Our litter will be 21 days old on Saturday. Weight gain has been very good. The gang is now wobbily walking around and have discovered they can now pee on their own without mom's help.
For the past 2 days or so, the 2 females in the litter have become VERY growl-y. Growly to each other and the 2 males. But, most distrubingly, growly to US humans! Growling when we go to pick them up, very growly when we hold them and even turning their little heads to try and bite at us.
What are we doing wrong?!? We are never harsh with the pups (they are puppies for goodness sake!). But I definately do not want to sub-conciously encourage this behavior. Today I've started holding the pup by the scruff till it "screams", but the growling continues when I stop.
It is very important to us that the pups learn that agression towards us is NEVER allowed.
I've searched here for info on this type of aggression, but everything I've found deals with older puppies; never ones this young.
I have had one or two pups about that age that did growl at, me. I kept picking them up and messing with them and they stopped in a few days. I don't believe mine were nearly as aggressive as yours are (it was funny when mine did it). I think if you just carried them around a lot it would help relax them about you. There is a "relax" spot on the top of the rump just in front of the tail that I gently rub/massage on any dog that likes/needs it. That seems to work very well to mellow them out (it also works on uptight horses).
Thanks Debbie. Yes, it *is* funny when they growl. Such a fierce sound and face from this 3.5 lb puppy!
I'll continue to handle them several times a day and see if that helps out.
I was just doing more reading here on Leerburg and saw where Ed doesn't do the scruff shaking thing anymore, but prefers the cheek hold and "knock it off" phrase. I think I prefer that.
Puppies at 3 weeks old are just learning how to "be dogs" PLEASE do not think you need to correct this at this age. That would be a huge mistake.
It would like correcting a 2 month old baby for pulling your hair as you are holding them. They really are not in control of their behavior yet, just running on instinct.
Puppies are not even completely neurologically developed until 49 days old, and their eyesight and hearing is still developing also.
Let the puppies be little dogs and enjoy watching them.
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
Posts: 2665
Loc: AZ
Offline
You're worrying too much about behavior at that incredibly young age. I wouldn't read anything into it, especially not aggression. Like Cindy said, let them be puppies and enjoy them, they're "just learning how to 'be dogs'".
Continue handling them, touching/stroking them all over, all the puppies; that's something you should be doing anyway so they can get used to the human touch.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Agression in 21 day old puppies????
Top
Re: Agression in 21 day old puppies????
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
.jpg)
.jpg)
