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Freyja is now a little over 5 months old. She has always been a sweet dog and I have gone out of my way to socialize her by bringing her to stores, introducing her to a variety of dogs and people and taking her for walks in state parks. This weekend she exhibited some behaviors that I have never seen before and am worried might become more common. First let me state that I was extremely sick all last week and she spent many a day and night on my bed with me all day as I enjoyed my misery. This weekend I decided to spend some time at my Fiance's house. After I let her out of my car my Fiance came around to say hello and help me with my bags. The problem was that he didn't say a word, I didn't notice him, it was dark and he was downwind. Freyja started barking/snarling yet holding her ground. When he continued to approach, she charged. Yet once she discovered it was him she went into full puppy meltdown mode and all was fine. I understand that he was in the wrong and don't fault her for her behavior although i do wish to teach her that not all strangers are bad. Yet she's never done anything like this before, even in identical situations.
Later that evening, his mother's retriever jumped on me and all **** broke loose. Freyja attacked. Snarling, snapping, biting, until she had the full grown retriever on his back, belly exposed, yet even then she chewed on his neck. It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to react. I pulled her off of him and reprimanded her. After this incident she was fine with him. Later that evening the retriever mouthed my fiance's hand causing him to say OUCH!. That was round two. This time he was able to intervene before she had flipped the dog. She was told "NO" and scolded. Throughout the next two days she bullied the retriever, stealing his toys, hip checking him, and forcing him to roll over and expose his belly, and putting his head in her mouth and grumbling. She has never done anything like this before. She was fine with both other dogs at the house, but the retriever seems to be her chosen target. Is this her growing into a stage of aggression or is somewhat normal?
Later that evening, his mother's retriever jumped on me and all **** broke loose. Freyja attacked. Snarling, snapping, biting, until she had the full grown retriever on his back, belly exposed, yet even then she chewed on his neck. It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to react. I pulled her off of him and reprimanded her. After this incident she was fine with him. Later that evening the retriever mouthed my fiance's hand causing him to say OUCH!. That was round two. This time he was able to intervene before she had flipped the dog. She was told "NO" and scolded. Throughout the next two days she bullied the retriever, stealing his toys, hip checking him, and forcing him to roll over and expose his belly, and putting his head in her mouth and grumbling. She has never done anything like this before. She was fine with both other dogs at the house, but the retriever seems to be her chosen target. Is this her growing into a stage of aggression or is somewhat normal?