![]() We often see this behavior emerge in dogs during adolescence, as they approach maturity. She is probably a little cautious around (or even overtly fearful of) strangers.Įscape is usually the first behavior choice for a fearful dog, but if she’s on a leash and can’t retreat, she communicates in the only way she knows to tell the scary person to stay away. I tell my clients that a far more likely explanation is that their dog is being defensively aggressive. Sadly, dogs who bite people tend to lose their homes, if not their very lives. I suspect it might secretly make them feel better to think their dog is looking out for their best interests, even if it manifests as an undesirable behavior that risks the well-being of the dog as well as the person on the receiving end of the aggression. At some point during our consultation at least half of them suggest that their dog is trying to protect them. The vet will also be able to refer you, where applicable, to a behaviourist.I see an average of a dozen clients a month who come to me because of concerns about their dogs’ aggressive behaviors. In terms of safety you should always move away from a dog that growls at you.Ī vet will be able to establish if there are any underlying health conditions which might account for your dog’s behaviour. One thing owners should never do is ignore growling behaviour, particularly if this is due to guarding behaviour. If you find it difficult to manage your dog day-to-day because he growls it is crucial you speak initially to your vet. While mild, occasional growling is usually nothing to worry about regular, growling, snapping and biting is a more serious situation. You can also teach your dog to retrieve a toy and to willingly give it up for a reward. This sort of approach works well with clicker training. ![]() You then have the opportunity to retrieve the item. Instead, try ‘trading’ the toy for another, or tempt him with a tasty treat tossed a short distance away. In this scenario, you are very likely to get bitten. If your dog growls at you when you try to take an item away from him, you must not battle with him, or scold him. visitors to the house), will drastically reduce your dog’s reasons to growl. Positive, dog-centred techniques, along with managing the dog’s environment, ( keeping him away from stressors i.e. In addition, telling a dog off for growling can force him more rapidly to the next step of actually biting.įor fearful dogs, you may need to enlist the help of a good dog trainer, or behaviourist, to help your dog overcome his reaction to fear. If a dog is frequently scolded for growling, he may learn not to growl, (give warning) and just go straight to nipping, or biting instead. If you have any reason to suspect your dog may be in pain, (perhaps because of sudden, uncharacteristic growling), it is essential to seek veterinary attention straight away. Therefore, it is important to address the underlying cause. What to do if your dog is growling.Ī dog who growls, is warning those around him that he may bite. Dogs make growling noises when they are playing, either with their owners, or with other dogs. Dogs experiencing pain, or discomfort, are also much more likely to growl. This might be toys, people, or food and may also may also incite growling behaviour in certain circumstances. Other dogs are possessive over resources. Growling is common in nervous dogs and they may do this is they feel afraid. Was the dog having his nails clipped? Maybe he was eating his meal? Was the dog playing a game of tug? Were there strangers around, or other dogs? Was your dog startled by a sudden movement, or loud noise? Have you considered your dog may be ill, or sustained an injury? There are a great many instances where your dog may feel the need to growl. Try and work out what might have incited your dog to growl. The first thing to do is to consider the circumstances. If a dog’s growls are ignored, he may then resort to snapping, or biting. It shows that dogs would rather not fight, but are fully prepared to avoid direct conflict. Growling is one of the initial signals a dog will display to show that he is not happy with a particular situation. Even though it can be worrying for some dog owners, it is very important a dog is not reprimanded for growling. Growling is a natural means of communication for dogs. If you have ever wondered why dogs growl, read our Holidays4Dogs informative article to find out more. When a dog growls, it provides us with an indication of how the dog might be feeling. While it can be a worry for a lot of owners, it should be remembered that growling is actually a good sign. A dog may growl at members of your family, strangers, other dogs, household pets, or even objects. It can be disconcerting when your dog growls. ![]()
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