New member gorgeous blue pup!

Hi guys,

First off I'd like to introduce myself and my gorgeous 10 week old blue/brindle staff. His name his Bruce and he's already a lump!

Although I've only just introduced myself I would also like some help/advice. I've got to know Bruce over the last two weeks and really begun to trust and love him, but all of a sudden, today he has shown signs of aggression when being picked up, and to be honest, especially with the way he looks, he has really put the s**** up me! Could anyone give me advice on what to do with him when he gets aggressive when being held? It's really odd as normally he asks and loves a cuddle!

Cheers guys.

Hiya from me and Vinnie  

At 10 weeks its not aggression he is just trying and testing you. Just a high pitched squeal and a firm no, or turn away. All these things need to keep being done and consistency is the key.  

Have you taken him to the vets?

Hi &

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Hi both
I supposed so, he just scares me on times haha. When he growled I just put him down and pushed his head away, only gently.

And he hasn't been to the vets yet, he has his first jab booked for Monday.

Thanks guys.

Hi and welcome from me and Daisy   

Mention it to the vets - he could be uncomfortable, also early days and already mentioned it certainly isn't aggression, also don't push the head will only have negative results x

hia from me and sasha   at 10 weeks old he's just a pup so no its not aggression,more like a rude pup with no manners not wanting to be picked up!

Ok thanks guys. It's just scared us a bit as both me and my neighbour have held him and had lovely kisses and cuddles, now all of a sudden we'd pick him up and he'd growl like he wants to rip us apart! I love the little guy to pieces and hate him growling!

Hopefully the vet may give us more insight, maybe a full belly or needing the toilet.

Thanks

Hi and Welcome to the Forum from Flo and me   

Welcome from Darcy and me

Hi and welcome from us and Suki

Hi and welcome from Oz and me

Welcome from me and Alfie

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

I had to edit your post for language, could you please be careful of your language we are a family friendly forum.

A 10 week old puppy is not showing signs of aggression but simply trying himself out, please take a look at the link below:

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dog_body_language

Thanks for the warm welcome, i do apologise for the language.

Thanks for all your help!

Hello! He's a 10 week old pup.. The growl is more likely to be from fear, or as Janey has said, possibly pain or the fact that he is uncomfortable. He may be small but not all puppies like being picked up. Why are you scared of him at this age? Have you had staffies before?

Agree, don't push his head away. He's at a very vital stage of learning and needs positive experiences only at this stage!! Well, positive experiences only all of the time in fact, but be careful not to scare him or put him in any situation that could be deemed at scary whilst in the socialization phase. Look up the ladder of aggression, dogs show many different behaviours before getting to a growling stage which you may be missing. You need to learn to read his body language, he's not wanting to "rip you apart" at this age, and using language like that about a very young pup is quite inappropriate really.

In all of my years working with dogs I've met very few truly aggressive puppies.

Thanks for the reply, I've never had a staffy but had loads of other dogs growing up. I think it's just as he has such a mean appearance that scares me, but he is normally a little softy, that's why I love him so much!

I didn't intend to mean any harm by what I said, it just really worried me as he turned from a playful loving pup, to growling and showing teeth within a blink of an eye. I've never had any of my pups do that to me before.

I apologise for any offence caused by what I said.

Thanks

Welcome from me and Marquez

Thanks

Hi and welcome from me and my two

No worries Tom.

We all help as much as we can here. As previously mentioned, pups don't know what real aggression is at that age. It's more a case of him trying out new things and seeing what he can get away with.

Use the techniques already mentioned and I don't think you'll go far wrong. Something else to note, they do pick up on body language. If you handle him with confidence then he will respond in a much better way. If you show signs of being wary he will certainly pick up on it.

Thanks guys, yeah I do try to be as confident as possible when handling any dog. I've had a good read through link posted and also had a look through the forum, and so far this morning he's been brilliant. Him and my other two dogs, which are both lab/German Shepard crosses, are getting on brilliantly and have really started to bond! Just can't wait for the weeks to come when he's had all of his injections and we can all go out on walks!

Welcome from the kids and I

Hi and welcome to the forum from me and the zoo xx