Dog Growling
Dog Growling - What it Means and How to Control It
Dog growling can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t always mean that the dog in question feels threatened or that he is getting ready to pounce. So what does dog growling mean and how can you stop your dog from scaring off your friends and family?
Dogs are very vocal creatures. Since they don’t have the power of speech, they have to use other ways to communicate with their human counterparts. Dog growling is just one way that dogs use to communicate.
For the most part, it is true that when a dog growls it means that something is wrong. Some people take the growling personally and take it to mean that the dog does not look at his owner as being the leader, but rather the subordinate. That is not always what the growling indicates.
Sometimes, the growling can be an indication that something is wrong in your household. A growling dog can mean that someone is near who shouldn’t be, that a funny smell is permeating your home, or that something just feels “off.” In these instances, your dog is actually trying to warn you that something is amiss and it should be taken as a sign of protection.
Other times, however, a growling dog might indicate that there is something medically wrong with the dog himself. If your dog growls frequently, and for no apparent reason, then you might want to take him to the vet to be checked out.
If you got your dog from a shelter, there is always the chance that his former owners abused or neglected him. It might take him awhile to warm up to you and until he sees that you are not a threat to him, he might feel defensive. After all, the only other humans that ever took care of him did not do a very good job.
Some dogs require obedience school in order to learn to control their growling. Obedience school can help teach them when it is appropriate to growl and when it isn’t. Other dogs might need help with social skills. If you find that your dog growls when other animals are near then it might be because he has never really been around other animals before and doesn’t know how to act. Gradually introducing him to other dogs at the park can help with this.
Some dogs are naturally more aggressive than others. Plus, sometimes puppies growl when they are playing. They might not understand why they are growing, or even be doing it in a menacing manner. More than likely, they are simply trying out their vocal cords.
If your dog is unnaturally aggressive, then you should take his aggression seriously, however. Don’t assume that he won’t attack, because he might. This isn’t something that you should deal with on your own. In fact, you might need to see a specialist who can help your dog overcome his aggressive tendencies. If not, then someone could wind up getting hurt.
If your dog never really growled or barked at anyone or anything a lot in the past, then chances are there is something wrong with him. Don’t ignore this and look for other symptoms that might be going along with the growling. Is he eating the same amount? Is he having difficulty going to the bathroom? Does he act like he’s in pain? If you notice any other symptoms then you should take your dog to the vet because the growling could be an indication that there is a medical problem that needs to be treated.