We’ve had Benji, our 10-month-old rescue pup, for about three months. He’s really sweet and super attached to my wife, but we’ve noticed he gets aggressive with me sometimes. Lately, he growls and barks at me, even trying to bite, especially in the mornings when I’m taking him to the bathroom or putting him to bed. He seems scared of men and certain objects, like sticks or even ceiling fans. We’ve started working with a trainer twice a week, but I’m not sure what else we can do to help him feel safe and stop the aggression. Anyone been through something like this?
Sounds like Benji might still be processing his past trauma. Have you tried offering treats to build trust with him?
diane said:
Sounds like Benji might still be processing his past trauma. Have you tried offering treats to build trust with him?
Yeah, I’ve been giving him treats when he’s calm, especially when approaching him. It works sometimes but not always.
@shanty
Keep at it. High-value treats like chicken or cheese might help more. It’s all about consistency with these pups.
Has he ever done this with your wife? Or is it just you?
WoofWisdom1 said:
Has he ever done this with your wife? Or is it just you?
It’s only me. He’s totally fine with her and even other people or dogs. Just seems to get triggered with me sometimes.
@shanty
It might be because he’s scared of men. Maybe start spending more one-on-one time with him, like walks or playtime, to bond.
What kind of training are you doing? Is it focused on fear or aggression?
Mia said:
What kind of training are you doing? Is it focused on fear or aggression?
The trainer is working on general obedience right now, but we’ve started addressing the aggression a bit. Not sure if we’re doing enough.
@shanty
You might want to focus more on fear-based training. Helping him feel safe should reduce the aggression over time.
You mentioned he’s scared of sticks and ceiling fans. Could those be linked to his past trauma?
drooler said:
You mentioned he’s scared of sticks and ceiling fans. Could those be linked to his past trauma?
That’s what I think too. He barked like crazy at the ceiling fan when he first noticed it. Now he ignores it, though.
What’s his routine like? Maybe he’s reacting out of frustration or tiredness.
Chris said:
What’s his routine like? Maybe he’s reacting out of frustration or tiredness.
He has a pretty consistent routine. We make sure he’s walked and fed, but maybe mornings are still tough for him.
@shanty
Could be. Maybe try waking him up more gently or giving him extra time to adjust before taking him out.