Retrievers, on the whole, are great family dogs. Because of their easygoing temperament, they don’t mind when kids run circles around them and climb on them. In addition, they are brilliant, so they learn quickly, and their strong desire to please often makes retrievers an excellent addition to the family.
On the other hand, some retriever puppies are high-energy ball of fire that is difficult to train or handle in everyday life. And there will be disturbing moments of aggressive behavior. There is, however, a fine line between puppy play and hyperactive and aggressive behavior. Some owners are reluctant to intervene because they think it is simply puppy behavior and the dog will outgrow it. However, owners get concerned when the puppy fails to outgrow the behavior.
If you have a hyper or aggressive golden retriever puppy, you may wonder what you can do and why they behave this way. Here’s some advice on the topic.
Aggression in Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers aggressive is when puppies play with their littermates, they may be somewhat become aggressive. This is natural, as dogs always figure out their pack and where they fit in. Likewise, when you become your puppy’s pack, they will want to find out where they fit in. However, like the mama dog does not tolerate roughhousing, you, as the new mom or dad of the pack, must step in and draw the line between what is and is not acceptable.
Recognizing puppy play
The attitude of a retriever puppy indicates whether or not it is playing. When in a play stance, your puppy’s head will be near the ground, and its rear end will be in the air (often with a wagging tail). They may also rush about in circles, growling or barking in high-pitched barks, but their ears will be up, their tail will be wagging, and they will not seem threatening.
Puppy aggressiveness is unusual in pups under the age of 12 weeks. Natural aggression is defined by a dog’s prolonged growling, stiff posture, and teeth baring. Their hackles (back hair) will be up and positioned in a threatening position with their ears back. If you approach a dog in this stance (which I strongly recommend), it will often come toward you and try to bite or snap at you. This form of aggression should be avoided since it is unhealthy. Isolate the dog as much as possible and seek aid or advice from a veterinarian or other professional.
What are the signs of aggression in puppies?
All pups may behave aggressively, but treating aggressive behaviors while your dog is still a puppy can significantly affect how or if that aggressiveness progresses.
When I say aggressive, I mean a dog that growls, nips or bites, bares its teeth, or barks at you. These are all types of aggressiveness, and none should be tolerated as a puppy or a dog.
Puppies also exhibit dominance behaviors that are sometimes interpreted as aggression. Dominance behaviors are a puppy’s method of determining where they belong in the group. They include jumping on people, stepping on them, pushing you about, forcing you to pet them, and others. While these acts may be done aggressively and should be corrected as soon as possible, they are not the same as aggression.
Is it normal for a puppy to be very aggressive?
It is natural for a puppy to put you to the test with aggressive behaviors. However, it is your responsibility to limit aggressiveness and ensure that your puppy knows their role in the family. That placement should be at the bottom of the pack, under all your family members.
I know your dog is a member of your family, but putting your dog over any or all of your family members is asking for trouble. If you don’t believe this, do some research on dog psychology. Treating your dog like a human and attributing human thoughts and reasoning to your dog is not fair to your dog or your family. Love your dog, but make sure he is the lowest member of your pack, and obedience and basic good behavior will be much easier.
How to stop my puppy’s aggressive behavior
So, if you’re already knee-deep in puppy aggression and maybe at wit’s end, here is some advice on how to retake control of your dog’s aggression and reinstate family peace.
How to stop puppy growling
Dog aggression often starts with growling. For example, you may notice if you reach down to take your dog’s food while they are still eating. Or if you try to take your dog’s toy away from him. Some people believe it starts when they put their dog in their crate. However, this is a more severe condition.
It is essential to nip aggression in the bud as soon as you see it, regardless of how or when it occurs. A sharp NO command is often necessary, particularly if given at the first sign of a growl or nip. Other times, you may need to squeeze your dog’s muzzle. If these corrections do not seem to work, I will crate my dog if it growls at me. Essentially, putting them on timeout. Ensure you do not let your dog out of the crate while he is barking. Allow him to go if he is behaving correctly.
I will focus on this behavior if your dog growls when you grab their food while eating. I would often reach down and take my dog’s food away from him while he was eating. This explains to your dog that you are in control, not them.
Use unpleasant behaviors to train your dog that growling is unacceptable.
How to stop puppy nipping or biting
A dog that nips or bites you were most likely started as a puppy. Unfortunately, many people find it amusing, but permitting this behavior to continue is dangerous. We teach our puppies at 8 weeks old that biting and nipping people is unacceptable. And at such a young age, they learn it quickly.
If your puppy bites or nips at you, immediately grab his muzzle and squeeze his muzzle while saying NO BITE. It is usual for your pup to cry or squirm. In reality, to make an impression, you must be pretty stern. Try this minor adjustment if grabbing the muzzle isn’t changing your puppy’s behavior. When you grab your puppy’s muzzle, fold their gums over their teeth and squeeze. You practically push your dog to bite itself while saying NO BITE. If you are strict and consistent in your correction, your dog’s biting and nipping will stop. If it continues, you need to be more firm and consistent.
How to stop a puppy from baring his teeth
A puppy or dog that shows you his teeth threatens to bite you. Even if the puppy bares his teeth and growls, you must end this behavior. This is significantly more dangerous than a dog nipping at your hand. The nips may occur during play since it is how pups interact with one another, but baring of teeth and growling are not. And you must handle it differently.
I’d start with a command NO and shaking your puppy’s scruff (the hair and skin at the top of your dog’s neck between the ears and shoulders). I’m not talking about shaking your dog off the floor, but it may be a significant correction if your puppy is very young.
Have you ever seen a mother dog correct her puppies? For example, the mother dog will grab her puppy by the scruff of the neck, shake them, and then throw them to the ground. This is not a violent act but rather a natural puppy correction. When given this correction, the pups seldom cry or whimper; instead, they walk away and realize that their behavior is unacceptable.
If your dog continues to bare his teeth after this correction, you may be working with a bigger problem, and I would proceed with caution. Actual dog aggression is not to be treated lightly. Aggressive dogs may snap anytime, from baring their teeth to full-fledged attacks. Seek veterinary assistance and guidance if your dog’s aggression seems to be progressing or growing.
Conclusion: Why is my Golden Retriever Dog so Aggressive
Much hyper and aggressive behavior in puppies under 6 months of age is simply puppy play. But that doesn’t mean you should give it the green light and let it follow its path. You must teach your puppy boundaries, and the sooner, the better. Be constant and persistent in your corrections, and you will reap the benefits over time.