If your sat at home wondering why your dog or puppy gets aggressive when tired then I know how you feel. As do the thousands of other frustrated owners dealing with the exact same issue.
Now, it’s inevitable that at some point during the day, your beloved pooch is going to get a little overtired.
And while this usually isn’t a cause for concern in most homes, there are many frustrated owners on the other side of the fence who would beg to differ.
It’s kind of like the overtired toddler who starts kicking up a fuss when they know it’s time for bed.
Because even though they know what’s coming, they’ll do their best to defy the odds and fight the urge to head off into the land of nod.
Why do they do it? …It depends
See, like toddlers, dogs can often demonstrate seemingly odd behavior the doesn’t really make sense to us.
…Maybe they’re afraid they’ll miss something…
…Maybe they can’t stand the thought of being left alone.
…Or maybe it’s something else entirely.
But whatever the reason, it’s something that can soon spiral out of control into an overbearing nightmare from which there is no escape.
So what can you do?
Well, obviously calming your pooch before they reach this state of ‘overtiredness’ is going to be a huge plus when it comes to getting them to wind down.
And the quickest way to accomplish this is to simply teach them how to dial down their emotional state when it really matters.
So if you’re ready to make this a reality without having to deal with the constant frustration of unwanted aggression, then I’d highly recommend taking a few minutes to check out the Dog Calming Code from Dan Abdelnoor (aka Doggy Dan) over at The Online Dog Trainer. (see video below)
Watch the video, follow the training, and you should see a huge reduction in your pup’s aggressive tendencies before you know it.
Anyway, here’s the video link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Solve Your Dog Or Puppy’s Frustrating, Unwanted Aggression Problem Using A Powerful Calming Technique That Takes Just Minutes A Day To Implement… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
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Signs That Your Dog Or Puppy Is Getting Aggressive – What To Look Out For?
Now, you might be wondering how you can tell the difference between normal rough house play between puppies and yourself. And when they are starting to exhibit signs of aggression that should be addressed.
It also goes without saying that you should never become angry, aggressive, or show signs of frustration when working through any aggressive behavioral issues with your puppy. Because the reality is this will only make their behavior worse!
You should always maintain a calm front and speak assertively but never with a raised voice. It can definitely be a frustrating experience that may take a little patience to work through. But once you have resolved the problem, every second of training will be worth it!
Remember that when your puppy is being aggressive, it’s because they are not happy for some reason. And they don’t have the language to explain the problem to you.
So it’s important to be as understanding as you can so that you can help your tiny furry friend to get back to being happy and relaxed again!
Signs of Aggression
Keep a close eye on your puppy’s actions when it’s around food or toys because this is where their aggressive behavior will usually show itself first.
If they start to act possessively about their food bowl, treats, or their toys, it’s time to take action to address the issue.
So ask yourself…
- Does your puppy growl or snap at you or other dogs?
- Snatch or grabs treats or toys out of your hand?
- Lunge at you, or protective of certain items of furniture?
Then this is a clear sign that they are developing aggressive habits.
Now, all puppies have an instinctual prey drive – which means that they like to chase things that are moving.
However, if this becomes excessive and they bark, chase, snap, or even overreact to gentle play. Then you need to address this behavior because as they get older (and grow bigger), it can become genuinely dangerous to you and other dogs!
Here’s an overview of aggressive behaviors to watch out for in your puppy:
- Overreacting to gentle play.
- Hyperactive prey drive – chasing everything that moves.
- Dog on dog aggressive behavior including snapping, growling, barking, and biting.
- Random or unpredictable acts of violence towards you, children, or other dogs and puppies.
- Dominant behaviors toward you or other dogs and people.
- Overprotective of their food bowl or toys.
- Territorial or protective over certain things, including furniture, parts of a room, or even the garden.
- Growling or barking when you approach the puppy.
- Baring its teeth, nipping or crouching down as if ready to pounce.
- Lunging or pulling excessively on their leash.
Why Causes The Aggression?
Puppies, just like older dogs, don’t become aggressive for no reason. And while the most usual cause for aggressive behavior in puppies is feeling stressed or frightened, there can also be other causes to be aware of as well.
This is a good thing for owners though, because if you do see signs of aggression, you can develop a strategy to train the behavior out of them.
Fear is the Most Common Root Cause of Aggression
Fear is probably the most likely reason why your puppy is acting aggressively. It might sound counterintuitive, but a puppy doesn’t need to have had a terrible or traumatic incident to become afraid!
One of the most usual ways that a puppy can become afraid of other dogs or people is because they have not been properly socialized from a young age.
Socialization is a key ingredient to bring up a happy and calm dog.
So you need to make sure they’re meeting plenty of other people and dogs while also visiting new places as often as possible.
You should try to introduce your puppy to other members of your family, friends, and even strangers (where appropriate) as often as you can.
Once you are taking your puppy to the park, let it meet other dogs that seem friendly and safe in a controlled way.
If you want to make sure that your puppy starts its socialization early, you can take it to puppy classes where it will have the chance to play with other puppies and learn new skills.
You’ll also be able to get some helpful tips from a qualified trainer as well as meet other dog owners in your area.
In addition to this, it’s also important to make sure that your puppy becomes familiar with sounds and situations that they might find frightening, like vacuum cleaners, the postman, and even passing traffic on the street.
The first time they see or hear these things, they may be a little bit frightened. But if you are there to support them, they’ll be taking it all in their stride in no time at all.
Trying to Assert Their Dominance and Territorial Aggression
Sometimes your puppy can try to assert its dominance over other puppies, dogs, or even you, both at home and out at the park!
This is a natural instinct because dogs are pack animals, and they want to know their place in the hierarchy.
You should never allow your puppy to feel that it can dominate you, or other dogs, with aggression, and so this behavior has to be dealt with quickly.
A good routine will help with this as well as fair treatment and plenty of food.
Once your puppy learns that it won’t run out of food or be treated unfairly, they’ll soon relax and be more than happy to share!
Of course, if you have more than one dog, there will always be a little bit of sibling rivalry, and there’s nothing wrong with this!
Just be aware that there’s a fine line between sibling rivalry and aggression or dominance behavior. So at the end of the day, you’ll have to make the final call.
For instance, if you find your dogs snarling and biting each other, then you’ll definitely need to step in and take control of this situation.
Possessive with toys, food, or space
When puppies, or dogs, are acting possessively with toys, food, or space, it’s usually because they’ve learned that if they don’t, it will be taken away from them.
From the puppy’s point of view, food and toys are a very precious resource, and they’ll naturally want to hang on to them.
However, if you always act judiciously and fairly with your puppy. Then it shouldn’t develop these types of possessive and aggressive behaviors.
But if they have already started acting like this, you need to take immediate action to remedy the situation.
It can be hard to know exactly where to start when training your puppy to leave these negative behaviors behind them. But with the help of some well-structured training, you can quickly manage and improve these aggressive symptoms.
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Stress and Confusion
Puppies, just like dogs, always like to have a predictable routine. This makes them feel safe and secure in your home. However, if things start to become erratic and irregular, your puppy can quickly begin to act insecure and stressed.
This can lead to them withdrawing into themselves and becoming aggressive! So to avoid this, keep their meal times regular, their toilet visits to the garden frequent, and bedtimes at a similar time each night.
It’s not just the physical aspects of their lives that you should try to keep regular. You also need to be as consistent as you can with them throughout their upbringing and training.
This means that if it’s naughty for them to do something one time, you cannot later reward them for the same behavior down the road, or vice versa.
Never overreact to something they do either because they are very sensitive to their owners and how they react to the things they do.
Always be firm if they are naughty but never allow your own frustration or anger to show through – even if you’re tired and fed up!
People and Children
All people have different sizes, shapes, and appearances. And whether they are friends or family, this can be confusing for your puppy!
This can also lead to aggression if they haven’t experienced proper socialization. So it’s vital for your puppy to be introduced to new people and places as often as possible.
Children can also be a problem for your puppy’s development. Because let’s face it, most children will naturally want to play with an adorable pup.
However, you need to supervise this playtime because children will not always be aware of when a puppy is too tired, feeling stressed, or starting to become aggressive.
This is something just to keep an eye on. And although you should certainly allow your children to interact with a puppy, it should be done in moderation and in a controlled, supervised environment.
Why Does My Dog Or Puppy Get Aggressive When Tired?
Puppies are super fun and love to play around when they’re awake, but they also need to be getting enough sleep and rest!
Remember that young dogs should not be taken on long walks (no longer than 10 or 15 minutes at a time), and will happily spend hours fast asleep in their crate!
Your puppy can start to become aggressive when they are tired for several reasons. So it’s your job as the owner to make sure that they get enough sleep and feel safe to avoid any aggressive behavior.
Puppies can also become aggressive when they are tired or simply because they don’t want to be left alone!
And while this might seem innocent enough, you should still take this seriously because doing so will mean that they sleep better and won’t become aggressive.
You can overcome this problem by setting up their crate near to your home workspace or near to you while you watch TV.
This will let them know that you’re right there beside them so they can sleep soundly, safe in the knowledge that they are not alone!
Just like children, puppies can easily overtire themselves if you’re not careful, and this can cause them to become moody and aggressive.
It’s your job to make sure their routine is appropriate and leaves plenty of time for sleep.
And don’t worry, once they’ve had a nap, they’ll let you know when they’re ready for another bout of playtime!
Related Post: Why Is My Dog More Aggressive At Night?
Signs That Your Puppy Is Tired
Now, there are many tell-tale signs that you can look out for to know if your puppy is tired. The most obvious being the occasional yawn or stretch.
But other signs are a little more subtle and include things like…
Becoming Forgetful
Your puppy is forgetting commands that they would normally know and respond to easily.
This just means that their little brains are exhausted, and they need a good sleep.
Just think how hard it would be to take an exam when you’re exhausted and haven’t slept the night before!
Your little puppy is just the same.
They’re Getting Hyperactive
Another not so obvious sign is that your puppy starts to get the ‘zoomies’ or becomes hyperactive.
This might sound contradictory. But just like children, overtired or exhausted puppies can become hyperactive or destructive when left to their own devices.
Time to put them in their crate to get a good rest!
Excessive Panting Or Licking
Excessive panting and licking its lips can be signs of extreme tiredness (although it can also mean fear).
Wandering And Sniffing
Sniffing around on the ground can signal that your puppy is looking for a spot to take a rest.
If this happens, try putting them in their crate, and if they lie straight down, you’ll know they were tired.
They’re Irritable
Sudden outbursts of yapping, biting, or nipping can mean that your pup is desperate for a rest.
Just like us, when we’re really tired, we can quickly become irritable and overreact to situations!
If your puppy is super thirsty, even after it’s had a drink of water, then it’s probably time for it to take a nap!
So How Much Sleep Does Your Puppy Need?
The average dog will sleep for up to between 12 and 18 hours a day! Yes, as the saying goes, it really is a dog’s life, and if anything, puppies need a little more.
However, they do make up for it when they are awake and tearing around the place!
So remember that there’s nothing unusual if your puppy is chasing around playing one moment and then flopped down fast asleep the next!
How To Stop Your Dog Or Puppy Getting Aggressive When Tired?
Your puppy needs regular breaks and pit stops during their busy days!
Because one minute, they will zoom about and be 100% awake. And the next, they’ll be a fluffy little ball lost in the land of dreams!
So make sure you keep an eye on your pup for signs that they are getting too tired or exhausted.
Always make sure that you don’t over-exercise them and leave plenty of time for rest in the day.
When you take your puppy outside to play in the garden, you shouldn’t be out for more than 15 minutes or so – especially when they are young (under 4 months).
Gentler, indoor play can carry on for longer. But while their legs and joints are still growing, you have to be very careful not to let them run riot for too long because this can cause health problems later in their lives.
The best way to do this is to simply teach them how to stay calm. This will massively help with any aggressive tendencies they might be developing and make your life a lot easier too!
Again, the Online Dog Trainer Program is a great place to start. And I’d highly recommend taking a look if you’re serious about calming the aggressive tendencies in your puppy.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, you need to remember that your puppy can only learn what they’ve been shown. So starting their training young is a crucial ingredient to having a well-behaved and happy older dog!
Your puppy needs a lot of care and attention. And you’re going to have to take on the role of pack leader if you want to see positive changes in your puppy long term.
So watch their bedtimes, make sure they get enough rest, and stick to a solid routine while ensuring they’re properly socialized.
If you do, I have no doubt that your pup will become the well-rounded little character you want them to be.
