The Growl: Dogs do growl while playing, but there are two ways to tell different growls apart. An aggressive growl will be accompanied by snarling and snapping, while a playful growl is just a sound, accompanied by relaxed body movements (no tension).
Play Growling
In some instances, it may actually mean that they're having so much fun that they don't want to stop playing. A play growl can be easily distinguished from other types of growls as it's higher-pitched and shorter than others. At the same time, a dog's body language may also indicate their happiness.
Is it normal for my dog to growl at nothing? It's quite normal for your dog to growl at nothing since there's usually a reason for it. Often, your dog can see or hear something undetectable to the human eyes or ears.
They may also growl as a request for attention. This is usually a low growl with loose body language that owners tend to think seems like the dog is trying to talk. It may even sound like words such as “Wi wuv woo” and in a sense they are talking...they are communicating in a vocal fashion.
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.
They Might be in Pain or Have a Medical Condition
The most likely reason your dog is growling at you when you pet them is that they are uncomfortable with the act of being touched. However, it's worth mentioning a few other potential medical causes of a dog's discomfort with being petted.
They may be trying to tell you they feel agitated and want you to leave them alone. Dogs will use eye contact like this when they feel threatened or territorial. If your dog stares and has a stiff posture or is growling, your dog may want you to back away or stop what you're doing.
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.
The Growl: Dogs do growl while playing, but there are two ways to tell different growls apart. An aggressive growl will be accompanied by snarling and snapping, while a playful growl is just a sound, accompanied by relaxed body movements (no tension).
It's hard to decipher the difference between human ears, but play growling is typically higher-pitched and shorter in length than aggressive growling. Dogs can tell the sounds apart and know when their playmate is having fun and when they're not.
A confident dog wanting you to move away will often deliver a low-pitched warning growl. His body will stiffen and the loose circular wag may become a stiff side-to-side motion. 2. A scared dog who really doesn't want to defend himself may make a high-pitched growl-bark to get you to move away from him.
Growls are one very clear signal and something that we can act on to prevent problems. Please don't punish your dog for growling. Instead, say a prayer of thanks that you learned he was uncomfortable before something worse happened.
Staring Can Make a Dog Feel Challenged
For a dog, a stranger staring at them might be seen as a challenge, threat, or something to make them uneasy. They may even fear you could be trying to take a resource, such as a toy or chew, away from them. That's why it's best to act calm around new dogs.
Dogs Are Telling Us How They Feel
In their wolf ancestors, staring is considered threatening and rude. Some dogs still retain that attitude. That's why you should never stare down strange dogs or hold dogs still to stare into their eyes.
Dogs will give a warning growl in situations involving things like resource guarding, stranger danger, feeling cornered, or feeling stressed. Dogs use these warning growls to communicate to you or another animal to “back off” because they are uncomfortable.
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. A dominant dog may stare, bark, growl, snap, or even bite when you give him a command or ask him to give up a toy, treat, or resting place.
Cause: Dog feels intimidated, stressed, confused or threatened. If your dog suddenly starts exhibiting aggressive behavior there could be a medical cause, so consult your veterinarian first to rule out any medical issue.
Guarding people, places and things is normal for dogs (and for most people!) and growling is a dog's way of giving a warning. The aggressive display may stop with a growl (especially if the perceived threat goes away) or it may be a precursor to snapping and biting.
If your dog follows you everywhere then it's a sign that they trust and love you and that you make them feel safe. Following you very closely can be a sign that they're bored, they want something, they're feeling scared or are just being nosy.
Growling – Sometimes dogs will growl during play, but these growls are accompanied with loose, relaxed body language. When growling is followed by any of the above behaviors, or is a deep and low, it may be a sign of aggressive behavior that needs to be addressed.
Are you surprised by the findings? Rough Collies are the most aggressive dog breed, a new study of more than 9,000 pets has found. Research conducted by the University of Helsinki found that smaller dogs are more likely to behave aggressively, growl, snap, and bark compared to mid-sized and large dogs.
It's OK to let your dog win while playing tug of war. In fact, it's a great idea. Winning builds its confidence and rewards the animal. However, if the dog misbehaves during the game, you should be the one who ends up with the toy.