Using extra special yummy treats (usually chunks of meat) is important because you want the reward to be more special than the thing the dog typically guards. If the dog ever growls at you during this process, do not punish her – simply take note of how close you were and stay farther away next time.
Does your dog exhibit aggressive behavior when he has a bone or toy? This issue is called Resource Guarding and if not addressed, can escalate into dangerous behaviors like biting. From an evolutionary standpoint, dogs developed this behavior for obvious reasons.
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.
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.
While it may sound obvious, growling at your dog is not likely to improve its aggressive behavioral problems, a new study suggests. Hitting it is probably worse. Researchers say dog owners who kick, hit or otherwise confront aggressive dogs with punitive training methods are doomed to have, well, aggressive pets.
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.
Take the bone away from your dog after 10-to-15 minutes, then put it in the refrigerator. Dogs have powerful jaws, and you don't want your dog to ingest too much bone. Dispose of a bone after three or four days. Bacteria can grow and cause intestinal problems for your dog.
Say something like, “What have you got there?” in a conversational tone and, at the same time, toss a special treat toward the bowl. Continue to do this every few seconds until your dog finishes eating his kibble. Repeat this exercise each time you feed your dog until he eats in a relaxed way for 10 meals in a row.
Resource guarding — aggression over food, bones, toys, or even comfy sleeping locations — is very common behavior in pet dogs and often a behavior concern for many dog guardians. Although it is a natural behavior for dogs to exhibit, it may sometimes be scary for both the dogs and the humans.
When a dog becomes defensive while eating food, chewing on a bone, treat or a toy we call it food guarding, food aggression or resource guarding. The dog is anxious and perceives there is a threat that the resource (food, toy etc) may be taken away. -They may lift a lip, growl, snarl, snap or try to bite.
Offer a Special Reward
Instead of taking away your dog's treasured object, try introducing something your dog may find even more valuable, like a special treat or a new toy. If your dog is holding the item he is guarding, you can use the "drop it" cue to get your dog to give up the item.
Have your dog sit before you put the food down. Once they can do this, progress to standing near them as they eat, ignoring any displays of growling or guarding. After a few days, if you have not tried to take it away, your dog should accept your closeness to the food.
This type of behavior is called 'resource guarding,' so called because your dog is protecting the resources that matter to him. It's a common issue, but it is one that can be prevented when your dog is just a pup or stopped if they're a little later on in life.
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.
If you go to take your dog's bone from them, they may growl to tell you they aren't done. This is a language for dogs. You want to make sure if your dog has a growling tendency, they are doing it as communication, they do not hurt you, and it is extremely minimal.
"The goal is to teach the dog that it will receive a favored treat or reward that is even more appealing than the object in its possession." Approaching calmly, offering a food reward and taking the possession, praising the puppy and returning the object teaches the puppy that your actions are not to be feared.
If you pet ingests a cooked bone it is recommend to seek veterinary treatment immediately. It is important to pay close attention to your dog over the next few days to ensure the bone passes.
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.
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.
Never ever ever punish a dog for growling. The end result will be that the dog goes right from the ignored visual cues to biting without that important vocal warning. Dogs have a right to communicate they are uncomfortable with certain things they are exposed to.
Dogs may growl during playtime to show their enthusiasm or excitement. If you observe that your dog is wagging its tail while growling, it's a good indication that they are enjoying themselves.
For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.
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.