My protective dog barks at the new nanny. How can I help him?

This type of behavior can be very concerning, especially when there are small children around. The good news is that your puppy is still very young and this is a good time to teach her good and appropriate behaviors. You are already doing a great job by exercising her regularly (a fast-paced 20-30 minute walk 2-3 times a day is best) and by redirecting her aggressive tendencies with chew toys. Another tactic you can use in training is to immediately stop play and ignore her if she starts becoming aggressive. This will teach her that that type of behavior does not get her what she wants (your attention). It is also a good idea to always use positive reinforcement when she is being well behaved. Puppies respond better and learn faster from positive reinforcement (like verbal praise and treats) than negative reinforcement (like yelling or hitting them). It would also be wise to start some initial training of basic commands as well, like sit, stay/wait, come, etc. This will help her focus and energy levels and will help establish your role the dominant one in the relationship. I hope this helps. Remember, persistence early on will help you raise a great puppy. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Dallas is suffering from anxiety. Dogs can become anxious when separated from their owner (even if it's a quick trip to the store!) or when moving into a new place. I would recommend encouraging independent play by offering Dallas a kong filled with frozen peanut butter or another toy/treat that encourages him to play by himself. I would also look into a pheromone collar and thundershirt to see if that can help him as well. If these suggestions are not enough or you have further concerns, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Charlie is barking so much at the construction. Since it is such a new, loud noise, he is not used to hearing it yet. My best advice is for you to ignore the noise - the less you react to the noise, Charlie will realize that it is not a big deal. It may take 2-3 days for him to adjust. If after this time, he is still barking incessantly, I recommend asking your veterinarian about a calming medication he/she could prescribe for the short term. A good example is Trazodone. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Almost any behavior can be resolved with training and behavior modification. I would highly recommend you consider contacting a local dog trainer who can work with you in person as that is needed. This should work but it will take time and persistence and of course a professional working with you both. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

It could be a combination of being fearful/anxious and a bit possessive/protective. Try not to overwhelm her with too many people at once. Gradually acclimate her to one person at a time by exposing her for ever increasing periods of time. Correct any negative response immediately and praise good behavior consistently. Add in a new person as she accepts the previous one. Be patient. This will take time. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety she may have.

I would probably separate them for awhile to help them get acclimated to the situation. Rocky may end up needing some anti-anxiety meds or a calming collar like adaptil to help him de-stress. I would start by introducing them with a door between them and hopefully Rocky will get use to the idea that the puppy isn't going anywhere and stop barking. If you thinks he needs anti-anxiety meds, I would talk to your vet for a prescription. I hope this helps!