My Staffy X Bullmastiff puppy keeps baring her teeth and growling?

Question

shes only 7-8 weeks andat first i thought it was cute coz shes so small,but my 2 year old was stroking her (not being rough) and she growled at her, it freaked me out abit, i just want to know how to stop her doing this completley, shes alovely pup i dont want to be overly wary of her.

thanks xx

Answer 1

when she does this hold her snout and say no over and over so she will know not to growl.u can also tap her nose and blow in the nostrils along with the scolding.don't let her get away with it or u will have problems later on. show her u are the boss and not her.praise her whan she stops and give her lots of love. keep working with her until it clicks in that u will not tolerate this behavior. good luck

Answer 2

puppy's do this for a protective barier. you have to think its only a pupy and its thinking that the older dog is going to take sumthing off them or do sumthing that they dnt want.

i have  pomcha who is 2yr(chihuahuaxpomeranian) and a beagle puppy that is 15weeks. the pomcha goes the beagle becos she jelouse or she just wants to be left alone. they just need time to get along. and then they'll be good friends if not soon take your pup to the vet.

Answer 3

You really need to grip this now and be very careful.

Your dog is a puppy but she will be learning very quickly by what she experiences.  These experiences will shape her behaviour for the rest of her life.

The dog may be frightened of your toddler or she may be sorting out the hierarchy in the way that she would with her litter mates.

Either way you have a dangerous situation that can only get worse if it is not dealt with now.

Do not leave the dog and child alone together - supervise at all times.

Make sure your child respects the dog and make sure that every experience your dog has with your child is positive.

The aggression sequence of a dog is normally 1. low level growl 2. showing of teeth 3. bite

From what you say your dog is already at stage 2 and the dog will make a split second decision especially if it is frightened.

Cute looking puppies still have the basic instincts that will lead to aggression.

Please get the help of a trainer or behaviourist.  You have a very small window of opportunity to make sure the dog is properly socilaised and becomes a balanced adult

Take care.

ADD - if you can afford to do it it would be best if the behaviourist/trainer could observe your dog and child together.  In this way he/she will be able to come to a view on why the dog is behaving in this way.  If it's fear agression it will need to be dealt with very differently to dominance aggression.  Treating one as the other will just make things worse.  Good luck!

Answer 4

Well, it seems that the person you got her from hasn't culled the litter. Culling takes away and destroys puppies that are not up to genetic standard, or in this case, since it is a mixed breed, cull aggressive puppies. I am sorry, but if you puppy is showing aggression at this early an age, training might not be beneficial. Some dogs are just born aggressive. This is why backyard breeding, and puppy mills can be not only cruel to dogs, but dangerous to people. Spaying and neutering dogs is extremely important so that this does not happen. Proper breeding, proper socialization, and proper understanding that some dogs are just born with issues is very important.

PS

This is no way means I am against bully breeds or rotties. Aggressive puppies are born in ALL breeds. Culling is not used often due to the controversy around it. I, in no way would euthanize a puppy because it doesn't meet breed standards, that I feel is archaic and spaying neutering should pick up that slack, but when puppies are born with severe aggression issues, it should be done as a way to protect the public. If this was done by backyard breeders, puppy mills, and careless individuals who intentionally allowed their dogs to breed, we wouldn't have many of the issues with dog bites that is seen in properly cared for animals.

Answer 5

This is definitely a case where you need to show that you're alpha.  The next time she does this, take her by the scruff of the neck,hold her and say a mean "no".  ALWAYS let her know that it's not okay to do this.  DON'T ignore it.  She will think she's won by you leaving.  An instant "no" by you will tell her that you are the alpha and only you are the one that will growl.  

You need to start leash training her too.  This is another way to break her in to your alpha status.  Go out the door first, go in the door first and make her walk by your side, never in front of you.  Take over now.  A Staffy and Bull Mastiff are too big to just wait and see if she outgrows it.