My puppy growls at other dogs when I'm holding him. How can I help?

Question

My 8month Cavalier puppy is very calm ans friendly but in 2 occasions he growled a bit to a high energy puppy that was jumping at me while I was carrying my pup... what can I do ? How can I teach him to behave ? Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Male | unneutered | 8 months and 8 days old | 15 lbs

C. Rathjens, DVM · Accepted Answer

The kind of behavior is most commonly fear-based, meaning Luca is growling because he's nervous. So it's not a matter of teaching him to behave, but rather it's helping him gain confidence and learn different emotional responses to certain situations. I would recommend avoiding the other dog (if it's one particular high energy puppy), try to anticipate when Luca might growl and give him treats right away while distancing yourself from the trigger. Since it's an emotional response, not a learned response, you'll make it better, not worse by using treats. If the behavior is getting worse, I'd recommend consulting with your veterinarian who can get a full behavior history and give you more recommendations. I hope that helps get you started on the right track. Best wishes to you and Luca!

My puppy growls at other dogs when I'm holding him. How can I help?

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