New rescue dog biting when putting on harness. Is he in pain?

It sounds like Nova could benefit from a good trainer and maybe puppy school. Young dogs need to be taught what is acceptable and what is not, but taught in a way that does not damage their bond and trust with you. Ask your veterinarian for trainer/ school recommendations in your area. I still take my 4 year old do to school “refresher “ Lessons every few months. It keeps us both remembering how to communicate . Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and her in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello, I would recommend having your vet check your dog, it could certainly be behavioral but it could also be something medical going on by your description, such as an infection or a rash. Your vet will start with a good physical exam and be able to get some answers for you.

I am suspicious that he may be painful somewhere. Possibly spinal pain. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. If no pain is identified then you may want to discuss the possibility of anti anxiety medications and possibly a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist. These situations can take quite some time and training an sometimes different medications to find the right combination. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

It may go either way but I would doubt she has an aggressive nature or the start of your companionship would have not been so well. It may have been too many changes too quickly without letting her adapt. A new environment, people and another pet was overwhelming. It is best to keep her quiet and away until she starts to trust you again and not act aggressive. Once that happens, slowly introduce her to new people and let her explore the environment then let her be around the other pet. She will be scared and stress to start so go slow and be patient.

Biting aggressively is a serious concern and a very complicated thing to deal with. Leash aggression can sometimes manifest and be redirected toward the person putting on the leash, however if this suddenly happened out of the blue I'd be concerned. A good first step with any behavioral issues that comes on suddenly is to schedule a vet visit to rule out any issues such as pain or illness. Something wrong such as a slipped disk causing pain in the neck or shoulders may make having Griffy's collar or neck handled painful, causing him to bite. If he checks out healthy, talking with a trainer or behaviorist in person is a good next step. They can work with you on a plan to gradually reintroduce the leash to Griffy through positive experiences (such as giving a treat when you bring out the leash, gradually getting him used to it again, etc) and can observe in person what exactly is going on to better tailor the plan. A veterinary behaviorist can also work on both medical treatment and behavioral treatment at the same time to make things less stressful for both you and Griffy. If he is attempting to break the skin while you put the leash on, refraining from doing so until you've talked to a trainer or behaviorist in person is best. You can find a list of local behaviorists in your area by checking out this link: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

Wedo is adorable. I would consider getting a dog trainer or behaviorist They can see what he is doing and what the triggers are to make him scared. Then I would talk to your veterinarian about possibly starting medication to help Wedo with his anxiety. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.