Bottom Line: When your dog growls at you I recommend that you listen to what your dog is saying. Immediately stop doing whatever it is that you're doing and move away.
Stop whatever it is you're doing or the person/animal eliciting the growl is doing. If you know that your dog growls right before a bite, then move away and get safe. If you know the growl doesn't mean a bite is imminent, stop what you are doing.
Don't Punish Growling
It's either benign or a symptom of stress in your dog. If you punish your dog for growling, you will only inhibit growling. You won't have done anything to address the underlying issue. For example, punishing your dog for growling in the presence of other dogs will stop the growling.
You should never punish your dog for growling.
Growling is an essential part of a dog's language. When dogs growl, they are trying to communicate their stress about something happening in their environment. That could be them guarding a toy, seeing a stranger, or even just excited to see someone they know.
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.
Threat or Fear
This type of growl with a low volume and a deep, rumbling sound usually happens when a dog feels scared, possessive, or threatened. It is a warning growl that indicates their discomfort in a particular situation.
For the dog, it is often a way of telling you to stay away, or you may get bit. Often, it will be a slight mumble that may escalate to baring teeth and biting if the warning is not taken seriously. In other cases, the growl is just a symptom of fear, a way for him to protect himself from a threat.
Many breeds are very protective, and many dogs have “their person” – so they will have a tendency to growl when someone else is approaching as a way to ensure that their special person stays safe. You may also see the behavior if they are friendly with other dogs and a new, unknown pet comes around.
In one posture, hold the pup over your head, firmly supporting him with both hands and stare into his eyes (staring is a dominant behavior to the dog). Maintain this position until the pup has been still for 10 seconds. He must be still for that length of time or he hasn't submitted to you.
Never Punish Growling
If growling does occur, punishing it is counterproductive. The last thing you want is a dog that bites without warning. If you punish your puppy's growls, you might prevent them from growling in the future, but you will have done nothing to change the underlying emotional issue.
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.
Slow things down and start when your puppy is calm and relaxed. Keep your puppy at a distance from strangers where they aren't yet growling, but are close enough for the puppy to see the stranger. While they are sitting calmly and not growling, praise and reward your puppy for their good behaviour.
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).
The most common reasons dogs growl are fear, possession aggression, territoriality, and pain. Some dogs also growl when playing. Play growling is often seen when two dogs are having a safe, healthy play session. In this case, the growling does not necessarily indicate aggression.
Growling is part of normal canine communication. People usually think of a dog's growl as a warning or as a sign of defense. Often, growling means that the dog needs space or is uncomfortable. However, growling is a complex vocalization that also occurs in other situations.
Dogs that are uncomfortable with a situation will resort to a warning growl. It's usually when the dog is afraid, possessive, or territorial. They emit the deep grumbling to tell whoever's trying to approach them that it's time to back off. They're firmly requesting that the person or dog respect their personal space.
The act of holding a dog down forcibly as a correction is generally called the "dominance down." It is inappropriate, ethologically absurd, and completely counterproductive when interacting with dogs.
Aggression in dogs can be due to guarding territory, resources, or a family member; fear; frustration; prey drive; or pain. In all of these situations, a dog may be pushed too far and can transition quickly from reactive, fearful, or guarding behaviors to being aggressive.