My adopted dog barks aggressively at my teenage son. What to do?

Frankie is adorable! Thank you for posting pictures. Unfortunately, dogs can act differently in different situations. He may have been good with other dogs in a shelter or rescue situation, but doesn't do well on a leash or in a car for example. Since it sounds like the behavior is not showing any signs of improvement, I think it's time for a trainer to help you. If Frankie was adopted from a shelter or rescue, I would contact them to ask for a recommendation for a trainer. They may even have a trainer that has worked with Frankie. If they do not have a recommendation for you, I would recommend asking your vet for a recommendation for a trainer. It will be important for a trainer to see how Frankie reacts to other dogs in order to help you change that behavior. Behavioral problems can take a while to resolve, but Frankie is young, and it will certainly be worth it to resolve this problem before it gets any worse. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Dog aggression is relatively common and while there are training techniques to reduce dog aggression it can be difficult. If you can identify certain triggers: i.e. if she is only aggressive when she is at home, or when she is on a leash, it can be easier to work on training her to 'ignore' other dogs or desensitization. I would recommend seeing a behaviorist - your veterinarian would likely be able to recommend someone in your area. Until you are able to work on some training I would recommend avoiding contact with other dogs so that there are no injuries.

Hello! This can be corrected with time and patience! If Toby has mostly spent his life around women, then humans with deeper voices that often have covered faces (beards, hats)- like men, can be new and a little scary at first. Start by slowly introducing Toby to new people for short periods of time, so he doesn't get overwhelmed. Bring treats with you so that you can reward Toby whenever he is acting calm and friendly. If he gets overwhelmed, remove him from the situation so he can calm down without being punished. Over time, he will become more socialized and confident around new people. I hope this is helpful!

It's likely this behavior is related to puberty. Sometimes temperament can change. Spaying and neutering may help but training is still needed. I also recommend to work with a trainer. Someone at doggie daycare may be able to help or recommend someone. Here is a link with some other helpful information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-stop-excessive-barking-in-dogs/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

While you may think he "knows he shouldn't do it" that doesn't mean he actually does, or isn't still wanting to do it. It could be that the maid coming by is extremely stressful for him, or he has fear associated with it- especially if you scold him every time. In his mind, he may think maid comes over = I get yelled at, so he tries to shoo away the maid in the hopes he won't be yelled at or scolded. Speaking with a trainer or behaviorist about BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) is a good idea. This can help nervous or fearful dogs desensitize to certain stimulus through positive, gradual introductions, rather than forcing him into a fearful situation. Moving him to another room or outside until you can work with a trainer can also help and can keep your maid safe from being bitten if he's actively trying to bite her. Trying to make her coming by a positive experience instead of a fearful one may also help. When she comes by, have her toss him a treat and then ignore him, or give him a special Kong or toy filled with his favorite snacks, so that he begins to associate maid coming over = fun! instead. As aggression is a very complicated issue, I highly recommend working with a trainer or behaviorist in person so that they can observe and work with you to positively change Brownie's behavior. In the US you can find a list of nearby behaviorists here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

At his age, it may be fear aggression that is driving the behavior. The more you can socialize him and reward appropriate behavior from him the better. Here is an article with great advice on doing just that. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/socializing-your-dog Here's some great information about aggression in dogs, explaining the different types of aggression, and giving you advice on how to help the behavior. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression Good information on introducing dogs: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/introducing-new-dogs I hope thats helpful for you! I'm sorry for your recent loss, and I hope Laddie III brings you all joy for many years to come. Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree with you, the discipline has not been handled correctly. There are other, better ways to discipline a dog but at this time it is going to be difficult to correct without a professional trainer. Does she have fear aggression? I don't know because I have not witnessed the behavior myself so I can't say for sure. You need a professional dog trainer to come to your house and see the dog's behavior and how the dog interacts with everyone in the house. Only then can they make recommendations on how to correct the problem. Sometimes you need to work concurrently with a veterinarian as behavior modification medications may be needed in the beginning of the re-training. I'm sorry I do not know where you are located so I can't really recommend a trainer. I suggest you call your vet for a recommendation. Hope this helps. Best wishes.