What Does it Mean When a Dog Growls?
Sunday, April 5th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
By Sandra Scott
A dog that growls at you is sending a clear message that must be heeded. All too frequently, humans fail to comprehend these warning signals; dogs growl to make people understand the message they are trying to convey.
Under normal circumstances, dogs will only be aggressive when they feel threatened or in danger. Once a dog has repeatedly shown warning gestures and they have been ignored, he is likely to attack.
For an excellent dog training guide which will show you how to handle a growling dog, I recommend that you look at: Dog Growls.
Frequently, a dog growls to communicate his desires. Dogs will probably do it again once they discover that growling works for them. It is hardly a surprise that growling in dogs is a frequent problem because some people misguidedly think that this is a sign that their dog will safeguard them. The truth is that the dog is more likely to be protecting himself and his stuff.
Growling dogs may be considered dangerous according to some legal definitions so may need to be confined accordingly. This could mean that he has to be placed in a crate, kept in a separate space, or confined to the back yard.
If you give a dog what he wants after he has growled at you, he will very quickly realize that this is a great way to get what he desires. Understanding your dog’s needs is a definite benefit in resolving this behavior.
Just a reminder, if you are looking for a great free site to help you deal with your dog’s growling behavior, you should check out: Dog Growls.
A dog will growl for the following reasons:
- He wants you to feed him. This is a perfect time for an owner to teach his dog the appropriate ways to communicate his needs. In order for the food dish to be placed in front of the dog, he would need to behave correctly.
- He needs to go potty. Some dog owners are pleased that their pooch asks to be let outside to eliminate, however this is an unrealistic expectation for an old or sick dog or a puppy. It is much better if regular potty outings are scheduled so the dog doesn’t need to get his owner’s attention.
- He is guarding his food. Dogs may protect their food against an apparent threat (you!). It is important that children be taught not to interrupt or tease dogs while they are eating. Adults must do the same thing; dogs need to understand that people provide them with food and don’t remove it. When their is no risk of the dog growling, food should be added to the dog’s dish.
- As with food guarding, dogs may also defend their toys. When someone approaches the dog, growling is frequently the first sign that he will become aggressive if his warnings are ignored. In this instance, the simplest thing to do is take the toy away from the dog permanently or only give it to him when he’s in his crate.
- He has stolen an item and wants to keep it for himself. Never chase your dog if he has taken something that belongs to you. Instead, you should make sure that he receives good obedience training where he will learn the joys of retrieving and will come to you on command.
- Sometimes dog growling is an indication of his fear of being groomed or clipped. Dog grooming is a skill and you should not try to use clippers on your dog without the appropriate training.
- Dogs will also growl to protect themselves from abuse and suffering. Maybe a child has hit or tormented your dog when you weren’t looking so he may growl when a child approaches. Unfortunately, the dog will most likely be blamed for growling under these circumstances.
- It can be fun for a dog to see his owner jump backwards when he growls. If he is allowed to get used to this behavior, he may become aggressive if the owner stops jumping when he growls. It is important to nip this behavior in the bud from the get go.
To learn more about what to do when a dog growls at you, I strongly recommend that you check out the best selling dog training guide, Secrets to Dog Training.
