I have a 1 1/2 yr old Lab/Hound mix. He's an indoor dog who gets a lot of love. Lately he has been agressive towards certain people. For example, my neighbors love him to death. He adores the wife likes the husband and one of the girls but bares his teeth and growls at the other. When I have company over he's fine with most, but once in awhile growls and barks at somebody. At Easter, I brought him in and he barked at my Aunt. I talked to him and petted him. HHe clamed down and I found his favorite ball and gave it to my Aunt to play with him. He was fine for about 20 minutes playing and wagging his tail. But when she started petting him he lunged and nipped her hand. What can I do? I don't want to have to lock him up or keep him outside every time someone new comes over. Oh, and my aunt is a huge dog lover, so she wasn't nervous or tense around him. Any advice would REALLY be appreciated.

Hello,

Has your boy been neutered? If not, this may help as it will remove any raging hormones which could be causing some of the aggression.

Also I would suggest not to wind him up too much, it sounds like maybe he got too over-the-top and just didn't realise what he was doing. Some dogs, especially the more excitable ones will grab, snap and bite out of excitement or from being too hyped up. Maybe this was the reason.

I would keep him on a lead when people come and give him something to occupy him, ie a stuffed kong and ensure that he stays in one place, ie the corner of the room or on a rug. Only let him greet visitors in a very calm way and make him sit first and get the visitor to make him sit and then the visitor reward him with a treat. After the initial greeting, I would get people to ignore him so that he doesn't get hyped up.

We have beardies and their natural instinct is to nip and one in particular will nip people if she gets too excited, all greetings have to be under very controlled and calm conditions. Once she has calmed down, she is fine unless something or someone winds her up again.

Hope this helps

manda
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