We just purchased a Boston Terrier puppy, female, that is 8 weeks old. While my husband was playing with her she started nipping at his fingers and then when my husband raised his arm so the puppy couldn't bite him, the puppy jumped up and bit him on his under arm. My husband told the puppy no and tried to calm the puppy and the puppy just acted vicious and started growling and trying to bite again. We rolled her over and told her NO and put her in her kennel for a few minutes. When I got her back out she was fine. Then again this morning when my husband started petting her when she was on the floor she started growling and bitting his hands. My husband holds her, pets her, and she goes to sleep in his arms most of the time. Just on these rare occasions she exibits this behaviour. This really worried me because this wonderful, cuddly, sweet puppy turned into a spitting, growling, squirming, vicious little creature that we didn't recognize. Our puppy seems really great natured, except whe wants to fight with my husband, gets along well with out other pets and has never exibited this behaviour with me or our 16 year old grand daughter I'm worried now that I have a nerotic pet.... Help!

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At first, it sounds like the puppy is just playing with your husband, whether or not your husband wants to play back. If she's showing teeth and growling before you even get your hand down to pet her, that's a sign of aggression, which may be set off by something you haven't noticed yet. Chances are, however, that she's just being a naughty puppy. My Boston was an absolute terror the first 4-6 weeks we had him, but after using a stern voice used for training (and make sure not to ever contradict yourself while training - yell at puppy for a mistake, and then pet her right after cuz she's so cute), she'll learn that biting and nipping is not acceptable by the pack leader, and her bad behavior should stop. Good luck!

She is not neurotic...she is a Boston puppy, they love to play and everyting is a game. Be persistent with your 'NO's' and encourage her to play with little doggy ropes to chew on instead of your husband. If you are using the kennel to train her it shouldn't be used as a punishment. They can be stubborn and willful...but early training with a soft voice will be rewarded with a loving, bright, life-long friend.Good Luck