Dog Growling - A Dangerous Dog Behavior

"Dog Growling"

Under normal circumstances, dogs will only be aggressive when they feel threatened or in danger. They will only attack after having displayed progressively more explicit warning gestures several times.

Often, dogs will growl to let their owners know what they want. Dogs will probably do it again once they discover that growling works for them. It is hardly unexpected that dog growling is a common problem because some people misguidedly think that this is an indication that their dog will protect them. It is more likely that the dog will take care of himself and his possessions.

Some legal definitions classify growling as dangerous, so there may be a requirement for him to be restricted. This may involve placing your dog in a crate, in a separate room or restricting him to your back yard.

If your dog growls and he ends up getting what he wants, he will rapidly come to the conclusion that this is a very useful tool to get his own way. Comprehending your dog's needs is a huge help in putting an end to this behavior.

The following are a few reasons for dog growling:

**He is protecting his meal. A dog may practice resource or food guarding to protect his food from a perceived threat (namely you!). It is important that children be taught not to interrupt or tease dogs while they are eating. This also applies to adults; dogs need to understand that people provide them with food and don't remove it. When their is no risk of the growling, food should be added to the dog's dish.

**He's hungry. This is an excellent opportunity to teach a dog how to convey his needs. In order for the food dish to be placed in front of the dog, he would need to behave correctly.

**He needs to go potty. Some dog owners are happy that their pooch asks to be let outside to eliminate, though this is an unrealistic expectation for an old or sick dog or a puppy. So a dog doesn't have to worry about getting his owner's attention to let him outside, it is much better if regular outings for elimination are scheduled.

**As with food guarding, dogs may also protect their toys. Growling is often the first signal from the dog that he will bite if his warning is ignored. In this situation, the best thing to do is completely remove the toy from the dog and only let him have it when he is in his crate.

**He has stolen an object and wants to keep it for himself. Never chase your dog if he has taken something that belongs to you. Instead, you should make sure that he receives good obedience training where he will learn the joys of retrieving and will come to you on command.

**Sometimes growling is an indication of his fear of being groomed or clipped. Considerable skill is necessary to groom some dogs and you should not try it yourself without the appropriate training.

**Dogs will also growl to protect themselves from abuse and suffering. An example might be that a child has constantly tormented the dog under the fence or hit him when his owner wasn't looking, so the dog would growl when he came in contact with a child. Sadly, the dog will usually be blamed for growling in this instance.

**When a dog growls and his owner jumps backwards, this can be great sport for the dog. He must not be permitted to become accustomed to this behavior as he is likely to show aggression when his owner doesn't jump if he growls. It is important to nip this behavior in the bud from the get go.

Re-Read Signs Your Dog May Be Displaying Fear Aggression

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