September 21, 2011
My dog has been growling at us, especially while he is eating. Can this be corrected with proper training or is he going to always be aggressive?
Full Question:
We bought a cocker spaniel around 12 weeks old. He will be five months next week. He is so smart and very easily house trained and learns new tricks/commands daily. He is very friendly when he meets new people and dogs. However, at home sometimes he is quite scary to me. Mason, our new dog, has some behaviors that make me nervous. If you go close to him when he is eating, he growls and if you get too close will show his teeth. If he is laying on the floor and you go to close to his toy, he will growl. If you bend down to pet him sometimes he will growl. My daughters were sitting with him on the floor today and I sat next to him and he growled at me. I have been reading on what to do, so we don't let him on beds, couch, etc. He actually backed me into a corner yesterday because I got too close to him while he is eating. We are planning on getting a trainer and had him neutered last week. My question is, can this be corrected with proper training or is he going to always be aggressive? 
Cindy's Answer:
You are allowing your dog to take the dominant position in your house, he’s claiming the food, toys and space around him. This WILL GET WORSE unless you change the way you handle him on a daily basis.
Start with our groundwork program and Pack Structure for the Family Pet.
He’s only 5 months old, this would be like a 5th or 6th grader bossing his parents around. He needs to have all his movements in and around your house controlled, and be on a leash AT ALL TIMES when he isn’t in a crate or exercise pen.
Dogs like this may always show a tendency to be dominant/aggressive but with consistent handling and leadership you should be able to straighten him out.
Cindy Rhodes
Start with our groundwork program and Pack Structure for the Family Pet.
He’s only 5 months old, this would be like a 5th or 6th grader bossing his parents around. He needs to have all his movements in and around your house controlled, and be on a leash AT ALL TIMES when he isn’t in a crate or exercise pen.
Dogs like this may always show a tendency to be dominant/aggressive but with consistent handling and leadership you should be able to straighten him out.
Cindy Rhodes
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