Overprotective 6 month old!
 

Cupcake just turned 6 months old last week. He first started being agressive and overprotective towards my husband when my husband got out of his chair or walked towards me. Yesterday he acted out towards my 6 year old daughter and today towards our older dog. It is usually when I am holding him and someone comes near me. I am afraid he is going to hurt someone. If I hadn't been holding him and restrained him during his agressive behavior he probably would have. I am going to contact a dog obedience trainer tomorrow. Any suggestions on what I can do? Thanks.:(

I don't think its aggression...this is typical puppy behavior. My advice is to immediately stomp a foot and yell NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO as soon as he does this, pick him up and put him in his bed, house whatever...

bumping for better replies

Aggressive dogs that aren't ill or suffering pain usually become aggressive for a reason and begin to change once the dog starts losing some respect for his pack leader, usually due to a lack of boundaries and proper training. They often begin aggressive behavior by guarding things he considers should be his a little or becoming possessive. Routine causes of aggression are fear, frustration, stress or trying to achieve dominance over what he considers to be weak leadership. Canines are pack animals and programmed to live under a hierarchy with a clear pack leader or alpha dog and the others in the pack subject to that leader's boundaries. Starting the dog out with the Nothing In Life Is Free program where he has to obey a command to get even his basic needs met can start to show him who is really in control and the dog enjoys the process. Further enrichment of his life with more walks, challenging games and x3 daily obedience training daily in short 5 minute sessions, where he learns how to do what you say quickly for praise and a reward, all serve together to meet the basic needs of a healthy, happy dog, fill them with achievement and all of the busy activities and and teamwork teaching them self-confidence and building you up in his eyes as an authority figure to be respected and obeyed. A rehab program like this with all of these factors added can help defuse aggression at first and eventually just wipe the tendency out. Obedience training can truly teach a dog over a few weeks to learn to do what you say without question if the training is loving, patient and consists of positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats when he obeys the command you are teaching. Once he's accepted you as THE authority figure in his life, a simple point of your finger or even just a look can turn him away from bad behavior but the best part of this type training is that the dog rarely ever engages in it at all. Until he is trained, I would sure use a soft muzzle on him around children.

After a few weeks of basic obedience training and NILIF, you can crate him and allow your child to approach you as you sit right on the floor beside the crate and stroke her hair for a few moments, then toss the dog a treat. That's all of the session - just that for a few days to start to show your little one that you decide who and when someone approaches you and besides, he gets a nice treat when this happens. If he becomes agitated at first by the approach, don't be upset - he'll be learning by this exercise and in time he'll come to accept it. After a few more times of just a quick touch of your daughter, have her sit in your lap for a minutes or two as you toss treats and toys such as balls and squeaky toys into his crate to distract him, have her toss some of the treats in also. A few session of this and over time you should be able to allow her to come in and begin to hug and kiss you, play with you briefly, toss him some treats in the crate and then ask her to walk out. Don't allow these sessions to last longer than a minute or two. In time, repeatedly seeing her come in to interact with you as he learns to remain calm, is treated and distracted can help him begin to see her approaching you as a daily part of his life, a nonthreatening and routine happening which doesn't challenge his pack relationship with you as you've settled that with the training and NILIF programs. After a few weeks, when he just stays quiet and always remains lying down in the crate and watches and eats his treats/plays with the toys you both toss in as you play with your child by the crate, you'll see that he's come to accept her playing freely with you but he's done it in a stress-free manner. Later on, you can leash him and put him in a down/stay outside of but near the crate as you allow your daughter to come in and interact with you a few feet away. Herd him back should he try to approach you or her as she approaches or the interaction with her takes place. Do not permit him ready access to her around you until you are assured he is calm and beyond jealousness so just herd him back with your outstretched hands and even stand up and herd him back if he tries to engage. That privilege will come later when you are sure of his reactions.

After a couple of months, he should be on his way to accepting you as a pack leader, trained to obey you(but you won't stop here - you'll keep training daily - keeps them on top of the behavior game), submissive and desensitized to your daughter playing with you and when you think the time is right and he's a more mature and settled, calm, submissive dog, allow him to interact normally with the family but watch him for any signs of guarding or possessiveness and herd him out of the room should he begin to focus or alert to the child.

Telling him "no" and simple quick-fixes like that rarely work with aggression unless the situation is fully addressed or the dog is unusually submissive. A whole program of training, NILIF, frequent, fun walks, enrichment of his life with some challenging games, desensitization and months of bonding with you as his pack leader should bring this little one around and stop all aggression.

That's what I am talking about! Great post Jeannie!

Thanks for the advice. It is a lot of information.... I have slacked off the last 2 weeks with the training. We went on vacation and my brother watched him and then this week I had both of my children's birthdays. I had been working very hard with clicker training since I brought him home in February. He was the only puppy in his litter and he has always been a little nippy but it has changed lately and I don't want it to get worse. It is still mainly towards my husband and thought that it may be because my husband doesn't really have much to do with Cupcake. He is very loyal to our older dog and doesn't hold or play with Cupcake. He will take him out in the morning and feed him If I am not up yet but that is about it. I resumed working with him today, Making him obey commands for his food and toys and keeping him off of the furniture. I think I will put him in his cage when my husband gets home and cuddle with him after my husband has gone to bed. Hopefully this will begin to help. Thanks again.