The key to getting a dog to stop growling is not to suppress the growls, but rather to deal with the underlying problem. Once the pain, fear, possession aggression, or territoriality has been dealt with, the dog will no longer need to growl.
Every time you see a stranger heading your way, immediately give your dog a treat before they growl. Ask them to look at you when you anticipate a growl to teach them an alternate behavior: “I look at my parent when I see strangers.”
For this reason, I advise all my clients and students that it is NEVER wise to punish a dog for growling, even by saying “No.” Dogs that are repeatedly punished for growling eventually may not give a warning and immediately escalate to biting.
Best case scenario if you growl at your dog — you'll get his attention because you've made a novel noise. Worst case scenario – you'll get bitten in the face. I used another example to illustrate the fact that growling at your dog is not only silly, but dangerous advice.
Stop Moving
If you move or react too quickly or too soon, the motion can cause the dog to give in to prey drive and react without thinking. For example, if you reach down to pet a dog and they begin growling as you reach over, do not immediately retract your hand and jump back.
While you're working to determine the cause of the growling, don't ignore it or it's likely to get worse. Be careful around your dog until you figure out why it's growling. Additionally, you may want to help your dog modify its behavior until the situation is under control.
The longer the aggression goes unchecked, the harder it will be to change. Training an aggressive dog is possible in most cases but it will take time, patience, and consistency on your part.
Methods such as alpha rolls and physical corrections (via the leash and a choke chain or by smacking the dog on the nose or by shaking their scruffs) were often recommended as a way for humans to establish dominance over their dogs.
Pleasure and Affection
They may also growl whenever you rub their belly, showing pleasure and contentment. It means that dog growling when petted is nothing to be concerned about and is often a tender expression of your dog's love towards you.
Dog growling is simply a method of communication – it's your dog trying to tell you something. Dogs growl to communicate lots of different things, from fear and aggression to encouraging play. That's why you need to understand the types of dog growl to interpret what the sound means.
Pet dogs typically growl when they feel threatened, uncomfortable, or even playful. Lots of trainers correct it in every case. Others see it as a warning which is better than a lunge or bite, so they reward and nurture the behavior.
Sometimes even hugging, petting, or grooming can be interpreted as gestures of dominance and, therefore, provoke a growl or snap—and this is true even though your dog may still be very affectionate and often solicit petting and attention from you.
If you have a dog that is acting aggressively toward visitors to your home or property, it's vital that you consult a qualified behavior professional immediately. Catch it early if you can– if your dog appears uncomfortable, anxious, stiff, or is growling, then seek help before the problem escalates.
While the barking is occurring, don't engage with your dog at all. Don't speak to him, touch him, or even look at him. And when he does stop, make sure that you reward him with treats or praise so he associates being quiet with something positive.
Breaking Eye Contact
In the wild, alphas put betas and omegas in their place with a decisive stare. If your dog breaks eye contact with you first, this is a dramatic sign of them viewing you as the alpha. It also demonstrates that you can discipline your dog with nothing more than a look.
Act like the alpha of the back and show him who is boss. Look him/her in the eye: When you give a command, look straight at your pet. Make sure he can see that you mean business and that it is not a command to be disobeyed. Always hold eye contact with your pet, no matter how big or small he or she is.
A behavior modification program will generally include avoidance of triggers, teaching new responses, positive reinforcement for desirable behaviors, control with a head halter and leash, training exercises for response substitution and desensitization for the dog's significant triggers (see Behavior Consultations – ...
So the shortened version is that if you're dedicated and focused, 3-8 weeks is a good timeline for transforming your dog's behavior. Finally, keep in mind that every interaction with your dog is “training.” They are always learning.
Your dog could be growling because they are frustrated or feel territorial. On the flip side, your pup could be feeling playful or affectionate. Their body language and facial expression can tell the “tail.” If your dog is being aggressive, there are things you can do to teach them good behavior.
Pleasure growling — Some dogs will growl affectionately when they are being petted or as a request for attention. Some people think it's a threat, but it's a sign of happiness. Threat growling — Often seen in dogs that are fearful, territorial or possessive, this growl tells a perceived threat to go away.
Growling is one of the natural ways that dogs communicate, and this is often a sign that a dog is feeling anxious or is being territorial. In these cases, growling is widely considered to be a warning before aggressive behavior. However, this is not necessarily always the case every time.