For as long as poodles have been around, people have been trying to figure out their personalities and quirks.
One of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to the personality of a poodle has to be “Are Poodles Aggressive?”.
So, Are Poodles Aggressive?
The answer is no. Poodles are generally very friendly dogs, but each poodle has their own personality and set of quirks that make them unique in their own ways.
If you’re looking for a dog that’s going to be aggressive towards strangers or other dogs, then the poodle probably isn’t right for you. But if you want a dog that is playful and energetic, then the poodle might just be your best bet!
So why are so many people afraid of these adorable dogs? The answer is simple: they have been misinformed that poodles are aggressive by others who have had bad experiences with them (or their owners).
Here’s what you need to know about aggressive poodles and how to train them to not be so aggressive.
If you’re ready, let’s jump right in!
Are Poodles an Aggressive Dog Breed?
Poodles are a very friendly dog breed. They are known for being very intelligent and their affectionate nature makes them a great family pet. However, it is important to remember that any dog can be aggressive under certain circumstances.
Whether you’re looking at a Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle, or Toy Poodle, it’s safe to say that no, Poodles in general are not aggressive dogs.
You may have seen news articles about toy poodle attacks on owners that seem to paint the breed in a negative light. However, most of these cases have less to do with the dog and more to do with their owners.
The first thing you need to do is assess your poodle’s personality and temperament. A poodle may have aggressive tendencies if they were previously abused or mistreated by their owners or if they were neglected as a puppy. It is also possible that your poodle is aggressive due to health issues like thyroid problems or other medical conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy which are some of the most common diseases in poodles.
If you suspect that your poodle may be suffering from an underlying condition that causes aggression then you should take them to the vet immediately so they can receive treatment for their condition right away before it gets worse!
What is Aggressive Poodle Behavior?
Poodles often use body postures or vocalizations to express aggression, but in most cases, this behavior never escalates into a bite. A dog will often use body language to appear larger and more threatening to other dogs and people that encroach upon his territory.
A dog’s body language includes the position and the motion of the tail, ear and eye position, body position and movement, as well as facial expressions. These signs can be subtle or dramatic, but they’re all important ways that your dog can tell you what’s on his mind.
Dogs will show clear signs they are feeling aggressive —by turning their head or body away, yawning, or licking their nose. It’s important to pay attention to your dog’s body language! If you don’t change course, and if dogs are prevented from moving — they’ll let you know that they’re happy to make the most out of their situation by raising the volume of their barks and growls.
When you ignore a dog’s most obvious warning signals or worse, punish them for things they can’t help doing when feeling agitated, stressed, or fearful — like barking when they need to go out, or growling at someone they don’t know — they may feel like they have no choice but to snap or even bite.
If dogs learn that certain warning signals are ignored, or if the intensity of a trigger is too high, they will respond with more obvious behaviors such as barking, rushing toward the trigger in an attempt to drive it away, and snapping and biting.
The first thing you should do is determine what triggers your dog’s anxiety or fear. Is it a specific person? Or maybe it’s something else: loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks might set them off.
Once you’ve identified what sets them off, you’ll be able to better address their issues.
What Makes a Poodle Aggressive?
Knowing why your poodle is acting aggressively is essential to figuring out the best plan for stopping this frightening behavior.
The cause of aggressive behavior in poodles can be territoriality, resource guarding, fear, frustration, anxiety, or prey drive. In all of these situations, a dog may be pushed too far, and it may go on the offensive.
Poodles are known for being sweet, gentle, and goofy. But sometimes, even the most well-behaved poodle can act out.
Here are the ten most common causes of aggression in poodles.
- Territorial Aggression: In most cases, this kind of aggression manifests when someone who isn’t familiar with your dog enters your home. Your dog may perceive this person as a threat to his territory and react by biting them. This is called territorial aggression in dogs.
- Protective Aggression: Poodles can be fierce when they see their family members or friends in danger. Protective aggression occurs when a poodle perceives a threat to one of its humans and feels compelled to attack. This kind of behavior is different from normal, everyday aggression because it’s not motivated by territoriality or resource guarding; it’s based on the dog’s desire to keep its loved ones safe.
- Fear-Based Aggression: The most common reason that poodles become aggressive is that they’re scared or nervous, which is called “fear-based aggression.” This can happen when a dog is trying to communicate that they’re uncomfortable with something, but they don’t have the ability to express themselves verbally. It’s not uncommon for fear-based aggression to be caused by an owner who unintentionally scares their dog with loud noises or sudden movements, or when a dog has been abused by humans in the past and fears them as a result.
- Possessive Aggression: Many dogs show the tendency to guard their possessions against others, whether they need to or not. This behavior is known as possessive aggression. It is especially common among dogs that have been bred to guard humans or other animals, such as hunting dogs or herding dogs. Poodles are among these breeds and possessive aggression in poodles is quite common.
- Sex-Related Aggression: Male poodles are known for being highly driven by their hormones, which means they can sometimes be aggressive toward other dogs while they’re in heat. Female poodles on the other hand will still try to win a male poodle’s attention when one of them is in heat, and they will fight for access to a mate.
- Predatory Aggression: Predatory aggression can occur in all breeds of dogs, but it’s especially common in breeds such as Poodles. This is because Poodles were bred to be hunting dogs, so they’re already predisposed to chasing and grabbing things. But predatory behavior is also seen in untrained dogs who haven’t been given the opportunity to learn any other behaviors.
- Pain-Elicited Aggression: When your dog hurts, he or she will probably act out in some way. This is especially true if they are not used to receiving any sort of medical treatment. A common example of this behavior is pain-elicited aggression in poodles. Poodles are known for being gentle, friendly dogs, but when they are in pain, they can become aggressive.
- Dominance Issues: Another common cause of aggression in dogs is dominance issues—this is where one dog tries to dominate another (or multiple) dogs in order to establish dominance over them. Dominance-based aggression can also occur between dogs of different breeds or sizes if one dog feels like he might be at risk of being hurt by other animals around him.
- Improper Introduction with Other Pets in the House: Aggression can also occur when there’s been an improper introduction between two dogs or any other pet in the house who are unfamiliar with each other; these introductions should always take place under supervision so that both parties feel safe and secure while getting used to each other’s presence.
- Defensive Aggression: Defensive aggression in Poodles is a learned behavior that is motivated by fear. In the wild, dogs use aggression as a means of survival or defense. Aggressive behavior in canine species involves lunging or barking at an intruder to warn it away from the pack’s territory. This behavior can be seen in many domesticated dogs who act aggressively when they sense danger or feel threatened.
Protective Poodle vs Aggressive Poodle: What’s the Difference?
The difference between a protective poodle and an aggressive poodle is one of intent. A protective poodle will act aggressively to protect you from harm, while an aggressive dog will act aggressively regardless of whether or not you’re in danger.
A protective poodle loves you so much that they can’t stand the thought of anything bad happening to you. They’ll defend your space with their lives if they have to—that’s what makes them protective! They’re usually more likely to react defensively when they feel threatened on your behalf, rather than when they feel threatened themselves. Their goal is just to keep everyone safe and happy, even at the cost of their own safety or happiness.
Poodles who are aggressive may also guard their property, but they’re more likely to be aggressive toward anyone who gets too close—including people they know! They might even bite if you try to move past them or get too close for comfort.
If your poodle seems like he might be a bit more aggressive than protective, take some time to reinforce his training so that he learns that he should only bark at strangers when necessary (or if there’s a legitimate threat). This will help him develop into a well-rounded canine companion rather than someone who seems scary or intimidating all the time!
Are Poodles Genetically Aggressive?
Using data from C-BARQ, which describes over 14,000 dogs, researchers calculated the average score of each breed for 14 different behaviors, then looked for links among pairs of breeds that had similar scores.
The researchers found that for traits such as aggression toward strangers, trainability, and chasing, genes account for about 70 percent of differences among dog breeds.
Poodles and border collies scored higher on the trainability scale than Chihuahuas and dachshunds, while the latter two breeds scored higher on measures of aggression toward strangers.
Although heritability contributes to differences in energy level and fearfulness, environment and training play an equally important role in shaping these behavioral traits.
Differences in an animal’s energy level and fearfulness are under genetic control, but environment and training have a huge impact as well. Geneticists found that small energy levels were influenced by genetics and that training and environment played an equally important role in making a show dog.
Whether or not a genetic variant in poodles is associated with a specific behavior, the fact that certain variants are common in those with a certain behavior suggests that those variants may contribute to the behavior.
This study showed how dog personalities can be shaped by genetics—but it also revealed that owners can play a role in determining the type of dog they end up with.
Dog owners should not take it to mean that their dogs are pre-programmed with predetermined personalities. “It is impossible to define a breed standard,” says Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert on dog behavior.“A breed is a man-created classification. There is tremendous variation within each breed; some individual dogs are more like the standard than others, but there are no limits within which it will all fit.”
Are Poodles Aggressive Chewers?
If you have a poodle, you probably already know that they’re the happiest dogs in the world. They’re also affectionate and happy to spend time with their owners, which is why many people choose them as pets. But if you’ve ever had a poodle, you also know that they can be aggressive chewers.
There’s nothing wrong with your dog—it’s just that they’re bred to be hunting dogs and they need to chew things! You might not want to let them chew on things like your shoes or furniture, but it’s totally normal for them to chew on the things around your house.
There are many reasons why poodles might start chewing on things around the house.
One reason is because of boredom: if your poodle is left alone for long periods of time, he’ll likely develop destructive habits like chewing up furniture or carpeting.
Another reason could be because he’s teething; this happens when a puppy is between 3 months and 1 year old and needs something to chew on so that his gums can become strong enough to support the adult teeth that will come in soon after.
A third reason could be because he’s stressed out by an environmental change —for example, if you recently moved into a new home with him. This often happens when people get married or have children.
That said, there are some things you can do if your poodle is chewing things up more than usual or getting into trouble while chewing on things they shouldn’t (like your shoes). Here are some ways you can help curb excessive chewing:
- Make sure there are plenty of appropriate chew toys available for them at all times; this will encourage them to use those instead of whatever else is around
- Provide plenty of exercises; this will keep their energy levels low which will make them less likely to chew on things around the house.
- Avoid leaving your poodle unsupervised with items that could get destroyed (such as shoes or furniture).
Are Poodles Aggressive to Other Dogs?
Poodles aren’t known for being aggressive toward other dogs. In fact, most poodle owners will tell you their poodles are actually very good with other dogs.
Poodles have been bred to be companion dogs and they’re naturally friendly with all people, so it’s no surprise that they have a lot of love to give to other dogs too.
Poodles are known for being “pushing” breeds; that is, they tend to push into other dogs’ spaces without asking first. They aren’t usually aggressive about it though; more often than not, they just want to play or cuddle. If a poodle does get pushy with another dog, the best thing you can do is train them not to do that by using positive reinforcement like treats or praise when they don’t push into another dog’s space without asking first.
Fortunately, training a poodle is very easy. They’re eager learners and love pleasing their owners (and themselves). If you treat them well and give them an outlet for their energy, they’ll be happy to learn whatever you want them to teach them!
Why Does My Poodle Growl at Me?
Many people have a dog that growls at them. This can be confusing and frightening, especially if your dog has never growled at you before. There are many reasons why your dog might be growling at you, so let’s go over some of them now.
- Your dog may be afraid of you. Dogs often growl when they feel threatened or scared, and if your dog is afraid of you, he may feel the need to defend himself. If this is true for your situation, it’s important to try to identify what is causing him fear and remove it from his life as quickly as possible so that he can learn to trust again. If this isn’t possible, talk with a trainer or behaviorist who can help you work through these issues together as a team.
- Your dog may be feeling territorial over something he wants or needs from you—like attention or food! If your dog growls when you’re trying to give him attention or feed him treats, try rewarding him in other ways until he learns that being calm and quiet is worth more than whatever he was growling about originally (like attention).
- He thinks you are challenging her dominance over you by not giving in to his demands right away. Dogs are pack animals who live in hierarchical structures called “packs” (it’s kind of like how families are structured), so if one of the pack members guns for the top dog then he has to establish their dominance over them.
Sometimes, even the best of dogs can get a little confused about their role in your life. When they don’t understand what you’re saying or why you’re doing something, they may become frustrated—and that can lead to growling!
Luckily, there are some easy ways to prevent your dog from getting upset at you:
- Always reward good behavior with treats or praise. Dogs love it when we shower them with praise and affection—and they learn what’s acceptable from us by watching us closely! So if your dog is growling at something you’re doing, stop what you’re doing and give him a treat or give him some attention so he knows that behavior is good!
- Use hand signals instead of words whenever possible. Dogs at first don’t always understand what we mean when we use words like “sit” or “no” because there are so many variations on those words (like “sit down,” “sit up,” “sit over here,” etc.). Instead of having to worry about all those different variations, just show your dog what you mean by using hand signs.
Are Miniature and Toy Poodles More Aggressive Than Standard Poodles?
Anyone who has ever lived with a Toy Poodle or a Miniature Poodle will not be surprised to learn that these small poodles, on average, are more aggressive than their larger counterparts, the Standard Poodles.
What’s more, there’s proof: A new study shows that smaller dogs are more aggressive than their larger brethren, and the results are persuasive enough to get the purists nodding their heads in agreement.
For many years, nearly all of the evidence supporting this theory was anecdotal. Only recently have researchers found hard data to back up their observations.
Small dogs are more aggressive than large dogs, on average. At least that is what the University of Helsinki found in a study published this summer. Small dogs are also more aggressive than medium-sized dogs, according to this same study.
Though it may be tempting to just accept this information at face value and make assumptions without asking more questions, there is an abundance of other factors that can contribute to aggression in poodles such as sex, age, etc.
The world can be overwhelming to a 5-pound Toy Poodle, the smallest of all the poodle sizes. The wide variety of predators that hunt small dogs is astounding. Large dogs do face many of the same dangers, but smaller dogs must also worry about everything from owls to mountain lions, and the occasional coyote or bear. It makes sense that they think they need to protect themselves at all times.
Smaller poodles are likely to be more on-edge about everything and everyone than Standard Poodles, simply because they have to deal with more life-threatening situations than their larger cousins.
Little dogs are at risk of hurting themselves, even if they’re not trying to play too hard or run too fast. No matter how careful people are with their small dogs, they can still get stepped on or dropped.
Just think of what would happen if you spent all day running around, trying to avoid the huge stomping feet of the giants around you. Your life would also be made much more complicated if you had to constantly worry about giants dropping down from the sky and crushing you.
Give your dog as much exposure to as many different types of people and situations as possible, including unfamiliar animals and places. Dogs who get to know a lot of people and other dogs are less likely to get shy, bark a lot, or bite. Give extra care to these small poodles and make others in your family (especially children aware of the potential risks.
Are Male Poodles Aggressive?
Puppies and adult dogs of both sexes have the potential to show aggression. However, an unneutered dog is more likely to exhibit this behavior than a neutered dog or a spayed female.
Male poodles are not more aggressive than female poodles, but their competitive tendencies might bring them into conflict with you more, and that might result in aggression if you don’t handle it right.
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy a question to answer. The question is more complicated than it appears. Studies indicate that unneutered male dogs tend to be more aggressive than neutered males, females, or entire females’ overvalued possessions.
How Do You Train a Poodle Not to Bite?
The poodle is one of the most popular breeds in the world. These dogs are great for families because they’re playful and loving, but they also have a playful, mischievous side that can get out of hand if you don’t train them properly.
The first step is to understand why poodles bite. All dogs bite for different reasons and in different ways, but poodles tend to be aggressive because they’re trying to establish dominance over their owners or other animals. For example, if you have more than one dog in your household and one of them is larger than the other, it’s possible that your small dog will try to assert their authority by biting.
The second step is prevention. If you know your dog has an aggressive streak, take steps now before things get out of hand later down the road when he’s older and stronger (and probably bigger!).
This is why you need to train your poodle not to bite. There are lots of ways to do this, but we’ll cover some of our favorites here today.
Teach Your Poodle What “No” Means
One of the most important things you can teach your poodle is what “no” means. This is crucial when it comes to biting because it gives them a clear signal when they’re doing something wrong.
When they begin biting too hard on their toys or playing with your hands and feet, say “no” firmly and give them a firm look. This will help them understand that biting isn’t okay, which will make training them easier for both of you!
Give them plenty of toys to play with!
You should always make sure you have plenty of toys and chew things available for your poodle to play with as well as other ways for your poodle to channel their hyper energy so that it does not redirect its chewing tendencies to you or your clothes.
There are many different types of toys that will work well with a poodle: plush toys, tennis balls, rubber balls, squeaky toys… The list goes on and on! You want to make sure that there is something interesting in every room of your house: under the couch cushions, inside drawers and cabinets, hanging from doors or walls… These are all great places to put some toys so that your pup has something new to explore when they get bored with the old ones.
Give them lots of attention!
Poodles are very social dogs who need plenty of attention from their owners—and attention is the best way to get them to stop biting. If you’re spending lots of time with your pup every day, then she won’t feel like biting is necessary in order for you to pay attention to her.
Let them play!
Your dog will thrive if you give them opportunities to play with other friendly, vaccinated dogs. He can expend a lot of his energy playing with them and have less need to play roughly with you, which helps you to feel safe around him.
Don’t hesitate to call in the big guns!
Mouthing is a common behavior for puppies, but it can be challenging to work with. If your puppy’s biting is getting out of hand, don’t worry. With expert advice from a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), these behaviors can be corrected.
A CPDT is an expert who has been trained in all aspects of dog training, including how to work with difficult issues like mouthing. They can help you learn how to handle mouthing behavior behaviors so that it doesn’t become a problem later on.
How to Calm an Aggressive Poodle?
Poodles are known for their energy, intelligence, and friendliness. If you’re a poodle-owner, you know this. But what if your poodle is aggressive towards other dogs and people?
This can be a stressful situation for both the dog and its owner. Here are some tips for how to calm an aggressive poodle:
- Stay Calm: The most effective course of action is to remain calm because frustration and anger only make the situation worse. If your dog is barking and growling at you, try not to yell right back at him! He’ll just think that he’s being dominated, and things will only get worse. Instead, try using a firm voice and speaking assertively. Use small commands such as “Stop” or “No”. It will be easier for him to hear you over his own noise if he can focus on what you’re saying instead of being overwhelmed by his own emotions.
- Get professional help: If your poodle is showing signs of aggression towards other dogs or people, it’s important that you get professional help from a veterinarian or behavioral specialist immediately. Don’t wait until the problem gets worse or escalates into something more serious like biting.
- Train your dog: Training helps build trust between both parties involved so there will be less anxiety about interactions between each other which could lead to unwanted behaviors occurring like growling, snapping, or even biting.
- Give your dog more attention—This will help him feel loved and wanted by you so he won’t feel threatened when someone new comes over! Be sure to give him plenty of exercises each day as well—exercising helps relieve stress which can lead to aggression if left unchecked!
- Consider spaying/neutering your poodle: Spaying or neutering has been proven to help with aggressive behavior in dogs. A study published in the Journal of Animal Behavior found that spayed or neutered dogs were less likely to bite than their unaltered counterparts. This study also found that female dogs were more likely than males to bite people, but both sexes were equally likely to bite other dogs. In addition, the researchers found that intact male dogs were more likely to display territorial aggression than females were—and both were more aggressive toward strangers than their owners.
Finally: remember that this process isn’t going to happen overnight! You’re not going to wake up one morning with an entirely new dog who no longer acts aggressively toward other animals or people; rather it will take time for your dog to accept things and change his behavior. Give them time to adapt!
Will Spaying Calm an Aggressive Poodle?
If you’re considering spaying your poodle, you may have heard that it will calm them down. But is this true?
The answer is yes. Spaying will help calm down your aggressive poodle.
Spaying will generally calm a female dog down because they won’t have their hormones raging anymore. If you’ve ever met a female dog in heat, you know what I am talking about!
If you neuter your poodle, you will be sparing the lives of unwanted puppies, and you will also contribute to the control of pet overpopulation. Millions of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States, not because they’re old or have any sort of health problem, but simply because there aren’t enough homes for all of them.
Spaying your poodle will provide them with a lifetime of physical benefits, and also make them less prone to certain behavioral issues. When female dogs are not spayed, they sometimes fight over the attention of male dogs. Spaying your dog can help eliminate aggressive behavior patterns, which will make your dog less aggressive toward people and other dogs.
Female dogs can react aggressively when their puppies are at risk of being threatened or harmed.
Some poodles that don’t become pregnant during a heat cycle may experience a “false pregnancy” or “pseudopregnancy,” when they exhibit some of the same physical signs as they would during a real pregnancy.
Highly imaginative and resourceful, females in false pregnancy often “adopt” objects—such as a toy—and treat them like a litter of puppies. Females will aggressively guard these “puppies” as if they were real.
Will Neutering Calm an Aggressive Poodle?
Neutering can help calm an aggressive poodle.
When a male poodle is neutered, it reduces the amount of testosterone that he produces naturally; this makes him less likely to become aggressive and territorial over his territory or family members.
This is because testosterone stimulates growth and development in many areas of your pet’s body, including his brain and reproductive organs; therefore, lowering levels of testosterone will reduce the production of these hormones and cause them to shrink over time (which means less aggression).
Neutering makes it much less likely that your dog will feel the need to defend his territory and/or his “pack,” since he won’t have any hormones pushing him toward protecting those things as much as before. Finally, neutering helps hormonal balance out the rest of your dog’s body chemistry, which can help him focus on other things besides being mad all the time (like being happy).
How to Socialize an Aggressive Poodle?
If you’ve got a dog who seems to be aggressive, you’re probably wondering what to do. It can be really scary to have your pet lash out at others, and it can be hard to know how to make them stop.
Socializing a dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences for you and your pup. Not only is it a great way to bond, but it also helps your dog become more confident and comfortable in different situations.
There are several ways to socialize your dog, but I am going to focus on three:
- Talk to your dog. Dog behaviorists recommend that you speak to your pet in a calm, assertive voice. This way, your dog knows that you’re the leader of the pack and will respect you.
- Use treats as rewards for good behavior. If you want to socialize an aggressive dog, make sure to give him treats when he’s behaving appropriately. You can also use treats as rewards for following commands like “sit” or “stay.”
- Socialize with other people and dogs on leash. If your dog is aggressive towards other people or dogs, make sure to keep him leashed for socialization sessions so that he won’t bite anyone accidentally!
How to Groom an Aggressive Poodle?
Poodles like to be stimulated, and a lack of daily activity can result in aggression.
In this situation, it is important to provide your dog with plenty of exercises but also ensure that the correct amount of mental stimulation is being provided as well. Boredom can lead to destructive behavior and anxiety, which can lead to aggression.
- Professional groomers have various tools and techniques for keeping your poodle calm while also keeping themselves safe at the same time. It’s important that you tell the groomer about your dog’s aggressive behavior before they begin working on him or her so they can make sure they are prepared to handle anything that might arise during the grooming process.
- Use distraction techniques. These are often useful in many situations, but especially when the dog has become very excited or is showing signs of stress. Distracting them with a toy or treat may allow you to get out of situations that could otherwise be dangerous or difficult.
- Use a calming scent such as lavender oil on yourself when handling your poodle – this will help keep him calm and relaxed, allowing you to get through even difficult grooming sessions without incident!
Can Aggressive Poodles Be Trained?
Poodles are known for being a bit… intense. They’re extremely intelligent, and they can be very stubborn. If you have an aggressive poodle, you might wonder if you can train it to be less aggressive—and the answer is yes!
Aggression is largely a result of fear or stress in dogs. And it’s up to you as the owner to help your dog learn how to deal with those emotions in a way that doesn’t involve hurting others.
It’s not easy work, but it’s rewarding! If you’re committed to training your aggressive poodle, here are some steps you can take:
- Learn all about your dog’s triggers and how to avoid them
- Work on building confidence through obedience exercises that increase bonding between owner and pet
- Teach your dog self-control through reward-based commands such as “leave it”, “drop it” or even a simple “no”.
Can Aggressive Poodles Be Rehabilitated?
If you own an aggressive poodle, don’t panic! There are ways to rehabilitate your dog so that he is no longer aggressive towards others.
The first step is to learn as much as possible about your dog’s behavior and how it was formed. If the aggression has been present since puppyhood, then there are likely some physiological reasons behind it. If not, then the behavioral modification will likely be the only way to fix the problem.
Aggression in dogs is often seen as a sign of a lack of training, but it can also be a sign that something else is wrong. For example, if your dog is growling at other dogs or people and you’ve recently moved to a new home, this could mean that they are feeling stressed or territorial because they don’t know where they belong yet. In this case, the aggression would likely go away once the dog became more familiar with its surroundings and felt like part of the family again.
However, if your dog has always been aggressive towards people or other dogs and this behavior continues even after you’ve established yourself as pack leader (by teaching them obedience commands), then it may be time for professional help. Because aggression can be dangerous for both people and animals alike, it’s important that you take action immediately!
Oscar Auliq Ice once said
“Trust is like paper, once it’s crumpled, it can never be perfect again’.
In this case, if your poodle has a history of aggression, you should do all you can to try and fix their behavior. But, you must not trust them blindly the way you once did. Especially around children, puppies, or other dogs.
If your poodle has been acting up lately, you might be worried that it’s time to get rid of them. I know how painful the thought of losing a beloved pet is, but you don’t want to give up on your poodle just yet.
With that being said, I am a big believer in second chances be it for humans or dogs. Try to build that connection you once had with your poodle. It will take time and a lot of effort, but, I promise you it will be rewarding for both you and your poodle.
Will an Aggressive Poodle Attack a Puppy?
The answer is no—at least most of the time. There are some situations in which your dog may not be so friendly with your pup, but these situations are rare.
Sometimes the poodle may become aggressive toward the puppy and bite the puppy. If this happens, you will need to tell your older dog to stop as well as redirect your puppy! You must teach your dog not to hurt the puppy with a firm but gentle tone.
Never get rough with your dog, as you will only confuse it and make it more aggressive. Your poodle has better senses than the puppy and is more aware of when something strange is going on.
Just like humans, dogs do not tend to be very accepting of things they do not understand. To help your older dog handle this new member of the family, try spending some time playing with both dogs together so they can get used to one another’s presence.
On the other hand, they might get jealous and territorial over their new pet when you bring it home without even interacting with them. So, it’s your job to keep an eye on them and help them get along with each other.
When to Rehome an Aggressive Poodle?
If you have gone above and beyond to correct your poodle’s behavior, but the problem persists and you are starting to feel like your efforts are in vain, it might be time to consider finding your poodle a new home.
If you feel like your efforts are in vain, it’s time for a change.
You’ve tried everything: training classes, reading books on dog training, even going over to a trainer and asking them to help out with their dog so you can see what you need to be doing.
But no matter how hard you try, your poodle just won’t listen! You’re starting to lose hope and wonder if there’s some kind of underlying problem that’s preventing him from learning. And that can lead to a lot of guilt—because if there IS something wrong with him, then who’s at fault? Is it me? Or did he get this way because of something bad I did?
But there is no point in worrying about what happened before now. The only thing we can do is move forward and try to fix things for our dogs…
You love your dog and want to do everything in your power to help them become a well-behaved member of your family. Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to help a dog is by giving them away.
There are many reasons why this could happen: maybe you aren’t able to give the dog enough attention or they’re just not suited for your lifestyle. Either way, it’s important that you don’t let yourself get caught up in feeling guilty about it because there are still plenty of ways you can go about finding a new home for your pooch without having any regrets!
Where to Rehome an Aggressive Poodle?
The decision to rehome a dog is a difficult one. You’ve created a bond with your poodle, and you want to make sure that they’re going to be taken care of in the best possible way.
But when you are looking to rehome a poodle that’s aggressive, it can be hard to know how to proceed. Do you try to work on their behavior? Or do you find them another home? Here are some things to consider when rehoming an aggressive poodle:
Is this behavior temporary?
Aggressive behavior is often caused by fear or stress. If your poodle has recently moved into a new home, or if there have been other changes in their environment, it’s possible that the aggression will stop once their stress level goes down. In this case, it’s probably better to wait until things settle down before rehoming them—but keep an eye out for signs of improvement!
Are there other factors at play here?
If your poodle has always been friendly but has recently started acting aggressively toward other dogs or people, there may be some underlying medical issue at play. If so, it might be worth contacting your local vet before trying any behavioral training or seeking out another home for your pet.
If you have already considered all of this, let me tell you about some of the options available to you when it comes to rehoming your poodle.
1 . Contact The Shelter Or Breeder You Adopted From
I would first suggest contacting the shelter or breeder from which you bought/adopted your poodle. Many rescue agencies have requirements stating that if a dog is returned to them, you must contact them first.
To ensure a safe home for your dog, tell the shelter or breeder everything you know about the dog’s aggression, and be completely transparent. Some dogs need a lot of help to learn how to behave around other dogs and other humans in a way that’s safe and acceptable. That’s when you want an expert trainer on your side. Transparency is an invaluable tool for experts. You never know when they might have the information you need to turn a situation around.
2. No-Kill Shelters
Some shelters will not allow dogs to enter their facilities if they have aggressive tendencies. If your dog is a danger to other animals, humane societies may not have the resources or space to care for them, and they may be euthanized.
If you’ve already tried to find the dog a new home, you’ll want to go to a no-kill shelter, which does not euthanize animals. However, if your dog has a history of biting, this can make it more difficult for shelters to accept them.
3. Talk to a Pet Specialist
I understand the frustration of reaching out to animal shelters and rescue groups only to find that they are unwilling to take your aggressive dog. If you tell the shelters you called that they’re unwilling to take your dog, they may ask you to contact volunteer groups or pet professionals who might be able to work with the dog and help him improve his behavior.
When Should an Aggressive Be Put Down?
The answer is: only when the aggression is uncontrollable.
There are some dogs who are aggressive because they’re not getting enough socialization or exercise. They may also be suffering from separation anxiety, or possibly even a medical issue like hip dysplasia or glaucoma that makes them uncomfortable and irritable when left alone for long periods of time. If this is the case, then yes—it’s absolutely worth it to get help for your dog so that he can learn to manage his symptoms and live comfortably in your home.
But if you’ve got an aggressive dog who has been through all the training classes available and still shows signs of aggression towards people or other animals, then it might be time to consider euthanasia as an option.
Keep in mind that there are plenty of other options before you reach this point, though! There are many ways to manage aggression in dogs, including medication and behavioral modification training sessions with a professional trainer.
If you have a story to share about your experience with an aggressive poodle, please share it with me and the community in the comments below.
I want to help people like you who have been hurt by aggressive poodles. I know that the pain you’ve experienced is real and valid, and I want to support you by giving you a safe space to share your story.
I’m going to compile all of these stories into an ebook for people who are struggling with aggressive poodles in their lives. If you have had any negative experiences with an aggressive poodle, please comment below to share your story with me and the PoodleGo community.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the above article has provided some useful tips and advice for anyone who shares my love for Poodles, and whose partner is worried that one of these highly intelligent, obedient canines will be a little too much to handle.
My conclusion from the article is that you need to train your dog as soon as possible, to ensure that they don’t get too used to acting in a passive or aggressive mentality.
Remember, anger is an emotion, which means it is a temporary state.
Whether the cause of the aggressive behavior is environmental, social, or medical there are strategies for effectively addressing it and achieving better results.
Poodles, like many other dogs, can be shy, reserved, and playful beings by nature. If you take the time to observe your poodle’s behavior and are aware of certain triggers that may cause your poodle’s aggression (as explained in this post) you will be better equipped to avoid or address the problem in a more productive manner.
