Pomeranian growls and snarls... but only at me!

    • Puppy

    Pomeranian growls and snarls... but only at me!

    Me and my partner have a Pomeranian puppy, Oscar - he'll be one next month. Over the past few months we've noticed a change in him. He's becoming a bit aggressive, but only towards me! He still runs up to me when I come home and he still interacts when I play with him, but over the past month or two he's been more inclined to cuddle up to my partner on the couch and give him kisses which he used to do with me too but now never does. That doesn't sound too bad, but whenever I go near him he growls. We can now differentiate between his playful growl and his aggressive one and this is definitely aggressive. He shows his teeth and often snaps at me too. Nothing has happened between him and me that could give a suggestion as to why he is like this. We initially disciplined him when he did this, but I researched dogs growling online and was advised that it's best to move them to a place they feel safe and not to bother them. So now if he growls we just leave him and he usually runs under the bed.

    It's getting really bad now. For example, because my partner works shifts, he'll get up around 5am for work and before he leaves he'll sit on the bed and the dog will come up to him and cuddle into him. As soon as he leaves for work I'll pet Oscar and he will just growl at me and run under the bed. I don't tell him off at all. I'll then go back to sleep for a couple of hours and in the meantime, Oscar usually comes back onto the bed to sleep. When it's then time for me to get up, I'll literally just move in the bed and he'll growl at me and run under the bed again. This morning for instance, I swung my legs out of the bed and he got up and I said "Morning Puppy" and he growled. I didn't even touch him! Another time he was under the bed and I moved something on the bedside table and I heard him growling.

    I also read online that a puppy may be in pain if he growls when you pick him up a certain way and you should take them to the vet, but that can't be it either - as I said I don't even need to touch him and he'll growl.

    It's starting to really upset me. We are considering taking him to a behavioural specialist, but I thought I'd post on here first to see if it's something anyone else has come across or has any solutions for?

    We got Oscar neutered a few months ago and I thought that could maybe be the cause, but it doesn't explain why he only behaves this way towards me - Especially since it was my partner that took him to the vet!

    The only other thing I can think of is that, as I mentioned before, my partner works shift and so he spends more time with him through the week while I'm at work. Could this be something to do with it?

    Is it normal for a dog to take a dislike to one of it's owners over the other for no apparent reason? Please help!!
    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    Hi

    This can be very upsetting I know you love this little pup. The best thing is for you and Oscar to spend time walking and taking a basic obedience class. Even though he is small and cute a class will help build a bond. Just affection all the time and feeling bad won't help. When he growls at you your partner needs to step in and not let him do that, simply by removing from the bed, not picking him up but stand strong and make him get off the bed. He can't run the show any more. Time is a huge factor too, you need do more things with him, that will help for sure please keep me posted.

    • Puppy

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