When Your Dog Shows Aggression for the First Time

Your puppy just growled! You adopted your puppy just a year ago. It has been blissful, and your puppy has slowly grown. However, he just showed anger and acted defensively. When your dog shows aggression for the first time, it is vital to know how to handle it.

The Scenario

Jackie decided to throw her dog Harvey a birthday party for his first birthday. Harvey was a good day throughout the first year of his life. Additionally, he had never shown any aggressive behavior toward anyone. Jackie invited a few friends to the party, but a few had never met Harvey. One friend is Megan, a coworker that had grown closer to Jackie over the months. However, Megan is overly eager when she sees Harvey and goes to pet him in a manner that irritates him. Harvey reacts, biting her. Now Jackie is in trouble.

The Claim

Megan is suing Jackie for damages. She alleges that Jackie did not warn her that her dog dislikes people. Jackie contends that Harvey has never shown aggression toward anyone. Also, she states that Megan provoked Harvey by petting him in a manner that he did not approve of. It is a situation that both could have prevented. Regardless, Jackie may be on the hook.

Takeaways

Dogs show aggression for a variety of reasons. It is possible that Harvey felt afraid. Despite being near his owner, this strange new woman was near him, and he did not know how to react. Older dogs typically might show aggression for the first time if they are going through health issues. Jackie should have monitored the situation to ensure her dog felt comfortable around new people. Because when your dog shows aggression for the first time, it is time to do everything to understand it and then help them.

About Dog Bite Quote

At Dean Insurance Agency, we’ve been providing protection to dog owners since 2012, with more than 10,000 policies issued. Our underwriting criteria and years of experience providing this coverage enables us to offer competitive and fair policy premiums. Our policies are available in every state except Alaska & Kentucky. The quote is free and there is NO obligation to purchase!