Why Won’t The New Puppy Stop Attacking The Older Dog?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Food aggression stems from multiple factors. Many times puppies and litters learn this behavior as an instinctual response to fight for food.

If your puppy had to compete for their food above their littermates, it could create behavior in their brain where they feel like they have to continue this with your older dog.

Why is my younger dog aggressive towards my older dog?

Fighting of a younger dog toward a dog that is aging or ill

may be a function of the inability of the older dog to respond with appropriate postures and signaling when interacting with the younger dog

. This may lead to a change in their predictable relationship.

How do I teach my puppy to respect my older dog?

The Reinforce Respect Method


Exercise and play with your pup to burn off some energy then bring pup on a leash near your older dog

. When your pup notices your older dog, distract your puppy. Make a funny noise and call your puppy over. Ask him to sit or lie down and ignore the older dog.

Is it normal for my puppy to bite my older dog?


Most puppy biting is normal and completely harmless

. It is possible, however, that your puppy is fearful of your other dogs, which can make him act aggressively towards them.

How do I stop my dog attacking my dog?

  1. Know your dog. …
  2. Watch the other dog, but avoid making eye contact. …
  3. Stay calm. …
  4. Always have your dog on a leash.

How long does it take for an older dog to accept a puppy?

It can take

up to one month

for an old dog and new dog to really settle in and accept each other’s position in the pack. If you want a second dog, you need to be ready to commit to this process and not panic.

Why is my dog being aggressive to my other dog?

Dogs in the same household can become aggressive toward each other for a variety of different reasons. Aggression may be

dominance-related, territorial, possessive, or caused by fear/anxiety

. Some dogs have “alliance aggression”.

Why is my dog all of a sudden attacking my other dog?

All in all

A dog randomly attacking another household dog

could be fighting for dominance, resource guarding, injury or illness, feeling frustrated, stressed, or scared

. Dog attacks should always be taken seriously by addressing the root of the problem and fixing it properly so that both dogs stay safe!

What makes a dog suddenly become aggressive?

1 Your suddenly aggressive dog

may have an injury or an illness that’s causing major discomfort and stress

. Some possible causes of pain include arthritis, bone fractures, internal injuries, various tumors, and lacerations. Other illnesses may affect your dog’s brain, leading to seemingly unreasonable aggression.

How can I get my dog to bond with my new puppy?

  1. Tip #1: Have an Extra Set of Hands. …
  2. Tip #2: Have Separate Spaces for the Dogs for the First Week. …
  3. Tip #3: Reward Good Behavior. …
  4. Tip #4: Be Patient and Calm. …
  5. Tip #5: Be Aware.

Do older dogs get jealous of new puppies?


Many older dogs will be upset, jealous, or even angry with a new puppy

, especially if the older dog has been an only dog. It’s going to be important to make sure the older dog gets lots (more than normal) of attention to alleviate potential hurt feelings.

How do I get my older dog to get along with my new puppy?

  1. Find a neutral territory. Before bringing your puppy home, take them and your senior dog to a neutral location. …
  2. Use a leash. Keep both dogs on a leash with someone calm at the other end. …
  3. Follow your dog’s lead. Some dogs may warm up to one another faster than others.

How do you introduce a new dog to an aggressive dog?

  1. Have both dogs on leashes and back-clipped harnesses. …
  2. Walk both dogs in the same direction on opposite sides of a wide street. …
  3. Reward the dogs with treats whenever they look at each other calmly.

How do you calm an aggressive dog around other dogs?

Why is my female dog so aggressive towards other dogs?

Aggression between unfamiliar dogs can be due to

fear, poor communication, defensive, possessive behavior over resources (including perhaps family members or other pets) or territorial behavior over territory or owner

. Aggression between dogs can result in injury to dogs and/or to the people trying to separate them.

Should I let my dogs fight it out?

The dogs give each other warnings, like a growl or a curled lip, when one has annoyed the other. And warnings happen only occasionally.

You should only let your dogs work out their own arguments if there’s not much to work out in the first place

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Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.