My 13 week old male pit bull puppy is now showing signs of food aggression

by Debbie Spence
(Covingtonn KY)

How can I stop him from trying to attack my 2 cats and my other dog? Tyson also likes to bite my younger cat really hard when they play. I want to start him in puppy class soon. I just need a little help on getting a handle on him. No matter what I won't give up on him. Please help me.

Gale's Reply:

Hi Debbie:

Maybe it's just the angle of the camera, but this puppy looks thin to me. If you are sure he's getting enough to eat, take him to the vet and have him checked out. If his body isn't absorbing enough nutrients, that could tie back to the food aggression.

You don't say whether your puppy's food aggression is directed at you, your other pets or both. If he only growls at the other pets over his food, I would simply separate everyone at meal time.

If he is growling at you, that's another matter. You may find this article helpful.

As far as your pup being rough with your cats and the other dog, you need to only allow them together when you can supervise and intervene if necessary.

This article from Bully for You!, as well as the links near the bottom of it may help you re-train your puppy around cats. Don't hold off on the puppy class. Puppy classes are primarily about socialization which is exactly what I think your puppy needs more of right now.

Your patience and consistency will pay off in the long run. Good luck to you Debbie.

For more information on obedience training, visit our Pit Bull Training page.

For help with behavioral problems, check out our Dog Behavior Training page.