Dogs growl to indicate they're unhappy, uncomfortable, or even fearful about a particular situation. For example, if another dog comes too close, your dog might growl to say, “Back off, you're intruding in my personal space.” The point is to get the other dog to move before things escalate.
Distract them from their bad behavior. Yelp or call out if they're growling at you and step away from the situation. Remove them from the situation if they show signs of aggression. Let your puppy calm down in another room or their crate when they're overexcited.
Think of growling as a good thing. It's a way a dog warns that he is uncomfortable with a situation. It's his lowest level way of saying that whatever is going on makes him uncomfortable. Many people mistakenly think growling is bad, so they punish the dog for it.
Dogs have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. Dogs can average a 10,000-100,000 times stronger sense of smell than humans. Therefore, something in a person's scent may trigger your dog to growl, and it will not even register with you. Dogs also make associations by how things smell.
Many dogs are fearful around people they don't know well. Some people automatically assume these dogs have been abused in the past. Usually, this is NOT the case. Most of the time, if a dog fears strangers, she has simply been under-socialized to them.
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.
Australian Shepherds are generally not aggressive, despite their reputation as bright and energetic working dogs. They, like any other breed, can become aggressive if not properly socialized and trained. Aussies, on the other hand, can be quiet, amiable, and well-behaved pets with proper socialization and training.
This is never a good idea. By teaching your dog that growling isn't acceptable behavior, you're taking away its ability to warn you that it may bite. You may have heard stories about dogs that bite with no warning. But, in many cases, this is because the owners trained their dogs not to give a warning growl first.
The best way of treating aggression towards strangers is to prevent it by socializing your dog when they are young, exposing your dog to lots of different situations and people in a safe, controlled environment, and teaching your dog that strangers are not a threat to you or him.
They might be frustrated because they can't contain their excitement to meet people, or sometimes it can be out of fear because they are worried by these people they don't know. Barking, lunging and growling are a dog's way of communicating that they are trying to put more space between themselves and the stranger.
Grunting is a common sign of a happy dog. Whether enjoying a belly rub, a tickle behind the ears or scratching that persistent itch, dogs may rhythmically grunt to show enjoyment. They can also do so at other happy times, such as greeting their owner or waiting for food.
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.
Threat or Fear
For example, some dogs may suddenly growl when there are strangers or new people in your home because they may feel threatened and are being territorial. Another example is dog growling when they are in an unfamiliar place or when they hear scary sounds such as thunderstorms.
Dog growling as a warning
This type of growl isn't intended to be aggressive – it's a polite warning to show that a dog is feeling uncomfortable. Don't ignore warning growls: pay attention to whatever it is that is causing your dog to feel threatened or afraid, and try to remove the cause of the issue.
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.
In most cases, the best way to get a reactive dog ready for socializing is to slowly expose them to their triggers in a controlled environment and reward them with natural dog treats until they no longer react so strongly.
Is training an aggressive dog possible? Yes. Aggression in dogs, whether it be toward a dog's owner or other dogs, is a serious behavior that should be adjusted with the help of a professional dog trainer.
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.
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.
1) Aggression towards strangers
it is usually because they were either bred to be guard dogs or they were not fully socialized as a puppy. When a dog encounters someone they feel uncomfortable around, they want to increase the distance between them and the person.
Also called sudden onset aggression, rage syndrome is a neurological disorder, not a temperament defect or training/socialization problem. Affected dogs go into a kind of seizure that makes them attack anyone or anything that happens to be in the vicinity.
Plenty of socialization, ideally from a young age, exercise, and mental stimulation on a daily basis are also key to avoiding the possibility of aggressive behavior from your Aussie.