I have an 8 week old puppy that I've had for a week and I'm worried because she has growled and tried seriously to bite my 2 year old. I know the difference between puppies playing and puppies being pissed. It's weird. It's not over food or toys. The other day my husband was on the ground with my son and the puppy. The puppy starting running up to get in his face (she weighs about 3 lbs) and so he put his hand up to hold her back, this caused her to start growling and showing her teeth and trying to bite my son who was on the ground too. I just put her in her crate after that.
Then my son picked her up (I know this is wrong) but he didn't hurt her or do anything wrong and she was growling and showing her teeth.
I'm seriously scared about this!
She is a bull terrier and my third bullie, and I've never seen behavior like this. Normally the breed (from my experience) is very happy go lucky, like labs on steriods. She is the full sister of my 2 year old bullie and my 2 year old is the most tolerant dog on the planet.
What I told my husband (because he freaked out) is that she's treating us and my son like we're other puppies and that she's still learning how to be with humans and that she's just exibiting some dominant behavior and doing the same thing she'd do with her puppy pack.
I'm really worried that she's going to bite someone! I took her to church yesterday and let a big group of kids pet her and give her treats (making sure no one picked her up!)
My big questions are. Should I worry about this? And what should my reaction be? I don't want to encourage this behavior but isn't she too young to really correct?? Help!
I am not a trainer, but I do agree she is probably reacting how she did with her old pack. Or maybe she is the kind of dog who just can't get real rilled up, it sets her over the edge.
About taking her to church and letting the kids give her treats.
My adopted dog bindi was very afraid of people when I first got her. I did that, they could not touch her, but I showed them how to offer her a treat. It worked, and now she is cautious but never agressive. She loves people more now.
Did you get a chance to see her interact with her old pack, her litter? What was she like then.
I am sorry you are going thru this, it can be intimidating, but I am sure the dog trainers here will be able to help you. Its good to end it now, before she gets even bigger and more dangerous. I am sure they will give you great things to do.
God bless you
I saw her with all 5 of the puppies and they all ran up to me and seemed to be very confident. No growling, no rough play, no aggression. I spent about 45 minutes with them.
Has she recently received vaccines? I've done much research into this, because my gsd pup was showing aggression at 8wks old as well, and we had him vaccinated with the whole slew of them the day we picked him up at the breeders.
There's lots of great info about this in "Shock to the System" by Catherine O'Driscoll (I think I may have even gotten it off this website.) She talks about how Merck, one of the biggest vaccine manufacturers, has admitted that vaccines can cause adverse reactions such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain.) Symptoms of encephalitis can include many things, including aggression. Aggression at 8wks old is NOT normal.
Thank you, I am aware that my 2 year old should not be picking her up. Like I said, it happened ONCE and she also showed this same behavior when my husband had his hand on her chest holding her back from getting to something.
She has not showed this behavior since I posted the question, so I am hoping that this does not happen again and yes, the breeder did give her a shot the day we picked her up.... I'm keeping a close eye on her.
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
Posts: 4531
Loc: South Dakota, USA
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Vanessa,
Not sure why some jumped on the "don't let the two yr old pick her up" since your post reads it happened once and that in all reality you will not let it happen again.
So, let's get you some info to start reading and following in order to have a happy, satisfied and tired little demon.
Here are links that I like to recommend. Some are DVD's and some are e-books.
One BIG thing I would start is tethering her to you when she is out and about. This will allow you to watch her every move as well as teach her what is acceptable behavior and what is not.
Make sure everything is positive and fun for her.
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Aggressive 8 week old?
She is the full sister of my 2 year old bullie and my 2 year old is the most tolerant dog on the planet. 
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