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My dog growls and nips at guests at home. How can I stop it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 11 months old | 11 lbs

Snaccs gets growly and nippy at guests and is easily riled up. Any way i could curb this (fear aggressive) behavior? He only acts this way at home.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on April 9th, 2018

Unfortunately, behavioral issues are complicated and any time a pet shows any signs of aggression, it is safest to work with a certified trainer. The cause could be anything from a lack of exposure to a frightening situation that your pup remembers. The trainer will observe the behavior and then will discuss ways to adjust your behavior in order to influence his. Some dogs become comfortable quickly and unfortunately some dogs never become comfortable. Trainers and behaviorist can be found online and you can also ask your vet for any recommendations. Neutering can also help to decrease the hormone levels that can influence behavior but it is unlikely to stop the behavior on its own. I hope this helps to lead you in the right direction!

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