by Steven
(Canada)
It’s a 7 week old rottweiler pup, a male, it had been not active and playful, and often growls too much.
Whenever i pick him up and force him to stay, he growls and attacks my hand.
Hi Steven
At 7 weeks old a puppy is not being aggressive (or at least very, very rarely). At this age he is programmed to stay close to his pack (otherwise in the wild he would die) and if he’s forced to be separated from them – and right now that pack is you and your family – he will get very upset and scared.
Being that he’s so young, I’m assuming you’ve only brought this puppy home very recently, and it can take a few days, or even a week or more, for a pup to adjust to all the major changes in his life. During that adjustment period he may be very quiet, sleep more than usual and seem ‘sad’ or homesick, probably because he is! There’s an article on this which I think it would help you to read so that you know what to expect during this time, you can find it here target=”_blank”>Bringing Home A New Puppy.
Rottie pups are no different to any other breed at this young age and they need lots of love and attention, plus firm (but loving) discipline and positive reinforcement – praise and rewards – when they behave appropriately. Give your pup a little while to settle in and adjust in his own way, and on his own timetable, and he will be much less stressed and you’ll soon see his true character and personality shine through. Don’t expect too much from him too soon.
If you haven’t already read the pages on this site that deal with puppy care in general, and Rottweilers in particular, then I’d recommend taking a look at these….
Hope this helps some. Best of luck with your new puppy.