Dogs growl for two main reasons. Either they are playing with you or warning you. If your dog growls during play, this is usually easy to identify and pair with playful behavior. Most pet owners do not consider this a problem. Constant warning growling, however, is a precursor to serious aggression issues and needs to be nipped in the bud. The best way to do this is to spot the situations that cause growling and resolve them before your dog develops a problem.
Things You'll Need
- Leash
- Dog treats
- Crate
Instructions
Socialize your dog. This should start as early as possible. If your dog is already a growler, you will need to start slow. Leash him and expose him to people outside your home where he will feel less protective of the area around him. Reward good behavior -- no aggression or growling -- with treats and praise.
Address food issues. Many dogs will growl at nearly anyone who approaches them while they are eating. You need to deal with this immediately or you can end up with a biter in no time. Hand-feed your dog so that she becomes comfortable with you touching her food. Move to handling her food before putting it in the bowl. Finally, when she has stopped growling at these actions, start handling her food while it is in the bowl. Whenever she responds without aggression and simply takes the food or ignores you, praise her profusely.
Assert your superiority. Dogs need to view all humans as their "superior officers" or they will growl to assert their own dominance in nearly any situation. This means that you should walk through doors before your dog and eat before your dog does. In addition, dogs should not be allowed to sleep on the same level as you, nor should they be in physical positions that allow them to look you in the eye.
Give your dog "time out" for growling. While playtime growling is generally acceptable, if your dog starts growling aggressively, you can give him a time out in his crate. Do not scold him. Just place him in his crate until he calms down. Soon, he will start to associate excessive or continuous growling with the time out and moderate use of his growl.