• Anna Bettina Johnson
• Anthony Holloway
• BL Ochman
• Bridget Pilloud
• Janet Roper
• Dr. Jill Elliot

Ask Pawfun’s Holistic Dog Trainer: Help! My Six Month-Old Puppy is Aggressive!

A Pawfun Blog reader says: Help! I have a mixed-breed dog who is approximately six months old and she’s showing signs of aggression (especially in the morning at feeding time.) We got her from the pound as a puppy and we think she is a Blue Heeler/Australian Shepherd mix. She barks, growls a lot and gets in fights with our other dogs.

I love her to death but I’m afraid if she keeps getting worse she might get aggressive toward us. I can’t really afford an expensive trainer and I don’t know if this is something she will just grow out of…(I doubt it)

She runs outside with two other dogs, one her age a Border Collie/Terrier mix? and a Golden Retriever mix who’s a few years old and is very easy going. She’s a loving puppy but she’s not too bright. We got her the same time as the other puppy and they where raised in the house together and then they went out when they got a little bigger. (She didn’t like being in the house anyway) they have over 30 acres to run so space isn’t the problem… I really need advice.

Holistic animal trainer Anna Bettina Johnson of Happy Healthy Pup says: Aggressive behavior can exist because of several reasons. It sounds as if your puppy is resource guarding her food. It is not uncommon for puppies to act aggressively around food, especially puppies that have spent time in a shelter, such as yours. The best thing you can do for her right now is manage the situation! Make sure that feeding time is a safe and pleasant experience for her!

All Yours
First thing you should do is feed all the dogs in separate areas. If you have crates for everyone – great! Crate each dog in their own crate, with their own food, and don’t let them out until everyone has finished. If you don’t have crates, take the puppy into a different room, or even outside and leave her alone with her food. Make sure the other dogs cannot harass her or get to her food.

Treat Time
Since the aggression usually shows up when food is around. Make sure to be careful with treats and chews. You’ll want to follow the same protocol with chews as with mealtime. Make sure everyone has their own safe spot to enjoy a chew. If you are working on training or any behaviors that you are offering food rewards for, make sure that you are working with one dog a time.

Also, don’t take any good behavior for granted! The times your puppy is being well-behaved and not acting aggressively – praise her! And if it is safe to do so, offer her a food reward, or engage her with a favorite toy! Make sure to always praise and reward the behavior you want from her.

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