Dog Behavior: Growling

Dogs vocalize through various methods. Growling may indicate that your dog needs attention. While growling is a natural instinct in dogs, it should never be permitted to become excessive, resulting in behavioral problems from your dog. Growling that begins when you have a puppy can be easier to modify, as opposed to a dog who has already developed this negative behavior.

  1. Understanding

    • Understanding growling can help teach your dog.

      When your dog growls, it can convey different meanings. For example, it may mean "Get away from my food" or "There's someone at the door," indicates Vetinfo. Growls become a warning mechanism to alert you or someone else that if you follow through with a disagreeable action, your dog might follow through with a defensive action, such as biting.

    Causes

    • Dogs can use growling as a form of verbal communication.

      Dogs can growl due to fear, aggression or when playing. Some dogs --- who suffer from "rage syndrome," a seizure disorder --- can also excessively growl, according to Vetinfo. Excited playing can cause some dogs to growl. Sometimes, while playing tug-of-war, a dog's excitement escalates into a form of protective growling. Your pet is letting you know that it doesn't want you to take away its toy. Aggression barking stems from the dog trying to defend its food or territory, or when trying to communicate that it's in pain. Fear barking can be triggered by sounds or people.

    Control

    • Your dog may need professional training to stop growling.

      Establishing dominance over your dog can help it learn that you won't tolerate its growling. Without establishing your dominant role, your dog may feel as if it's the leader and continue with its unruly behavior, notes Vetinfo. Socializing with your dog from puppyhood can help it prevent growling problems when older. By introducing your puppy to other dogs and people, it will learn how to behave in situations where it may growl. If growling has already progressed into annoying behavior, then enrolling your dog in an obedience class will help to stop the growling.

    Concerns

    • Take the dog to the vet to rule out an underlying medical issue.

      If your dog begins growling or growls when you touch it, take the animal to your veterinarian to rule out medical conditions. Growling should never lead to outward aggression, whereby your dog ends up biting people in your household or neighbors. Tolerating your dog's growling is negative attention; it can inadvertently teach your dog that you're okay with this behavior.