help!!!

[darlene]

My husband and I just adopted a 12 week old Rottweiler mix puppy. She has been spayed. She is beginning to become very aggressive. She growls and barks at me and tries to bite me when I pick her up. She will not eat. She is a very picky eater. Please help!! I don't want to take her back to the shelter.

[Maggiesmom1]

Oh my! First of all, a 12 week old puppy is not aggressive, she is just playing with you or trying to show off. She can't really hurt you so don't show any fear. Be matter of fact when you go to pick her up. She probably thinks its 'all a game'. If she has been with other puppies, that's how they play all day. She now has to learn that its different with adults.

Give her some time to adjust. You are probably feeding her a different type of food than she is used to. Is there any way to ask the shelter what she has been eating? You may need to change foods or add some canned puppy food to the dry to get her interested in eating.

If she growls at you, growl back!! Push her down by putting your hand on her shoulder until she submits to you. If she tries to bite, say "No mouth!!" in a stern voice or "cry out" like a yelp.

Give her plenty of time when she is not overly stimulated, but do socialize her as much as possible in the next month. Dogs learn what not to be afraid of in the first 16 weeks of life. Get her around as many different types of people and other animals as you can.

Work with her and your efforts will be paid back ten fold. Good Luck