How Come My Puppy Is Aggressive Towards My Older Dog?

Puppy aggression can be a perplexing problem for new dog owners. When their sweet little puppy suddenly lashes out at a familiar older dog or a new strange one and turns into a tiny version of Cujo, they don't know what to do. Puppies, like children, go through many stages and most often these responses come from a lack of instruction and socialization rather than inherent personality problems.

  1. Parental Control

    • Puppies will roughhouse and learn what is acceptable behavior from each other.

      Like small children, puppies need their mothers to teach them right from wrong. Young puppies wrestle with each other and learn bite control from the pain they cause each other. Because the puppies are all the same age, size and maturity, they do not hurt each other and they learn important social skills. They also learn that taking a chunk out of mom, biting too hard or biting tender areas will produce a response. The mother uses correction so the puppies learn the signals other dogs give to show a mounting level of intolerance. However, puppies separated from their litter mates and mother before the age of eight weeks do not learn these social signals and limits.

    Genetics: Heredity and Inbreeding

    • Heredity and inbreeding are factors that can affect aggression. Well-bred puppies, even from dominant breeds such as German Shepherds, Dobermans and rottweilers, have stable temperaments and react appropriately to a situation, provided their environment is healthy as well. However, rampant breeding of related dogs or regardless of quality and disposition produces unstable aggression in any breed from toy poodles to Great Danes.

    Napoleon Complex

    • Another reason puppies show aggressive behavior is when size is a consideration. Very small puppies may feel the need to assert themselves when the other older dog is large. As the puppy has to start fending for itself for food, space and play areas, it sometimes compensates for its size with an overabundance of aggression.

    Fear Factor

    • Previous attacks by older dogs because the puppy was left to socialize without supervision can create fear and subsequent aggression toward bigger animals. A puppy may feel it has to react or be attacked. This can be the case even with dogs who live together, if they are left unsupervised alone in the house. Until the dogs are mature and you know they have a history of getting along, never leave a puppy with an older dog alone. Puppies play and that can aggravate even a sweet-tempered older dog and cause it to snap at the puppy. In some cases, an older dog may be smart enough to wait until the owner leaves before showing aggression to the puppy. You may then see the resulting backlash as the puppy seems to develop aggressive tendencies unexpectedly.

    Prevention

    • Always buy a puppy from a reputable breeder who takes the time to provide the information on your puppy's background and genetic makeup and can show you the parents. Interact with the parents to be sure they have an even temperament. The best prevention for puppy aggression is making sure the puppy stays with its litter mates and mother for at least eight weeks. Once home, make sure the puppy and an older dog do not have to fight for resources like food, sleeping space or attention. Separate your dogs into their own respective areas when situations escalate to aggressive behavior. When you are with your dogs, socialize them together and with other dogs.

    Stopping Aggressive Behavior

    • If aggression is already a factor, never let your small puppy stay in an area with a bigger dog unsupervised. Watch for signals that boundaries are crossed. Never play tug-of-war games with the puppy or allow any biting in play.