There is a common misconception that a dog’s growl is aggressive behavior. A growl is simply a vocal cue to what the dog wants. Most dogs will posture and vocalize to avoid aggression. In human terms, it is like someone gesturing and shouting before having to get physical. In potentially dangerous situations, a dog will first give physical cues, then growl, then snarl, snap and finally bite. When we start trying to train out any of these behaviors, dogs will become more likely to react aggressively without warning.
However, vocalizations are not only reserved for times of potential danger. Following are the most common types of growls and what they mean.
The “Back off” growl is the harshest-sounding and usually not misinterpreted. The dog clearly means, “I’m warning you”. It comes from the chest and is low in pitch. The dog’s body posture will also change; the head typically goes down sometimes slightly turned and he will keep an eye on the offender through the corner of his eyes. It will typically continue steadily until either the offender has retreated, or the dog feels threatened and then takes action. If a dog gives you one of these growls, respect it and slowly walk away, do not make eye contact, to avoid escalating the situation. If you are handling a dog that growls at another dog or person, the same concept applies. Try to remove him from the situation. Either ask the other handler to keep clear, or walk away yourself. Making sure your dog does feels escape is possible greatly minimizes these instances.
A warning -signal type growl may sound similar to the previous. However, posturing is much different. The dog typically stands at alert and may scan the area to investigate the problem. The intent behind this vocalization is “Hey everybody, I sense something”. It’s usually short and a precursor to alarm barking. A good example is if a dog hears something outside, he growl, runs to look out the window, then barks at the delivery person standing outside your door.
Growling during play is common. This is particularly true in games of tug. Play growls are sometimes given with the “bowing” posture to entice play. This growl comes from the throat and is usually higher in pitch than a dog’s warning growls. It normally halts when play is initiated, or the dog has won the toy.
Anytime you are not sure what the intention is behind a dog’s growl, play it safe. Assume that he wants you to back off and do so. This rule applies whether or not it is your dog.
Indicating that you understand he is trying to communicate is the first step in building a dog’s trust. Never discipline or correct a dog for growling. When our dogs growl, we need to show we are listening and respect them. This gives us opportunities to intervene if necessary and further our role as leader. Trying to stop them from growling at all, takes away a clear warning signal and is detrimental to socialization.
If at anytime you have questions or concerns about any dog behavior, immediately contact a professional trainer for assistance.
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