It happens all the time.
When guests come over, in public, or just while relaxing on the couch, your dog is being petted.
Most dogs enjoy those gentle massages and scratches and your dog is probably no exception.
But suddenly he starts growling when you pet him, maybe in an excited or anxious manner and wants to be left alone.
The next moment he is demanding love again and you ask yourself if your dog is a schizophrenic canine.
Whether this unpredictable behavior has just developed or only occurs from time to time, you will want to differentiate aggressive behavior from simple communication to find the best training method or management approach.
So why do dogs growl when petted?
Reasons for your dog growling at you when petted range from affectionate pleasure growling, to warnings around sensitive or painful spots, all the way to growling as last resort due to fear-aggression or anxiety.
Why Does My Dog Growl at Me When I Pet Him?
Growling is commonly misconceived as plain aggressive vocalization.
A growling dog is portrayed as a snarling erratic and potentially very dangerous animal.
But primarily, growling is just a form of vocal communication between species.
The low guttural, rumbling sound may sound terrifying but it’s just their way of telling you “I feel uncomfortable or threatened in this situation”.
It’s actually a good thing that your dog is growling because he is communicating to you that he is not okay with whatever you are doing.
A dog who has learned that growling is wrong or didn’t have the chance to learn about canine communication in the socialization phase is far more dangerous because he won’t warn you before he snaps.
But besides this, there are other possible causes for growling that you probably haven’t thought about.
Your dog growling at you when petted doesn’t necessarily mean that he is uncomfortable, it may even signal the opposite.
1. Pleasure Growling
As I said, growling is merely a way of communicating one’s needs, either positive or negative.
Pleasure growling is characterized by a low, affectionate growl that may be paired with a moan and can continue on for a longer period of time.
You can compare it to a cat’s purr, meaning that your dog is emitting pure pleasure and happiness.
It is easy to tell from his body language that he is feeling comfortable.
Lowered tail, loose stance, and relaxed mouth are all signs of a dog that is enjoying being petted.
When you stop, he may start whining to demand even more scratches.
My Rottweiler really loves expressing herself and she growls a lot while playing tug of war or even with other dogs.
But just because your dog is vocalizing out of arousal doesn’t mean that he would never growl out of fear or anger.
Growling is still primarily a warning signal and every dog is different when it comes to the amount of play or pleasure vocalization.
2. Medical Reasons
A sudden change in behavior often comes from pain or severe discomfort.
Especially when you are touching an inflamed ear or an injured paw.
There are also several conditions that have aggression as a symptom like hypothyroidism.
Getting your dog thoroughly checked by the vet can rule out any underlying diseases and will keep you and your dog safe.
3. Sensitive Areas
All dogs prefer to be scratched on their favorite area, whether that’s the belly, back, or chest.
But many dogs actually dislike being pet on the head or around the muzzle, ears, and paws especially if it wasn’t a part of their socialization training.
You can try desensitizing your dog to like being touched in those specific places.
Veterinarians routinely need to check the mouth and ears and groomers (or you) must be able to hold your dog’s paw while trimming nails.
How to fix it: If you want to work on the paws, simply teach your dog the trick “shake” which automatically involves his paws being touched without him really noticing it.
You can use plenty of treats when working on desensitization but be careful not to encourage undesired behavior which means removing the treat when your dog starts growling.
Getting your dog more accustomed to pats also involves you learning how to actually stroke your dog the right way.
Below is an awesome video with every dog’s favorite spots:
4. Dislike of Certain People/ Strangers
When it comes to preferences, dogs are not so different from us.
Suddenly being hugged by a stranger or getting a butt slap would throw anyone off.
While some dogs are very aloof around strangers in general, others just dislike certain types of people or apparel.
If your dog wasn’t properly exposed to tall men with black coats in his early developmental stages, he might react particularly fearful towards them.
This often happens with seemingly confident and majestic dog breeds like the Cane Corso.
If this stranger then decides to approach, alarm bells go off.
Every attempt at physical contact will be rejected with a low, growly and clear “no”.
Some dogs just don’t like their personal space invaded especially human-oriented breeds who bond with their owners but aren’t so sure about strangers.
That being said, a well-tempered and socialized dog shouldn’t perceive anyone as a threat when you, as the leader, introduce the person as a friend.
But many people simply don’t know how to behave.
Most strangers don’t even ask if they could pet your dog, they simply bend over with their whole body and press their sweaty palms onto your dog’s head.
Bending over paired with immediate physical contact can be perceived as a threat by nervous or fearful dogs.
How to fix it: Your dog doesn’t need to be cuddling with the world but changing his perception just a little bit will do wonders.
Expose him to areas with small groups of people and slowly build your way up to busier streets.
Follow these socialization steps and create a positive experience around people by using treats or toys.
You can also ask strangers if they would be willing to throw a treat in front of your dog when passing by.
Inform people, who request to pet your dog, how to properly approach him.
They shouldn’t bend over the dog and rather come from the side, taking away that threatening body language.
A scratch under the chin is much better than a pat on the head for some dogs.
That’s not true with my Rottweiler. Try to scratch her chin and your hand will be seized with licks (that’s the best of problems to have though).
If your dog is still unsure about people approaching him then ask them to kneel down with a treat in their hand so your dog will be able to make contact on his own terms.
5. Warning Signal
Growling can seemingly come out of nowhere.
But there are probably several body signals that your dog has displayed prior to this.
Depending on the situation, your dog might try to tell you “that’s enough” or “leave me alone”.
While growling in itself is not a bad thing, finding out the reason will help you prevent or manage the situation better in the future.
When you pet your dog for a few seconds and he suddenly gives you a mad growl, this is probably him saying that he has had enough.
He definitely has the right to tell you that but, if occurring repeatedly, it could mean that he believes to be in control of the situation and you are doing something he disapproves of.
In a nutshell, he is the one giving you commands on how you should act.
I will discuss the pack leader (and its flawed theory) problem further down below which will give you an idea of where your dog is coming from.
How to fix it: Growling as a warning signal doesn’t need to be and shouldn’t be fixed.
As I said, revoking your dog’s ability to warn will lead to a much more unpredictable dog.
Understand what your dog is uncomfortable with in this situation.
Did you squeeze him too hard or is he just not in the mood and you are forcing yourself onto him?
Give him a bit of space and let him approach you rather than vice versa.
You can dangle a toy or a treat and get in some one-on-one bonding session.
6. You Are Not the Pack Leader
If this is the case, your dog must have issues in more places than just the petting.
He essentially thinks that he is the boss and running the household.
We get that it sounds funny, but it’s not.
And it’s not the big dominant dogs that commonly rule your life, it’s the small ones that are treated like fur babies.
I know that every owner wants the best for their dog and wants them to be happy but sometimes these actions have unintended side effects.
But why is that a problem?
Canines are pack animals and a pack without a leader is confused, anxious, and unstable.
If your dog thinks of you as a bad leader, he will try it himself.
Now the debate about whether or not a pack hierarchy exists is ancient and I won’t go into any details.
Dogs are not like wolves and domestication has greatly changed them.
I don’t recommend using any alpha training which, sadly, got closely affiliated with the word “pack leader”.
The leader should be a gentle, kind, and respected part of the family.
Associating leadership with dominance couldn’t be more wrong.
Every species needs guidance whether that’s coming from a parent or s boss.
If your dog thinks that you are not worthy of this title, he will try claiming ownership of resources or the couch.
He won’t need to obey commands anymore and might become snappy when corrected.
It’s essentially about the idea that you need to be in control of your dog.
At the end of the day they are animals and our society can’t work with wild behavior.
That’s why we have domesticated wolves in the first place, to fit them into our lives.
How to fix it: Leadership should be built on trust and respect. Mutual respect and understanding are the best foundation for any relationship.
You will need to have the clearest communication and the best bond possible.
If you believe that your bond could be improved then don’t read any further and fix your relationship first with my comprehensive bonding guide.
This will boost your and your dog’s confidence which will help you in the next steps.
- Allude confidence. Be calm and kind when talking to your dog and do it with respect. If you don’t offer a supporting and loving attitude then you can’t expect it in return.
- Show your dog that you are serious when giving him a command. Don’t just walk away when he didn’t sit this time thinking that it will work in the future. A command always needs to be executed correctly when you ask for it.
- Regular and consistent obedience training will help your position a lot. Make it fun and enjoyable for your dog to work with you. A dog that is looking forward to a training session will have a much bigger success rate.
- Be in charge of your dog’s daily walks which start at the door. Don’t let him storm out into the open space and rather show him that he needs to respect your space and wait for your release command before going out.
- This also applies to off-leash fun. Never let your dog off-leash before he hasn’t sat, looked at you, and was released. The release command is incredibly powerful and gives you security and control over the duration and consistency of any command.
- Also, take control of his resources especially when he is guarding them. That means no free feeding and no stolen steaks from the table (which isn’t great anyway). Meal times are a perfect training opportunity to show your dog that you have full control over his food while giving him the confidence that he doesn’t have to protect it.
Recommended Reading: How to Stop Food Aggression
7. Anxiety
Dogs can suffer from severe anxiety just like we do.
Separation anxiety, for example, is a condition in which a dog exhibits signs of extreme distress when being left alone.
Anxiety symptoms can include shivering, pacing, panting, destructive behavior, urination, drooling, excessive licking, etc.
There are three different reasons for fear responses to abnormal stress: fear, phobia and anxiety.
Fear is an instinctual behavior that everyone has experienced in his life several times.
It triggers our fight or flight response in the presence of a threat.
Your dog could have growled during a pet session because he heard a loud noise from outside the door.
Now when fear becomes persistent, it’s called a phobia.
Your dog could develop a phobia from past trauma with humans or from a lack of socialization.
Especially tall men wearing certain clothes appear intimidating to dogs.
Every time your dog is exposed to that trigger, he will react with a fear response that could include barking, growling, snapping, or lunging.
Growling is almost always self-rewarding because it achieves the desired outcome of a person walking away.
Dogs can also develop a general anxiety disorder in which a dog is always on edge and anticipates a threat behind every corner.
Petting him during fearful phases can actually “hurt” him.
A dog that is always fearful has very tense muscles with lots of knots causing them to become sore.
While your intention might be to help him, you could actually make him feel more uncomfortable and therefore will receive a growl.
If your dog is going through a sensitive phase like the second fear period (between 6-14 months old), it’s important to continuously desensitize him to his triggers.
How to fix it: Socialization never stops and while you might have missed the critical stages, it’s still not too late. Create a positive association with your dog’s trigger repeatedly by using treats or toys.
Control your dog’s environment and keep as much distance as possible at first.
You can slowly build up the exposure in baby steps to set your dog up for success.
Remember to not pet your dog when he is displaying an anxiety response because this will actually reinforce the behavior.
8. Unstable Behavior
A dog that is confident, predictable, and stable is the opposite of dangerous whereas unbalanced dogs can experience a lot of anxiety and uncertainty leading to behaviors like extreme submission or dominance and switching between them.
He can react very nervous toward new stimuli and your touch could elevate his level of anxiety.
It could also be the case that your dog has learned to keep people away from him by growling at them (conflict aggression).
This would also include situations when being petted.
Hassling a dog that is unsure of himself could trigger an aggressive response.
Unstable behavior oftentimes has an underlying medical issue so it would be best to talk to your vet.
Unbalanced temperament, on the other hand, is inherent and something you need to look out for when choosing a reputable breeder.
There are various temperament tests that you can perform on a potential puppy to determine its stability.
Recommended Reading: Do Genetics Determine My Puppy’s Temperament?
9. Aggression
Aggression (not medically induced) isn’t something that happens overnight.
It takes time to get from a friendly dog to a potentially dangerous one.
There were probably a lot of early clues that you could have picked up on and that could indicate a negative change.
Regular growling, snapping, and lunging at you or other people is a serious behavior problem.
Take notes under which circumstances this behavior occurs and what potentially caused it.
Finding the reason behind the aggression is necessary to creating a plan.
Serious aggression or reactivity towards strangers is an issue and should definitely be looked into.
There are many aggression resources on the internet and you can always reach out to a certified dog behaviorist.
Why Does My Dog Growl When I Hug Him?
Some dogs growl when you hug them because they simply don’t like being restrained, especially if they’re not used to you, appreciate personal space, or are very independent dog breeds.
With some dogs, it’s just a matter of getting them to be comfortable around you (think new rescue dogs) but with others, being hugged will never fully click with them.
Dogs who haven’t been used to much physical contact such as hugging or are known to be independent dog breeds simply don’t want you to hug them and that’s just fine.
Make sure to give your dog time and space and don’t force a hug as this would only create unnecessary tension, especially if the dog is already growling to back out of the hug.
I know, we wanna show our furry friends we love them, but there are dozens of other ways to do that and who knows, maybe your dog will soon seek out hugs or at least more physical contact.
Thanks for this information. My female 2 year old Rott is a growler.She growls with play and often why I “love on her.” She growls at my husband when she is resting and appears to not want to be bothered.She also growls at our older dog from time to time.She is never aggressive towards my husband or I but I often feel her place in home with the older male dog she is kind of I guess “pushing her weight around.” I am very close with both of my dogs and I have no fear of aggression from her. I have just never had a dog that growled as much as she does.
Hi Bobbi,
my female Rottie is also a growler, but only when playing with dogs/people (especially when she’s chasing) or getting annoyed by other dogs – never when humans annoy her, practically doesn’t matter what you do to her.
Every dog is different though and other owners of wallflower dog breeds are sometimes quite shocked when all she does is play and having a great time. So that’s totally normal. In theory, growling when not liking to be approached occurs quite often too and I wouldn’t worry about it as long as it’s not to threaten or anything and only to communicate that she wants her space.
I don’t know if that’s the issue but if she really only growls when your husband touches her, maybe working on their bond and communication could improve that? Hierarchy between dogs is often a thing but boundaries always need to be established so no dog gets bullied or anything. Have fun with your wonderful Rott! :).
Such a great read!
Our 5 month old pup will often climb up for cuddles and then growl and sometimes snap at us, even though she has invaded our space – she has not bitten or aggressively come at us, so we’re a bit confused – would love to hear any thoughts!
Hi Niamh, thanks for the kind words! It’s important to always note the exact body language your dog is displaying. Maybe she’s trying to initiate play. She’s a bit young to test her limits/claim the space as hers so I’d really lean towards the first option. However, it’s also important to note the exact growl. Is it a deep serious rumble or a little puppy growl?
Wouldn’t worry too much about it unless you think it’s really serious. Don’t get up though and I wouldn’t encourage that behavior either (just like barking, they’ll do it more and more often if they get the craved attention).
Cheers,
Danielle
That you for a very informative article. I really needed to read it! I rescued an older Maltese mix 10 months ago. He is approximately 9 years old. From the start, he has shown resource guarding with his toys. However, in the last few months, he has gotten more aggressive with me – baring his teeth and snapping at me when I try to put on his lease or when I pet him on his back (as he’s lying by me without his toys while we’re on the couch). He is unpredictable. I have an appointment with his vet to see if he has any pain. However, I think it is a behavior problem. I am being patient and speak calmly to him, but when he suddenly snaps and bares his teeth at me, it is frightening. I think I just have to not touch him unless he comes to me. He was a stray before I rescued him.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hey Jessica,
good idea to take him to the vet first to rule out any main. Keep in mind that using a muzzle for the vet visit might be worth a thought. Also, you can take him there and just desensitize him, meaning that he just visits without treatment (that includes being touched if he dislikes that). This way, you can prevent that vet visits will become a drag in the future.
In regards to your problem: You’re right, rescues need time and space. The 3-3-3 rule states that they need roughly 3 days to arrive, 3 weeks to settle and up to 3 months to feel comfortable. Just a rule of thumb, of course. 10 months should be a good amount of time to get settled, some dogs still need longer though.
However, when he’s doing that while you’re doing something necessary, it’s important not to back down or talk to him in a soothing voice. If you back down and speak softly, it may just reinforce the behavior you’re trying to avoid. If you’re cornering him, you should give him space, of course but you should be persistent and not jerk back or anything. After giving him space, you try again. No communication needed as your dog will know what you want from him. Make sure to read his body language to avoid uncomfortable situations before they occur.
Also, the article on food aggression could really help you as there’s a step by step guide for resource guarding.
Hi, this was a really good read. We rescued a cocker spaniel nearly a year ago at 10 months old. My mum lives with us and recently our dog will start being stroked and then start growling at her for what seems like no reason? Other times he plays with her and goes for walks. He can be stubborn and got half way round a walk with my mum and then decided he wasn’t going to move. I’ve been working from home a lot due to Covid and wondering if he is trying to protect me? Thanks
Hey Claire, if your dog is really only refusing to walk with her (check the linked article for more information on that – dozens of people in the comments have the same problem) and only growls at her, then there’s probably a reason.
Who was the primary caretaker of your Cocker Spaniel? Was it her or did she just recently start walking/playing with him? Did anything happen during that time?
If your dog is petted while you’re in the room, that’s most probably not due to protection (after all, he’s being touched, not you). That and the fact that he also seems to avoid walking with her when she’s alone.
Of course, it could also be that your dog is just enjoying playtime with your mum (my Rottie growls a lot when playing but it’s completely clear that it’s pleasure) and he might be a little stubborn when walking because he learned that pattern since she’s accepting it.
However, the reasons could also be more serious, depending on the exact growl and body language. I’d try to nail down exactly when it happens and what triggers it. I know it might seem like for no reason but when he’s only doing it with your mum, there’s surely a reason.
Have a great day,
Danielle
I have a 10 month old golden doodle who is the sweetest most adorable puppy ever. Sometimes he will just randomly growl at us though. I don’t know if he’s entitled, or just anxious but if he’s not in the mood he’ll growl and in some cases he’ll snap. I don’t understand because he is so sweet most of the time but if he’s sleepy or groggy, he will growl. Please help. 🙁
Hey Italia, most of the time, there’s a pretty simple explanation why dogs are growling. If you don’t think it’s play-growling or some other similar type, then your dog might just be startled, especially when he’s sleepy or groggy.
However, if he’s snapping apart from that then that’s a different story. Maybe you should have a look at my article on puppy biting and preventing unwanted behavior in general.
He may have just learned that growling gets him what he wants – food, attention, toys, even non-attention and uses that. In general, growling is a warning mechanism and it’s good that it’s used before the bite but that’s not the case if he literally snaps right after that. Also, there should be a reason for that like feeling crowded or cornered but not just to get or achieve anything.
I’d definitely suggest giving him space without really reinforcing that behavior. If he wants space, that’s okay. If he tries to achieve anything else, growling is not the way to get it.
I have a 55 lb mutt named Tucker. We rescued Tucker about 3 1/2 years ago and he’s about 4 1/2 years old. Tucker has always been excitable (barks and runs around like crazy when the lawn guys are here or when the doorbell rings) but has been a sweet dog otherwise. He loves hugs and snuggles so the kids and I have always loved on him quite a lot. Recently he’s started snapping, however. He used to lay on the couch a lot and probably considered it his bed. My 10-year-old went in to give him a kiss and he barked and bit him on the cheek. This was pretty shocking. He has kinda given Nick a growl here or there in the past to tell him to back off, but he’s never bitten anyone before. I decided to remove the couch as an option because I thought he was perhaps getting possessive over it, and now he’s snapped at both our other dog and my oldest son (16) when they’ve come close to him when he’s sleeping on his dog bed. Tucker seems completely fine otherwise. Happy and tail wagging when he’s up and about. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain whatsoever. So I guess my question is this, is it normal for a dog to develop this sort of possessive aggression spontaneously? And what do we do about it now?
Hey Dawn, I’m sorry to hear that. Even though your dog might’ve perceived the couch as his bed, biting or even snapping is an absolute no-go. Some dogs are easier startled than others if you suddenly wake them but a dog that has properly learned bite inhibition would still refrain from doing so.
That’s provided that the dog has overall structure, feels confident and knows what is demanded of him (i.e. a strong bond to the owner or all family members in general). If you ruled out pain with a vet, then this is definitely a behavioral issue. Although I’d love to help, there are minuscule tells in a canine’s body language besides the importance of how everybody interacts with the dog, if he’s exercised properly and also has a healthy diet.
That’s why I’d suggest you consult a behaviorist. Not a glorified dog trainer teaching tricks but somebody who has a proven track record and is willing and patient enough to work on these kinds of issues. There are no quick fixes.
The fact that he’s recently acting the same when he’s approached in his own dog bed would be in line with what you’ve mentioned about the couch. However, please be aware that revoking his couch privilege will generally confuse a dog, especially if he had that privilege for years. Fights for resources can start that way. Now he might protect the last “safe-haven” he has and doesn’t want to be disturbed in his bed (as long as this really only occurs when he’s in bed).
If there’s a lot of stress (stress for a dog is not always what we humans perceive as stress) in the household, it might just be a sign that he wants to be left alone. After people ignore the warnings – growl, bark, body language, whatever – dogs take the next step.
Easily excitable doesn’t mean your dog has to act out of control. He seemingly hasn’t yet learned to stay calm when he sees something outside and dogs have to learn to cope with the frustration. It’s harder for some dogs than it is for other but some level of obedience is necessary for every pooch.
It’s important to take the circumstances into account and that includes all the things mentioned above.
We have a 6 months old golden doodle pup, who is so affectionate and loves to cuddle. However, whenever she is resting, she growls when you pet her. Doesn’t matter who it is. At first, I thought she was “protecting” me since usually she is cuddling with me. But she will do it to me now when she is resting and cuddling with the kids too. She sometimes snaps (only at the kids) but usually I can just show her that I am boss and tell her sternly to stop and then she is fine. The kids are the issue as they are timid and are intimidated when she growls and she looks at you with untrusting eyes. I know she is young, but I am concerned.
Hey Heather, sorry that you’re struggling with this. Diagnosing anything from afar is always hard, but I’ll try to give you my opinion.
Circumstances and exact body language are very important in these cases. If I understand correctly, the first part means that she growls at other people while resting if they touch her. But why did you think it was to protect you if you’re not with her in these situations? And now she growls at you when she’s with the kids, but does she growl at you when she’s just resting (just like when somebody else would touch her when she’s alone)? Is she growling at the kids when she’s alone and touched?
It may just be that your dog is telling you that she doesn’t want to be touched in these situations. However, snapping is definitely not okay (as long as the kids didn’t do anything to provoke that reaction). Yes, on one hand your pup’s still young and in the learning process (especially when it comes to bite inhibition) but on the other it’s very concerning if this is already causing problems at such a young age.
Telling her “no” might work for the time being but that doesn’t fix the issue. There’s obviously some communication issue because she does not know who’s the leader. If she did, she wouldn’t display behavior you don’t like. That doesn’t mean that punishment should be harder at all, it just means that you first need to establish a strong bond and that includes teaching the right behavior patterns, obedience, the whole nine yards. So many negative behaviors occur because there’s a miscommunication between dog and handler. You need to be clear and consistent. Puppy eyes should never look “untrusting”, they should learn to trust you in every situation because that way, no reactivity issues, etc. will ever surface because the dog knows you got her back and you’re in control. That’s just a nice byproduct of establishing the right relationship.
Hi, I found this site very useful. I adopted a staffordshire bull terrier when she was 1 year old from a dog shelter. She is now 5 years old. She was very submissive but very fearful and scared. She would be afraid most of the time and pee when scared. With time, she stopped peeing, but now she growls when she is scared. She can be scared from one moment to another. I do not know what triggers her. I used to pet her when she was on her bed, but then she growls at me and walks away. Another example, she sits outside my son’s room (when he has his door closed), and if I walk by her, sometime she gets scared and paces away. Some times I pet her, and she seems fine, but if she gets scare, then she growls and walks away. Not sure how to deal with his fearfulness, so we can trust each other better. I get scared when she growls and I think she does not mean it, reason why she immediately walks away. Any advise?
Hi Martha, do you have some information from the shelter regarding your dog’s past? It’s always easier to understand behavior if you know what the dog has lived through. With such a fearful pup I would recommend a lot of bonding and confidence building.
Try to stay as calm and content as possible when she growls at you. Dogs are incredibly susceptible to emotions and can easily pick up on your nervousness which can worsen their anxiety.
When your dog is scared do not pet or talk to her. It is very human to comfort someone but it actually makes it worse in dogs. If you do not react to her anxiety, she will grasp that everything is fine and nothing is happening to her.
To build up her confidence, focus on obedience training, play, and making positive memories together. Maybe it would also be a good idea to take her to the vet in case her growling stems from pain or an underlying illness.
I have a 10 month old German Shepherd who is not fixed yet… we have been having issues with food agression and growling when being petted. When growling his ears are back and his body is stiff. It doesn’t matter where he is petted or who pets him he will growl. Wondering what I can do to get him to stop growling and enjoy being petted?
Hey Kaitlyn,
you can check out my article on food aggression. Generally, taking baby steps while counter-conditioning your dog will ensure that he accepts people around him in the long-term.
However, not all dogs love to be petted and not all love having people around when eating so it might just take a little bit longer and the end result won’t be the cuddliest dog on the world, but at the very least he’ll learn to enjoy being petted and learn to accept people around his food.
Also, because you said he’s not “fixed yet” – neutering/spaying nearly never solves these kinds of problems and early neutering can even lead to serious health issues. Check this article that is backed up by scientific studies.
If you didn’t get him as a puppy, it might just be that he’s still settling inside his new home. Of course, that only applies if he’s recently rescued :).
Cheers,
Danielle
My 6 month old pup loves playing with my 13 year old son but he started to growl at him when he tried to pet him while he slept. We then had my son stop touching him when he was sleeping. Now they will be playing and having fun and out of no where he stops and growls but no in a fun way. Then if my son tries to leave he follows him and sits on him and doesn’t want him to leave but doesn’t want to play or have him pet him.
Hi Elizabeth, in these situations it’s so hard to pin-point any specifc cause. Have you ruled out pain/inuuries as the cause? Especially when it happens due to touch or while playing. A growl can just be a communicative tool and some dogs use it more often than other dogs but the not letting go part definitely is worth looking into.
It’s important to note how exactly your son tries to evade the situation and the dog’s body language. Sometimes it’s best to consult a third party like a dog behaviorist to find out what’s behind this, especially since it can turn serious if any warning signs are ignored. He’s a puppy too so that’s important to consider.
Danielle
I have a almost two-year-old mixed breed I’m thinking he is maybe some sort of Shepherd or possibly even Pitt mix. He started sneaking up and biting people when they would come to the house. Both men and women. He was never really aggressive about it and usually never broke the skin. But that had me worried so I didn’t get to really socialize him like needed which probably made things even worse in the long run. He has never attempted to growl or bite me but I am literally the only one that he’s been around that he hasn’t tried to bite. He will not let anybody pet him or even get close enough to try to pet him except for me and my boyfriend but he has even growled and bit at him a few times. Like I said he is about to be turning three and he has started growling at me, the first time I accidentally shut either his tail or his paw in the car door and when I tried to love on him to see if he was okay he growled and that told me to leave him alone so I did. Obviously from reading your article I’ve learned that when I left him alone that reinforced the growling because now just about anytime that I do anything he doesn’t like he growles at me. I’ve had a couple people tell me that he will eventually turn on me and I’m worried that that is starting to happen. I’ve also heard a lot of stories of people having to put their beloved pets down because of situations like that, and I’m just really worried and don’t want it to come to that with my baby. I’ve had him since he was born and it would seriously break my heart. Also I have another dog that is about 6 months younger than him and they used to be really close and would play well together and love each other, until recently about 6 months ago King, my biter, started growling and attacking Blu, my other dog. I’m not sure why but now he bullies him whenever I’m not around because Blu is so scared of him. I’m not sure what to do I don’t want to lose either one of my dogs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so very much!
Hi Tiffany, first of all: Don’t let anybody tell you what to do or that your dog “will turn on you”. People who are not in this situation always recommend the easy way out and don’t even know the damage they can do with uneducated guesses.
Growling isn’t a bad thing and sometimes, a dog’s growl is warranted – it’s one of their main communication tools after all. If you accidentally hurt him, leaving him alone doesn’t necessarily reinforce that behavior since it was real pain and he’s telling you to back down (especially if he had negative experiences in a previous home and doesn’t know your intention). That he now does it every time you do something he plainly dislikes, that’s another thing.
The fact that he doesn’t like people approaching the house is not unusual. Some dogs are very territorial, especially if not being used to strangers stepping inside the house but of course, a bite should always be avoided.
Since he’s also attacking your other dog recently, I’d definitely take a trip to your vet (probably muzzled) for a thorough check-up. Pain or other diseases can often cause drastic behavioral changes.
Apart from that, it sounds like it’d be best to consult a behaviorist. Your dog definitely need to be put down, in reality very very few aggression cases are unfixable. Try everything you can and don’t shy away from professional help!
Also, socialization is key and should never be skipped. A lack of desensitization can always cause aggression or other issues.
Hope it’ll get better soon,
Danielle
My pitbull is almost 3 and about 6 months ago started to growl every once in awhile. Just a low growl and not very long. Had him since he was 6 weeks old. Very confusing because he is our baby and always treated like a king. Am I doing something wrong? He is very healthy and happy. Confused.
Hi Leslie, has anything changed in his environment or routine? Treating your dog like a king is a good thing in theory but maybe it’s taken too far in the sense that he’s used to getting what he wants and doesn’t anymore? Low growls often happen due to frustration but you’d have to connect that behavior to something he wants at that moment.
That being said, it’s always hard to evaluate from afar. If you want to be absolutely sure and rule out behavioral issues, I’d suggest a consult with a trainer who should be able to spot the issue pretty quickly.
My dog is a chihuahua/terrier mix. I picked her up at about 6 months old. I believe she was abused. She does like young children or men, or anyone new coming to the house. She just about tears through the window when she sees the UPS truck. I have had her for two years, she follows me every where and doesn’t like me out of her sight. Yet, when I’m sitting on the couch watching TV, and I try to pet her, she growls, tenses up, and lifts her lip. She has been sleeping with me the past year, but if I get up out of bed and disturb her for any reason she growls really menacingly and with a high pitch. I feel like this might be dominate behavior, but I don’t know. I picked up another chihuahua/terrier mix who is an absolute sweetheart about a year ago. She does pretty good with him most of the time, but still acts fairly jealous like a little kid at times when I’m giving him attention. What would be the best way to handle her bipolar behaviors?
Hi Tracy, if there are signs that your pup was abused, it can certainly contribute to these behaviors. It’s hard to give advice without knowing more about your daily routine, exercise, training, and so on.
You could consult a professional behaviorist to get to the bottom of this. It could border on separation anxiety, resource issues, etc. and while growling is just a communication tool, it shouldn’t happen just because you move and a professional could really help with that in person. On the other side, some dogs are just very easily startled when sleeping, especially if they experienced trauma.
Cheers,
Danielle
My dog is 8 and I rescued her when she was around 2. She gives short growls that sound like a person would if they were irritated. She is jumpy. Sometimes she asks for pets them jumps away like you did something to her. When she is set off, she doesn’t go through steps, she just goes straight to showing teeth with gums exposed. 🙁 I’m positive she was abused before I got her 🙁 It’s hard for me to punish her. Today I blocked her from getting on the couch because she got serious with me. 🙁 Any help here???
Hi Marjorie, it’s possible for rescues to display this behavior but usually, it gets better over time as a bond is established. Punishment should never be used, you may use a reasonable correction but that includes letting your dog know what you want instead. Provide alternatives to the current behavior and reward. But of course, it depends on the circumstances.
If you’re unsure and there are issues with fundamental things such as getting on the couch after all these years, I’d definitely consider consulting a behaviorist. What kind of training your dog needs depends heavily on the issues you experience.
I have a 2.5 yr old pandemic Frenchie. (meaning his was not socialized young when he should have due to lock down) 3 vets have said he is the most physically healthy Frenchie they have ever seen. So he has no pain going on in their opinion. The last few months he has been snapping. (growl with a quick head turn into us, what one might do before a bite) He snaps at the oddest times. When he goes on his back for a belly rub, after about 3 seconds he’ll snap. He use to lay there forever wanting his belly rubbed…or if you pet him on his lower back. We can pet him on his head, neck and upper back area no problem. We can pick him up and put him on our lap and he is fine unless we pet him, then he snaps. He has been a stubborn dog and we’ve tried so many trainers. This last time we sent him to board and train and we are sure this is why he is acting out. Is there hope to fix it? My nerves are shot worrying everyday if I am going to get bit. His snapping sounds pretty scary. I am scared to try another trainer because I think this last one caused the problem. One vet will give him chinese herbs called Liver Happy and another suggested maybe Prosac. Any help would be beyond appreciated!
Hi Gus, first off: You can – perhaps even need to – make up for the missed socialization window. Lockdown just means your pup wasn’t able to interact with people/dogs but you can still expose them to these as well as noises, etc. at some point. Socialization does NOT equal interaction, it’s just one part of it.
Your dog’s growling/snapping may be a training mistake but it can also be misinterpreted communication or, alternatively, puppy biting. Eliminating a lack of bite inhibition is the easiest to start with. Did the issue start after you started working with a trainer or board and train? Or was the issue the reason you approached a trainer?
Either way, it’s probably best to seek out another trainer, or rather a specialized behaviorist. To avoid contacting a bad apple (and there are plenty of these in dog training), make sure they’re certified and specialize in these kinds of issues. Let them explain to you what they will do and why. Research for yourself to check if that training style is backed by science and if it matches with the consensus of modern dog training. Finding a good trainer is hard but will ultimately be worth it. It’s best to stick to one person who you’ve carefully selected.