My puppy has a nasty habit of growling at visitors that come to see us. If the ytry to approach her she will growl and if they continue she will snap at them. How can I stop her doing this?

This sounds like she is insecure. Ask visitores to ignore her, and let her come to them in her own time. They should offer a titbit, and make minimal eye contact until she is comfortable with them.

How is she outside the home with people? If she is fine and happy to be petted? Lots and lots of low key socialisation is the key. A puppy's natural curiosity will win out if she isn't backed up into being defensive, especially with a tasty treats on offer.

Also do not soothe her, as this will be telling her that scaredy cat behaiour will get her your positive attention, and that as you are worried, mustbe something to be scared of.

She is the same outside. If someone approaches her she growls and will snap if they dont move away. I am so scared she will bite someone especially a child. I dont want her to behave in this way and she doesnt always do it. I have tried the treat thing but she will take the treat and then sometimes if they try to stroke her she will still growl at them to move away.

I sometimes go and stand next to the person and this makes her come near them as she wants to be near me. if they let her come to them she is usally ok. She will come near strangers if I am standing near them - I do this so that she knows its ok for her to come near them. She is quite a stubborn girl and if she doesnt like someone or strangers approach her or try to stroke her she will growl at them no matter what I say. Was told by a trainer to spray her with water but unfortunately she loves water!!! Any other things I could do to deter this behaviour?

Pat
how old is pup and what breed ? Have you had her from tiny ?
Lel

She is nearly 7 months old and I have only had her for 6 weeks. She is an american cocker spaniel.

Pat
do you know nything of her history ?
She could be feeling insecure as suggested
Lel

As far as I know she lived with 4 other dogs and the breeder had two young children and they got on fine, she has a lovely temperament and once she has met people a couple of times she is ok.

I would echo Barbara's advice. Although I know from experience that it can be hard to get visitors to ignore your pup and wait for it to come to them - I always find that non-doggy people are the hardest to 'train' in this respect :)
But it really is the best way - the last thing you want is for this problem to escalate and get out of hand.
To start with try the 'ignore' method with those friends or family who understand what you're trying to achieve and who you know will co-operate.

Best of luck

Joyce

If you have onlyhad her for 6 weeks, maybe she just wasn't socialised properly by her first owner :( in which case she needs lots of training now to help her cope. Or she may just have had a bad experience.

The growling and then snapping is basically a warning, then she feels more threatened as she is still approached despite her warning!

Take this slowly - it is pointless to spray with water as that will mask her "aggression" and may stop her growling but will not make her safe!

Definitly follow the ignore method, take it slowly, look for signs that she is feeling safer and don't be tempted to do too much before she is ready. Decide what to say to people who will try to tell you that they know best when you are out and about and remain in control of what happens to her! Just one person forcing their attentions on her may put her back considerably.

Ensure you are not actually rewarding her for fear - reward as she shows calm and accepting behaviour, get to know her "crucial" distance. You need to radiate confidence yourself too, so she will start to take her cue from you :)

I really hope she improves, good luck :)

Hi we had a few problems with my Staff when I moved. I went from a normal job to running a pub and Dex (my then 3yr old staff) thought it was great spending all day everyday with Mum. The problems started when I had to go out and leave him, he started his destructive behavour again (he stopped at about 8 months). I by chance saw a book called the Dog listener by Jan Fennell It is brilliant and so long as we do as it says we have had no problems since. I have introduced cats and another pup, now 10mths and Dex will be 5 in Sept with not so much as a lifted eyebrow. He is a much happier and contended dog now and the pup settled in almost instantly. We have had no power struggle from having to dogs (both complete).

Try it it is a great book

Liz

Any ideas where I can get it from