puppy suddenly growling at me and lunging at me

[Anonymous]

My sweet puppy boy (14 weeks) out of nowhere started growling at me on a walk and was very angry. What could have been the cause? It was strange. He is back to normal but could it have been the way I was pulling (nothing out of the ordinary) We were going down a hill if that matters? This is totally out of character.

[Anonymous]

rabies

[Anonymous]

Puppies are azzholes. He had a moment. I wouldn’t be too worried.

My Mastiff, who is the sweetest dog on the planet, growled at me once as a puppy.

Once. That’s it.

She’s a giant marshmallow.

[Anonymous]

What kind of dog OP?

And you need a trainer to teach you how to walk a dog.

My guess is that is where the issue is.

You should not be "pulling"

[Anonymous]

leash aggression.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a choke collar? Or a shock collar? Puppy is giving you a clear warning that they don't like what you are doing. Get a trainer if you can't figure it out.

[Anonymous]

He is asserting his dominance and trying to get off leash. Mine did the same at the same age and was a golden doodle. It was really upsetting at first. You have to take charge and be firm and ignore / control as much as you can, rather than reacting or allowing it to happen.

One thing I did notice weirdly was it happened at exactly the same point on our way home from walks - just as we turned into our street and it was like a trigger for him "oh this is the place where I acted like a little bastard before, I'll do it again!"

So I walked home a different way and that actually helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is asserting his dominance and trying to get off leash. Mine did the same at the same age and was a golden doodle. It was really upsetting at first. You have to take charge and be firm and ignore / control as much as you can, rather than reacting or allowing it to happen.

One thing I did notice weirdly was it happened at exactly the same point on our way home from walks - just as we turned into our street and it was like a trigger for him "oh this is the place where I acted like a little bastard before, I'll do it again!"

So I walked home a different way and that actually helped.

Dogs aren't trying to dominate you.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Update, he started getting frustrated with my husband at the end of their walk today. Started jumping up at him. No other dogs around. He is otherwise always chill and has no problem with dogs or people. Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Training. Blue Ridge Canine. Get ahead of this OP.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I'm rupset about this. We see our trainer tomorrow and will mention. Is this common?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is asserting his dominance and trying to get off leash. Mine did the same at the same age and was a golden doodle. It was really upsetting at first. You have to take charge and be firm and ignore / control as much as you can, rather than reacting or allowing it to happen.

One thing I did notice weirdly was it happened at exactly the same point on our way home from walks - just as we turned into our street and it was like a trigger for him "oh this is the place where I acted like a little bastard before, I'll do it again!"

So I walked home a different way and that actually helped.

Dogs aren't trying to dominate you.

you have never met a dog.

all dogs do is attempt to dominate - they take your seat, they take your things, they take your food, they take the leash. this is a behavior that can be trained out but it's standard fare for most pups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Update, he started getting frustrated with my husband at the end of their walk today. Started jumping up at him. No other dogs around. He is otherwise always chill and has no problem with dogs or people. Suggestions?

He knows he's close to home and doesn't want to end the walk yet, so he's throwing a temper tantrum to stay outside longer.

[Anonymous]

My goldendoodle tried to be a bully for a few months when she was a puppy. On walks she would jump up at me even biting at my forearms. She would bite at the leash and try to get it away from me. We were working with a puppy trainer and it all worked out. It's pretty crazy when it's happening though, such a cute puppy can be really mean. Yes, trying to dominate 1000%!!

One trick that worked for us is a bit weird but worth a try. When she started jumping and fighting, I hooked the leash safely on a fence post or something else secure, turned my back on her a few steps away, not a word. It shocked her and she quieted down. Then I returned, had her sit, said "gentle" and continued walking with her. Turning your back is good so they aren't getting attention for their bad behavior.

She liked carrying a ball in her mouth for part of the walk and that stopped her habit of grabbing for me or the leash. Good luck op, it's worth the work!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like normal nipping and puppy biting when overwhelmed. I bet things get really chaotic when you say “no stop” over and over while jumping away from a lunging dog. All of that amps up the vibe and makes it worse.