How do dogs growl

Growling during play does not mean your dog is aggressive. Your dog might even growl during a particularly pleasing cuddle or patting session. Many dogs growl talk to communicate contentment or as a greeting. These types of growls simply indicate happiness. Of course, other growls have an entirely different meaning.

A dog might growl to threaten another dog, or it might be a response to feeling cornered. Growling is also a common symptom of resource guarding. An injured dog will often growl to keep others at bay. In these cases, and more, growling indicates something is bothering your dog.

Unlike play and talk growls, you can think of these growls as stress growls. They tell you your dog is uncomfortable. How can you tell the difference between happy growls and stress growls? Look at body language. If your dog seems stiff and is staring with a hard expression, that growl is serious. When you know a dog well, sometimes the tone of the growl can help too.

A loud, higher-pitched growl might tell you something different from a soft, lower-pitched one. However, when in doubt, act as if the growl is a threat. Particularly with young children, teach them to treat all growls with caution. Stress growls are a warning signal.

Their purpose is to tell others to back off before the dog is forced to take further action. They use growling to prevent the situation from escalating. And that gives growls great value. However, do not put yourself in harm's way, especially if the dog is not your own. You may decide to consult a dog trainer or behaviorist if your dog's growling turns to snapping or biting. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. For example, if your dog always growls at the mail carrier, close the window shades and eliminate any sightlines while you work on the problem.

If possible, eliminate triggers, avoid stressful situations, and caution others both dogs and humans to keep their distance in order to prevent a dog bite. For example, you may not want to introduce your dog to new dogs, bring it to a dog park, or host a loud party until you get help.

Frank, Diane. Aggressive dogs: What questions do we need to ask? Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors.

Why Is That Dog Growling? Featured Video. Related Topics. Dog Training Tips. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Article Sources. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

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