Puppies are known to be affectionate creatures. They bound around you, lick your face and embrace you in their little paws. But sometimes, a puppy’s natural inclination to leap and shove its head into things can get to be a bit much… Why is my puppy lunging at my face? Show The reason why a puppy lunges at your face is most likely because they are playing with you rather than any aggressive behavior. This is very common in puppies and can sometimes extend into adulthood if not corrected. In this post, let’s find out more about this behavior, when you should be concerned, and some corrective actions you can take. Is It Normal for a Puppy to Snap at Your Face?It’s natural for puppies to snap at faces, as they’re teething and learning. They’re also testing their boundaries and limits, as well as testing their owners’ ability to be a strong pack leader. Most importantly, they are simply playing! While puppies do exhibit such behavior and also on any other part of the body, it’s important not to panic if your pup happens to bite you on the nose or cheek one day. It’s important that we keep calm so they know they can trust us not only around food but also when faced with conflict or aggression from another animal or person.
Why Is My Puppy Lunging at Me?It should also be noted that while some people find this behavior cute, others don’t enjoy being around dogs due solely because they feel uncomfortable being around such playful creatures. Some other theories suggest that your puppy is asserting dominance. In the wild, dominant dogs will act as a leader and control other animals in their group. This type of behavior is sometimes seen between a human and a puppy, especially if the dog does not have enough mental stimulation or exercise to help them channel its energy into something positive. To assert dominance over you, your puppy may try to bite you or even nip at your ankles when he wants something like attention or food from you (which can be very painful).
How Do I Stop My Puppy From Lunging at My Face?If you are looking for ways to stop your puppy from lunging at your face, remember the following:
How Can You Tell if a Puppy Is Going to Be Aggressive?Your dog is not born with aggression, and its behavior can be influenced by many different variables, including his genetics and the environment in which he is raised. If your puppy was born into a litter that was exposed to early life stress or trauma, he may have been taught aggression by his mother or other litter mates. When puppies are threatened by their siblings or other members of their pack, they may learn to become aggressive themselves as a form of self-defense. This can lead to an aggressive adult dog who will lash out at people when feeling threatened or challenged in some way. Puppies also learn from their owners how and when it’s appropriate for them to act defensively toward another person or animal. If you allow your puppy to jump up on people without reprimanding him every time he does so, then this behavior will continue throughout adulthood and become even more difficult for you as an owner to correct later on down the road! What Is Abnormal Puppy Behavior?If your puppy is exhibiting any of the following behaviors, it’s not normal:
Can a 3 Month Old Puppy Be Aggressive?The answer is yes. Puppies are born with teeth and sharp little claws, so when they’re young and still learning what not to bite or scratch with them on, it’s natural for them to try out these new appendages. Well, they don’t know any better! It also means that when your puppy is biting at you or trying to play rough with your hands, it’s probably because he thinks he’s playing gently—not because he wants to hurt you! When puppies play with each other they often use their mouths and paws as part of their game (or fighting technique), which can sometimes look like aggression but really isn’t. In Conclusion: Puppy Lunging At My FaceIt’s a good idea to avoid reprimanding or disciplining your puppy when they’re lunging, because that may only make the problem worse. Ideally, you should just ignore them when they’re doing this, so that they don’t learn that lunging gets them in trouble. Otherwise, you can try to distract them with a toy or treat. It won’t work right away, but as long as you give it enough time and space to learn (and as long as they aren’t aggressive towards humans), it should eventually curb the behavior. Learn more about other types of dog behavior such as why dogs put food in their mouths and then spit it out, why dogs attack tires, or if bully sticks make dogs aggressive. Join our newsletter to stay updated on the latest articles to help you become a better dog parent! |