Teething

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I have a 16 week old Labrador, just today he started to act kind of grumpy in comparison with his typical behavior. He growls and barks constantly when he is chewing on toys and tail. He also barks at us and I'm not sure if this is due to teething and if so how long will this last?
         Thank You

ANSWER: It is not normal behavior for any puppy this age to bark and growl while playing with a toy (does he chew his TAIL or is that a misstatement?) This has nothing to do with teething.  A puppy can bark at his humans in order to express excitement or a desire to play, but persistent barking is not good (and growling NOT AT ALL good in a puppy this young.)  You need the intervention of a professional.  Start with the veterinarian; FULLY EXPLAIN the puppy's behavior.  Two sentences DOES NOT DO IT.  A complete history of the puppy's behaviors with all members of the family present is required.  The Veterinarian will do a full body check (especially orthopedic) to determine if the puppy has an injury or is in pain, and will most likely suggest you find a behaviorist to deal with a developing anxiety problem in this dog.  SOMEONE in your household is doing SOMETHING wrong.  I can't see that from here, and two sentences doesn't provide me with any information to determine cause or remedy.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I apologize for not being clear on the tail issue. He doesn't chew on his tail he barks at it and tries to get it his mouth. When he barks at us he is wagging his tail or when we tell him "no biting", "off" or "no" when he is chewing something other than his toys. He doesn't growl at us just at his toys. He likes to lick everyone in the household and doesn't bark. He is not barking at us all the time, but I've notice that he barks when he is trying to tell us something. Could growling at his toys be an indication of future aggression. Also, when we tell him not to chew on other things and remove him from that object he barks and then bites in the air while moving backwards. Does this mean that he doesn't like us to tell him no and that is the way he expresses it? Thank You

Answer
At times, a puppy will bark at its owners: this can be a sign of normal interaction, it can be a result of stress and mixed signals of leadership, it can be a normal play behavior, or you may be inadvertently training this behavior by rewarding it.  Chasing a tail is normal behavior for a puppy but NOT if it appears obsessive: obsessive tail chasing can be a sign of high anxiety (in a puppy).  A wagging tail does not indicate happiness: dogs wag their tails when they are fearful, when they are happy, when they are engaged in aggression, in other words: the tail is part of the body and is used to COMMUNICATE emotional state in dog culture.  Growling at toys is normal, it's a play interaction.  Licking people is a sign of submission and is a juvenile behavior meant to elicit interaction (an artifact of ancestry.)

You may very well be misconstruing normal puppy behavior as a problem (not uncommon!)  Biting in the air is a stress signal; when you remove an object from this conflicted puppy (he demonstrates confidence and diffidence at the same time in some areas, per your description) he is either: confused, upset, anxious or fearful.  You may be mishandling this puppy.  I suggest you find an EXPERIENCED POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINER as soon as possible.  I think you need basic education on what to expect from a puppy and the puppy needs hands on evaluation for temperament.  Positive reinforcement training is THE ONLY METHOD to use, especially with a puppy that may be over confident or obtaining fear responses.  Ask your veterinarian for a referral to an experienced trainer; CHECK THE TRAINER'S REFERENCES; ask the trainer MANY QUESTIONS before allowing the trainer into your home, and once there, observe the trainer's methods carefully.  An experienced trainer will put you at ease and teach you how to interact appropriately with this puppy.  If you have ANY hesitation regarding the trainer's approach to you or the puppy, find another one.