worsen aggression. 80 of dogs presented to behavioral specialists for problem aggression have been trained by their owners at home using punishment methods. Whenever one Lab puppy goes out of line and bites too harsh the other puppy or the mother retaliates by growling or running away.
In this way young Labrador puppies understand that they have to bite gently or they would be punishment You should use a similar technique. Whenever your Lab puppy nibs at you you stop paying them attention. My female black lab Shadow has just recently started to show aggression towards stray dogs and now its the occasional passerby she will lunge atno growling just up from sitting lunge at the perceived threat.
She is now 3 and a half years old and this started about 6 months ago. MY PUPPY IS AGGRESSIVE. Now I can honestly say Ive never seen an aggressive puppy in my life.
But Ive observed pups that have no idea how those sharp little nails and teeth can hurt us. And we certainly want to curtail any play biting in one day if every family member is consistent with our recommendation on play biting. Puppies and dogs use the very same body language and growl during play as they do for aggressionthey just use the signals in a mixed-up order or exaggerate the behavior to show theyre just kidding Play aggression with puppies that dont know how to inhibit their bite though can be painful and scary.