Why is my older dog aggressive on walks and clingy after new puppy?

Question

Hello, We just adopted a 2 month old puppy and are having issues with our 8 year old chihuahua Scotty - He plays with her sometimes and wags his tail, let's her rough house a lot and then leaves her alone. Sometimes he growls at her when he wants alone time. But lately he's been more aggressive with other dogs on our walks. This morning he tried to attack a dog and he's never done that. He usually just sniffs/lets them sniff, etc. He's also been less obedient on walks and really clingy at home. Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | neutered | 7 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

That is tough and it's hard to say if this is related to the puppy or not. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Best of luck.

Why is my older dog aggressive on walks and clingy after new puppy?

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