Aggressive Puppy

Bob, guess what I brought for you for your birthday? A cute cuddly Labrador puppy! Isn't he adorable? See, he is already starting to know you. I thing he would become a great friend of yours! What name should we keep for him? Hmmm... I suppose, Casper would be a good one!
A few days later...
Mom, did the shopkeeper tell you that Casper may start biting people after some days? (What are you talking about?) Every time I start playing with him, he starts growling and tries to bite me. I don't know what's wrong with this dog!..

This scenario is a common occurrence with almost all new puppy owners. Biting is something, that comes with birth in puppies. It's a way for them to prove their dominance and strength. Puppies do not part away with this quality of theirs, even when they leave their canine family and join ours; they come with them! Initially the biting may not be so pronounced or painful and that's why most owners ignore such a behavior. However, as puppies grow, so does their aggressive behavior, which can no longer be referred to as a playful nature. So, it is extremely important for owners to put a period to such a trait, before it takes the form of something irreversible. In short, 'Nip the evil in the bud'. So, here's what you can follow and consider while correcting the behavior of an aggressive puppy.

Training A Puppy With An Aggressive Nature

The first step is to know when to say 'No'; a firm and a bold one. Whenever you feel that the puppy is trying to bite you or put his teeth on you, catch hold of his muzzle and make the puppy listen to a loud 'No', coming from you. You must hold the muzzle tight but ensure that it's not too much. This technique has to be repeated consistently whenever the puppy is showing any signs of biting or nibbling on you.

When your puppy bites you, you may sometimes need more than just saying 'No'. When you sense that your puppy is turning a deaf ear to your saying 'No', then you need to confine him to his kennel or leave him alone in another room. This act will help the puppy to understand that what he is doing is undesired and unacceptable by his owner.

The games you choose also matter when dealing with aggressive puppies. Play games which do not involve the puppies to struggle or make use of their strength. For example, teasing the puppy by holding a toy just out of his reach, would encourage him to lunge to get hold of it and this would only heighten his aggressiveness and frustration. So, playing light games is important for controlling the aggressive behavior in puppy.

Another smart method to calm down an aggressive puppy is to make use of a spray product (Bitter Apple, for example). Use the spray on just about anything which you suppose would be an object for your puppy to bite onto; even on your hands. When your puppy tries to put his mouth onto something, the flavor will make him instantly regret his decision. Whilst the training, cover your hands with the spray and let it dry for sometime. Thereafter, just go for a casual play with your puppy and let his natural instincts drive him to put his teeth on you (which he would if he wants to bite you). The unpleasant flavor of the spray would give him an 'Unpleasant' experience and hopefully, he would start refraining from this behavior.

Do not follow what most pet owners resort to, while dealing with a pet's aggression. When your puppy starts biting you, it is completely natural for you to retaliate by giving him a smack and this is what you have to keep away from. Your aggression would only fuel your puppy's aggressive behavior. So, be calm and hold your temper, as, if you let it out on your puppy, his natural trait of self defense would make him more violent than ever.

Always hold on to this fact, that your puppy's aggressive behavior may have occurred from certain past situations in its life or from his natural canine instinct. Whatever the reasons may be, you have to do your bit to help your pet be social and friendly to all. For this, you would need to follow the tips described above, and show lots of love and patience from your side. It is also important to cater to all such rules and methods when the puppy is still young. Remember, when a plant is crooked and still growing, give it the support of a firm stick and help it grow upward.