Getting puppies too early can make them aggresive

Puppies taken from their mothers earlier than two months old have a higher chance of being aggresive than those who are taken after the recommended weaning period, a new study claims.



Taking puppies early has long been known to cause dogs distress, and could be linked to problems with physical health - but this is the first study that confirms that it can negatively impact the future behaviour of the dog. Researchers are now raising concerns this could lead to growing numbers of abandoned dogs, after their owners discover them to be agressive, or harmful.

Behaviours such as destructiveness, excessive barking, possessiveness, attention seeking and play fighting were also identified as being linked to dogs who had been taken from their mothers too early.


Weaning puppies is time consuming and expensive, so some breeders may feel inclined to offer to part with them early - but would-be dog owners should not accept this, and be wary of such behaviour.