My puppy barks and growls at guests. What can I do to stop it?

Question

We have a beagle/rat terrier mix puppy that is 17 weeks old and seemingly has been barking more than ever in the past 1-2 weeks. He sometimes barks at what appears to be nothing at all. He also barks at guests and sometimes growls. This is getting challenging to deal with as we haven't had much luck stopping it. The smallest things seem to be setting him off. We are planning to take him to a trainer tomorrow so they can watch him and give us some advice on how to move forward. Any advice? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 15 lbs

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm glad to hear that Oliver will be starting training tomorrow. A few things to consider: 1) Has Oliver been fully checked by a vet and confirmed healthy? Sometimes medical issues such as pain can be a root cause or a contributing factor towards aggression. 2) Ensure that you are not unknowningly reinforcing the barking by responding to him when he barks. Barking is a request for attention, so if you don't give the attention when he barks, he will eventually learn that it doesn't work. Only reward him with praise and treats when he is quiet and calm. 3) When he growls at people, do not punish him or yell at him. Ignore the behaviour. Have people offer him treats, so that he realizes they are not a threat. Praise him when he responds calmly and quietly. 4) Make sure Oliver has a quiet spot for himself where he feels safe. This can be a crate, or a dog bed in a corner of the house. If he ever feels threatened or scared, he will always have this place to retreat to, to feel safe. Put his toys and other comfort items there. You can also look into a doggie pheromone spray called Adaptil, which can help to reduce anxiety and stress in young dogs. I hope this helps, and that your training sessions go well! Good luck!

My puppy barks and growls at guests. What can I do to stop it?

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