The low, menacing growl of a dog can’t be mistaken for anything else. This vocalization is used by dogs in a variety of contexts, including tug-of-war games and protecting their favorite bones. But why do animals growl in the first place? Is it abrasiveness, fear, bossiness, or another emotion? What can you do to change it? Learn why dogs growl, what it signifies, and how to handle it in the following paragraphs.
Play Growls
Growling is a kind of dog communication that has multiple causes, just like barking. Everything depends on the circumstances and the dog. In fact, occasional grumbling can be advantageous. When playing, a lot of dogs groan and whine because they’re enjoying themselves. Have you ever witnessed a dog fight? You probably heard some snarling. Although you might have assumed that meant the roughhousing had gotten out of hand, it was probably all in good fun.
Your dog’s growling during play does not indicate aggression. It simply indicates they’re enjoying themselves. Even during a particularly enjoyable hugging or petting session, your dog can snarl. Many dogs use their growls to express happiness or to greet people. These growls are simply signs of contentment.
Warning Growls
Of course, some growls signify something quite different. A dog may growl in response to being trapped or as a warning to another dog. Another typical sign of resource guarding is growling. A dog that is hurt may frequently growl to keep others away. Growling is a sign that your dog is bothered by something in all of these situations and more.
You can think of these growls as stress growls, as opposed to play and chat growls. They inform you that your dog is in pain. And that’s priceless. Now you may step in and alter the circumstance on your dog’s behalf before your dog feels the need to use more drastic methods like biting.
How to Tell the Difference
How can you distinguish between stress growls and happiness growls? Observe your body language. For instance, if your dog is giving you a play bow or a submissive grin, any growling is probably OK. That growl from your dog is serious if it appears stiff and is glaring at you with a serious expression.
When you are familiar with a dog, the growl’s tone might occasionally be useful as well. You might learn something different from a growl that is loud and higher pitched than one that is low and gentle. When in doubt, though, present yourself as if the growl is a danger. It’s preferable to make a mistake and end a nice game than to misjudge and get hurt, especially when playing with dogs you don’t know well. Teach young children, in particular, to be cautious of any growls.
What Stress Growling Means
Growling under stress is a warning indication. To warn people to back off before the dog is compelled to take further action is their goal. Most dogs are reluctant to bite or attack. To stop the situation from getting worse, they snarl. This provides growls a lot of value. A dog that suddenly strikes is quite dangerous. Respect your dog’s growls for the understanding they provide into his or her emotions and for the opportunity they provide you to step in, assist your dog, and avoid harm.
Don’t Punish Growling
Hopefully, you now understand that growling is something you should never fix. It could be harmless or a sign of stress in your dog. Punishing your dog for growling will only prevent future growling. You won’t have taken any action to solve the root problem. For instance, disciplining your dog for growling while there are other dogs around will make him stop. Your dog will still feel uneasy around other dogs, though. Even worse, you might believe something else because there isn’t any growling. Your dog is still stressed out and could perhaps snap at any moment without notice.
Regrettably, when you correct your dog for growling, you also make the underlying problem worse. For instance, if you punish your dog for snarling at another dog, the other dog will likely assume that your negative response was the other dog’s fault. Now, your dog will be even more uncomfortable. After all, it’s other dogs that make you angry.
How to Handle Growling
The best strategy to handle growling is to identify the source of your dog’s discomfort and then address it. First, adjust the setting as best you can to suit your dog in the here and now. Cross the street, leave the dog park, or do whatever else is necessary to assist your dog unwind if the presence of another dog is upsetting your pet. Back off and let your dog alone if it’s getting too close to their bone.
Next, pinpoint precisely what caused the rumbling. If you can temporarily remove that circumstance from your dog’s life, do so. For instance, avoid taking your dog to the dog park if other dogs stress them out. Stop giving your dog bones if they defend them, and so forth.
Finally, use a behavior modification technique to permanently stop the growling. Desensitization and counterconditioning techniques might alter how your dog feels about the underlying problem that initially made him snarl. You must assist your dog in becoming accustomed to the things that once caused them so much concern for both their safety and your own. These aren’t quick fixes, and a dog trainer or animal behaviorist might be necessary. However, if you control your dog’s environment while helping them get used to their stressors, they should eventually stop needing to stress snarl. But if they do, you’ll be prepared for it now.
Do you need assistance training your dog? In spite of the fact that you might not be able to attend live training sessions during COVID-19, we are still available to you electronically through the AKC GoodDog! Helpline. With the help of this live telephone service, you may speak with a qualified trainer who will provide you with unrestricted, personalized advise on anything from behavioral problems to CGC preparation to getting started in dog sports.
How do I get my dog to quit barking at other dogs?
there were plenty of supplies. But you will require the following:
Be sure to keep a
Have a consistent supply of your dog’s preferred goodies on available to give to him as a reward.
- To take a leash
- yet another canine:
- You need space to work, whether it’s in your yard, a dog park, or on the sidewalk.
- Patience: In keeping
You’ll need a lot of patience, just like with any other kind of training. Never overexcite yourself
Every time he growls
Use the “quiet” command each time your dog growls at another dog. Give him a treat once he stops snarling and obeys. Until the other dog has passed, make him lie down if he doesn’t.
Repeat this process
Every time your dog growls, keep putting him down. This will assist in teaching him that his actions are wholly unacceptable. Give him a reward and a treat each time he lies down quietly.
Keep practicing
Getting your dog to quit snarling at other dogs may require a few weeks of training. As you socialize your puppy with other dogs, keep in mind that he will be less inclined to snarl at them. Be patient; when you can take your dog for a stroll without worrying about his behavior, the effort will have been well worth it.
Signs of aggression
Keep an eye out for early warning signs like whining, ears pointing forward, yanking on his leash, increased hackles, or looking the other dog straight in the eye. All of these aggressive behaviors are likely to be followed by growling and other hostile displays.
No rewards
Giving him a treat or complimenting him for his violent behavior is simply unacceptable since it encourages him to continue acting aggressively. It also entails avoiding any eye contact with him because doing so will just help to perpetuate the conduct.
Avoidance is better
Take your dog across the street when you see another dog approaching, or if that’s not an option, move perpendicular to the direction the other dog is coming from. Your dog will eventually discover that avoiding conflict is preferable to engaging in it.
Use positive reinforcement
Give your dog a treat and some praise each time he follows you without growling. Never penalize him when he disobeys; simply continue the teaching.
Slowly cut the distance
When your dog passes another dog without growling, gradually close the gap between them while rewarding him. Your dog will quickly pick up the ability to be around other dogs or pass by them without growling with practice.
Create a blind
You must initially keep the other dogs out of sight since your puppy growls when he sees them. Parking two automobiles end to end with a space between them makes making a blind the simplest method.
Walk on by
You should stand 20 feet away from the gap while your friend carefully walks his dog through it. Give your dog the “sit-stay” command to divert him if he starts to growl. Praise him and reward him with a goodie if he listens and stops snarling.
Move closer
Repeat the training while moving the area where you and your dog are standing by half the distance from the gap. Use plenty of rewards and give him lots of praise when he performs well.
Out on the street
Take your dog for a walk to practice the training in public. Cut a wide passage in front of the approaching dog to start, and then reward your dog when he doesn’t growl. Work on getting him closer until the two of you are able to go anywhere without having to worry about whether he would snarl at any dogs you may run across.
What causes my dog to growl at other dogs occasionally?
Your dog may have grunted while engaging in play. When dogs act in this way, it can seem strange—why would they suddenly make an aggressive noise when you two are having fun? The short answer is no, they’re not!
Your dog may even be attempting to tell you that they want to continue playing if they growl like this. It means that they are having fun. Play growls can be recognized from other, more aggressive varieties of growling, even though it’s difficult for the human ear to pick up on small changes in dog growling.
Despite the fact that every dog is unique and has an own vocal range and “voice,” dog play growls typically have a higher pitch than other types of growling. They will frequently be shorter as well, and they might be accompanied by body language like bounding gestures or your dog lifting their hind end in the air while bending over on their front legs.
If a dog growls when playing with a person or another dog, don’t take it personally. Keep a watch on things in case they get out of hand, but typically when a dog growls during play, it’s just having a good time.
Is a dog’s growl usually hostile?
Dog communication includes growling. When upset or uneasy, your dog cannot verbally communicate that to you. Most dogs will start by communicating with you through their body language. It may growl to let you know how it feels if you are unable to recognize the more subtle cues. The most frequent causes of dog growling include pain, territoriality, possessive violence, and fear.
Some dogs even snarl while having fun. When two dogs are engaged in safe, healthy play, play growling is frequently observed. The growling in this instance does not necessarily denote hostility. It’s still crucial to pay attention to your dog’s body language and make sure that play growling doesn’t escalate into a dogfight. When you play tug-of-war with your dog, you might also see your dog growling. Unless your dog is acting aggressively in other ways, a gentle growl is not necessarily a bad sign. It’s crucial to stop the game if your dog bites at your hand, lunges at you, or starts growling ominously.
What can I do to stop my puppy from snarling at other dogs?
- If they are snarling at you, yell out or scream out and move away.
- If they begin to act aggressively, take them out of the situation.
- When your puppy becomes overexcited, let them settle down in a different room or their box.
Avoid letting kids approach them or letting strangers threatenly stand over your animal. The person approaching should turn sideways, kneel to your puppy’s level, and stretch out their arm so the puppy may smell it first. This causes your dog less stress. Additionally, it enables them to initiate contact.
Puppy training might take some time. Treating the root of the problem is preferable to dealing with only visible symptoms. A well-behaved adult dog will result from using positive reinforcement and solving issues quickly. Your dog will learn appropriate conduct and stop growling with the help of the training advice that follows:
- Praise restrained, quiet behavior.
- Allow them to exercise frequently.
- Use puzzles, tricks, and toys to engage your puppy’s mind.
- Promote early socialization.
There are several resources for finding an animal behaviorist and trainer if you are unable to train your puppy on your own.
