Hey everyone, my Bernedoodle Miles has been showing some aggressive behavior recently. He steals stuff and then gets super defensive when you try to take it back. He growls and has bitten a person three times now. It usually happens when he grabs something he shouldn’t, and then you try to get it away from him. Anyone else have a similar experience? We’re trying to figure out what to do here… any advice would be super helpful.
That’s tough. Our dog used to do the same thing. We had to really work on the ‘leave it’ command, but even that didn’t always help. I’m curious if the high-value treats work for you? Did Miles start taking things just to get a treat? 
@CathyGenesis
Yeah, now he steals stuff to get the treat, lol. It’s a bit of a loop, honestly. 
We’re trying to figure out how to break it.
Davis said:
@CathyGenesis
Yeah, now he steals stuff to get the treat, lol. It’s a bit of a loop, honestly.
Ugh, that sounds frustrating. Have you tried offering him a toy instead? Maybe switching the focus away from the treat could help.
Miles sounds a lot like my dog. I started giving him mental challenges like treat mazes and hiding snacks around the house. Keeps his mind busy and helps with the anxiety a bit. I’ve also noticed that dogs can get more possessive when they’re feeling insecure.
@Dogtuner
We’ve been using a treat maze! He loves it. I think the mental stimulation is definitely helping. It’s like a little game for him. Might try hiding treats more often. 
The possession issue can be tricky. I agree with the ‘leave it’ command but also maybe try redirecting with toys or something he likes more than what he’s stealing.
AlCapone01 said:
The possession issue can be tricky. I agree with the ‘leave it’ command but also maybe try redirecting with toys or something he likes more than what he’s stealing.
Yeah, we’re doing the toy trade now. Seems to work when we catch him early. Otherwise, it gets a bit heated.
What if it’s an anxiety thing? You mentioned he’s easily scared—could he be acting out of fear or stress? Maybe some more calming techniques could help too.
lincolny said:
What if it’s an anxiety thing? You mentioned he’s easily scared—could he be acting out of fear or stress? Maybe some more calming techniques could help too.
He does seem anxious, especially at night. We’ve tried calming treats and music, but it’s still a challenge.
lincolny said:
What if it’s an anxiety thing? You mentioned he’s easily scared—could he be acting out of fear or stress? Maybe some more calming techniques could help too.
Have you considered giving him some sort of calming routine before bed? Maybe a walk or extra playtime could help him relax more at night?
I’ve had success with using a firm but calm voice when giving commands. It’s about setting boundaries, but also reassuring them. My dog calmed down a lot once I started being more consistent with commands and tone.
@LizCampbell
That’s a good point. We did that a lot in the beginning, but I think we got lazy with the tone. Going to re-focus on that.