Why is my dog suddenly aggressive towards people and how to fix it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog has started to become extremely aggressive with people. He has never been abused, but I’m starting to think he’s becoming too territorial. He is now two years old and I’m afraid we won’t be able to break this bad behavior. How do I fix this?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Makenzie Kurth, DVM 213

Veterinarian

Published on March 25th, 2019

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. My advice is to get professional help sooner rather than later. This type of behavior is often due to anxiety. I would strongly recommend talking to your vet about anti-anxiety/ behavior modification medication which can make a huge difference! Once the medication is on board, the fear-threshold is lowered, and learning can occur. At that point, working with a reputable trainer in your area is a must. Best wishes to you and Cooper.

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Why is my dog suddenly aggressive towards people and how to fix it?

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