corgi puppy becoming aggressive

[kodacolor]

We have had our 10 week old corgi for almost a week. At first he was quiet, calm and sweet. For the past 2 days he has become very aggressive and biting and nipping quite hard. He was at first quiet and barked seldomly. Now, when let out of his crate, and after being taken outside on a leash to potty, he no longer comes in to play nicely. He wants to crouch down on his front paws look at us and bark, bark, bark. He also has had a change in appetite, has become finicky and is eating much less. We of course got him toys to play with and have been sucessful at getting him to fetch and bring toys back. This seems to have been when the aggressive barking/behavior started. Any help or suggestions appreciated!
Signed, missing skin! : (
Kaye

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi kodacolor,

Your corgi puppy must be very very cute!

>He wants to crouch down on his front paws look at us and bark, bark, bark.

This looks to me a gesture inviting you to play with him. Is he wagging his tail (maybe he doesn't have much tail being a corgi)?

>For the past 2 days he has become very aggressive and biting and nipping quite hard

Again, this behavior looks to me as if he is playbiting you. If he was with his litter mates this would have been exactly he was doing with them. Puppies learn how to play (not to bite too hard, etc.) through playing like this. However, you should start teaching him not to put his teeth on your skin. When he playbites your hand, say "Ouch!" in a sharp and firm voice and ignore him for a few seconds. Give him a chew toy or squeaky toy instead. You will have to repeat this until he gets the idea of biting people is not acceptable.

In the mean time, I would like to suggest you handfeed him and/or putting your hand in his food bowl when he is eating. Sooner is better. Associate your hand and good things (food, treats, toys) to prevent any aggression to you and other human beings. You would not want any food aggression and it would be much easier to prevent/correct if any when he is still very young.

Good luck

[KOPsarah]

Hi kaye and thanks for your post, Maxhollynoah has made some excellent points. I too think your puppy is showing playful behaviors probably made more energetic by being in his crate for a while and also because he is settling in and becoming more comfortable with you. Try the tips maxhollynoah made and also try putting some puppy safe toys in the crate with him during the day too. Also keep up your alpha training and most of all enjoy your new puppy!

[kodacolor]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions MaxHollyNoah and KOPsarah!
We have had "Oliver" a week now and he IS very cute!
I have been petting him and touching his food dish when he eating and he hasn't shown any aggression there. When we are petting him now, he has begun to (don't really know how to discribe it well) nibble bite so to say.
He has his first vet visit today.
We have a rope toy that we have been using to play fetch with. We had been using a squeek toy and backed off on that because I was thinking that it might be / somehow ??? making him more aggressive when playing. My husband and I did play with the squeeker some last night though.
We do have the toys in the crate with him when he is being "infant Oliver"....lol! We are going shopping today after the vet visit for another toy!
We also have 4 cats. Oliver has been stalked by them when we take him outside. He has been "cool" from the start, kinda ignored them. The cats have been circling closer and closer over the week. This morning as I was taking the pup out, 2 of them came up to him and put their nose right up agains his. Its amazing and great that he hasn't tried to chase or bite them.
And even more amazing that they haven't wanted to scratch him!

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi Kaye,

Sounds like Oliver is having fun with your 4 cats!
It is interesting that we have a cat named Oliver and 4 dogs (3 of our own plus a foster dog)!

>We had been using a squeek toy and backed off on that because I was thinking that it might be / somehow ??? making him more aggressive when playing.

I see what you mean but I would say he gets more excited with squeaky toys, not necessarily "aggressive", right?

It is a great time for you to teach your puppy "Leave it" and "Drop it" using praises and treats. This will prevent possessive aggression down the road.

All plays can start with your puppy's invitation (in other words, he can initiate plays) but we humans should end it when he is not behaving well, for example if he keeps pulling the rope hard and ignore your command of "Drop it", you just stop pulling the rope and ignore him. He will soon learn that you are willing to play with him as long as he behaves (this includes not putting his teeth on your skin).

Good luck and enjoy your puppy

[kjd]

Hi, kaye,

If I understand the "nibble bite," Oliver is putting his teeth on you softly. You should treat any time you feel his teeth on you as a bite -- say "ouch" even though it didn't hurt. Teach him that teeth on humans is never acceptable.

It is fun to have a puppy around, isn't it?
kjd