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How to Deal with a Growling Dog

How to Modify your Dog's Behavior and Solve Obedience Problems

A growling dog could be a serious problem… or nothing to be concerned about.

While in most cases you can deal with this problem on your own, sometimes it's better to employ the services of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist.

Usually, growling is a sign of a fearful or assertive behavior. Dogs also growl when they play. So, before you confront a growling dog, distinguish between play and aggressive type of growling.

If you have small children, an assertive or fearful dog that exhibits a lot of growling presents a lot of danger. You need to seriously consider whether or not this dog is safe to keep in your home.

On the other hand, some growling when your dog is playing or excited is quite normal and expected.

If you have never seen a growling dog, or don't know how intimidating this behavior can be, here is a short video...

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When does Dog Growling Becomes a Problem?

Try to answer these questions…

What happens when you take your dog's food away?
What will he do if you take his toys away?
How will your dog react if you tell him to stop his favorite activity or to move from his favorite spot?
Does he allow you to groom him?

If your dog always growls or snaps in the above situations, you have a problem. I want to emphasize "always", because occasional growling is normal and can be expected.

Even if dog growling is not a problem in the above situations, your dog can still be overly aggressive towards other dogs, strangers, and even members of your own family. If this describes your dog, address the problem at the first sign of aggression.

How to Control a Growling Dog

Like a lot of other dog behaviors , growling is a lot easier to prevent than to get rid of. And nothing is as successful at preventing dog growling as socialization training.

Socialization training teaches your puppy how to interact with the world around him. Puppy socialization exposes your dog to all the situations that make him growl and tries to correct his responses in those situations.

But what about a growling dog that is too old for socialization training?

It's never too late to socialize your dog.

Here are some suggestions for dealing with a growling dog…

Until your dog is fully socialized towards strangers and other dogs, when you take him for a walk, always keep him on leash. For larger breeds, consider getting a muzzle.
Once your dog stops growling at strangers and other dogs, you can remove the muzzle, but keep the leash on. In most municipalities, unless in a specially designated area, it's a law to keep dogs on leash.
When you introduce your dog to other dogs, start with non-aggressive dogs first. These dogs will not growl back and will make your dog feel more comfortable.
Always say "NO" when you catch your dog growling, and never give in to his demands. You must always remain in control.

As you probably already know, I am against hitting dogs for any reason. Hitting a growling dog is not only counterproductive but is also extremely dangerous. Would you want to hit the dog in the following video?

Learn more about How to Stop Dog Growling

And if the above suggestions don't help you with your growling dog, consider a professional behaviorist.

Almost forgot…

Consult with your dog's vet. He or she will be able to determine if there are any health issues behind your dog's growling.

For more advice on how to train a growling dog, I highly recommend you read and follow this dog training guide. You'll find lots of information on dealing with many behavioral problems, including growling.