I have a 12 week old westie puppy who I have had for about a week. He has been a joy so far, and is very friendly with me and my family. Last night, however, I gave him a small rawhide bone to chew on under my supervision. After awhile, I went to get him and the bone, and as I approached him (before even touching him), he growled, lunged, and bit my hand. I did not surprise him- I'm certain he saw me approaching him.
I was shocked because he had not previously shown any signs of aggression. He is not at all aggressive when playing with toys- he is actually doing quite well learning "drop", and he does not seem aggressive with his kibbles or other treats he's been given. Obviously, I am very nervous about this behavior and want to correct this aggression or dominance issue as soon as possible. I would appreciate any advice on how to prevent this behavior in the future and how to react if a similar situation occurs. Thank you for your help!
I was shocked because he had not previously shown any signs of aggression. He is not at all aggressive when playing with toys- he is actually doing quite well learning "drop", and he does not seem aggressive with his kibbles or other treats he's been given. Obviously, I am very nervous about this behavior and want to correct this aggression or dominance issue as soon as possible. I would appreciate any advice on how to prevent this behavior in the future and how to react if a similar situation occurs. Thank you for your help!