A while back, I was working with a regular client when I noticed their 8-month-old Jack Russel Terrier puppy growling at me.
And when I say growls, I’m talking about, heckles raised, teeth bared type of growling. The type of growling that goes way beyond the realm of normal puppy play.
Now, if you’ve ever experienced this, then you’ll know how worrying it can be, especially if you’re unsure of what your puppy’s intentions are.
Body language is usually a great indicator in this situation as it might just be a sign that your puppy wants attention and nothing more.
However, to the untrained eye, it’s difficult to know for sure… so it’s highly important to take a little time to educate yourself on the specific signs of puppy aggression.
Luckily I’ve dealt with this type of behavior before. So I went about applying a few of the calming techniques I pick up from Dan Abdelnoor (aka Doggy Dan) to bring the puppy’s emotional state down a few levels and get the situation under control.
Now, if you’re unfamiliar with Dan, he runs a dog training membership site called The Online Dog Trainer (see video below)
And the specific calming techniques I’m talking about are just a very small part of what Dan teaches his members.
Better still, he’s running an offer at the minute where you can get 3 days access to his entire membership site where you can learn the same techniques for the trial price of just one dollar.
But here’s the thing…
You need to understand that bringing your puppy’s growling under control isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight. So if you’re not willing to put the time and effort in with your puppy then this offer isn’t for you and I’d recommend hiring a professional dog trainer to come and assess your pup instead.
However, if you’re hell-bent on solving your puppy’s growing issues without wasting hours of time or spending thousands of dollars on expensive dog trainers…
…Here’s the link to check out the program: Click Here To Start Your 3 Day Trial Of The Online Dog Trainer And Discover How To Finally Stop Your Puppy’s Growling Habit… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
| QUICK NOTE: The $1 trial for The Online Dog Trainer is for 3 days only. After that, It’s $37 a month if you decide to continue your membership. You should only consider joining if you’re deadly serious about fixing the problem and your willing to put the time and effort in with your dog. |
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The first worry when it comes to growling is that you are facing a decade or longer looking after a naturally aggressive dog (incidentally there is no such thing).
The second will likely be more introspective, leading to doubts and questions over your suitability to raise this little pooch properly.
Well, all I can say from the start is simply to relax as it’s natural for puppies to sometimes growl, and by no means should it be assumed as a signal to back off or get bit.
That being said, there are aspects of growling in puppies that any responsible owner/pack leader ought to be aware of just in case something is amiss.
Here we’ll discuss everything you ought to know about puppy growling, and set out a proven training schedule should it become a problem.
What Does It Mean When My Puppy Growls?
Growling is just one of many noises puppies make when exploring how to interact with their world.
Just like they may chew and paw at toys (and furniture!) with different textures, they are experimenting in how the world reacts to the noises that they make.
The exact same is the case with whimpering, panting, howling – you name it.
Just like we have to learn how to make basic noises as infants, as does your pup.
Do also bear in mind that this will vary between breeds and that some are considerably more vocal than others, especially during their formative weeks.
After a puppy has been weaned and is mobile, it is normal for them to exhibit some growling as they begin to comprehend not just their environment but also their ‘pack’.
So don’t worry, your puppy isn’t some demonic creature bent on taking over from birth!
He is instead just figuring out how other dogs and creatures react to him.
So by no means should you just assumed that it’s an aggressive trait.
Most likely you will encounter the kind of growling that many puppy owners misinterpret during playtime.
To put it bluntly, puppies don’t know their limits and are going to take it ‘too far’ while they establish accepted boundaries.
So in a nutshell, the main reason puppies growl isn’t due to anger, fear, or necessarily discomfort, it is just a normal feature of their early socialization into life.
Is There A Difference Between Growling & Aggression?
Yes, and it is important that you also refer to your pup’s body language to establish this.
Puppies who are just incorporating their growling into playtime will do so while displaying ‘playtime’ body language. Any owner will be familiar with these features…
- Bowing towards owner to invite play
- A general ‘floppiness’
- Wagging their tail
- Exposing sides and tummy
- Sharp yet short barks
- Growling occasionally when becoming overexcited
As mentioned briefly above, it is common – in fact normal – for puppies to occasionally take it too far.
99% of the time they don’t mean any harm, and the occasional scratch or light nip is normal.
As is light growling now and again.
So what about puppies who may be exhibiting early signs of aggressive tendencies by their growling?
Their body language will be considerably difficult, and it is very similar to what you will see with grown dogs preparing themselves to defend themselves.
Examples of this would be…
- Stiff posture
- Constant and fixed gaze
- Haunched legs
- Constant low growl
Now, what is important to establish at this stage is the cause of this aggressive behavior.
If it becomes apparent that the puppy is adopting these characteristics outside of playtime then it could well be indicative of a deeper rooted problem.
Therefore, it is your responsibility as the owner to establish what this is and of course, remedy it.
Potential causes may be any of the following…
- Fear – by far the most common explanation for aggressive growling. Look for reasons why.
- Pain – look for any clues such as yelping when being lifted. A trip to the veterinarian is advisable
- Anxiety – puppies do not like (nor should they) be left alone for long periods.
- Conflict – some pups just don’t like others. Monitor interactions between other pets carefully.
- Superiority – trying to establish their prominence over others. This can be a problem but is very rare.
There could be many other potential reasons for puppies who display unusually aggressive growling.
Just as with any other early socialization issue it must be addressed early.
Opinions vary on the suitable age when pups can proactively respond to a routine, but realistically it can be possible from as little as eight weeks.
Should I Be Worried?
Hopefully, by now it will be clear that not only is growling normal in puppies but there is a considerable difference between playful and aggressive.
The sensible course of action is to carefully monitor your puppy’s play and interaction over several days and try to establish the frequency and, for want of a better word, the ferocity of the growling.
If it is routinely veering towards the extreme then it is certainly time to look towards undertaking preventative action.
Should this be the case, then at least look on the bright side. It is far easier to train inappropriate growling out of a puppy than it is a full grown dog.
Age also plays a considerable factor and it may be sensible to hold back and just keep an eye.
Generally speaking, aggressive behavior besides growling does not really manifest itself until 7/8 months.
On the other hand, addressing growling early can help to lessen the likelihood of more serious problems down the line.
So, in the end, it’s your decision, but either way, some kind of action needs to be taken.
Either monitor it carefully or undertake training.
Each case is different, but there is no harm in attempting to train this unpleasant habit out of them during the early stages.
How To Stop My Puppy Growling At Me
OK, so we’re now going to look at the many techniques which can be employed to assist with reducing and even completely preventing that growling habit.
As with any training routine, it is important to remain calm at all times.
Losing your temper will simply serve to confuse and agitate your growling pup even more!
There is no timescale here as some dogs will correct their behavior far quicker than others.
Just be sure to have addressed any particular reasons which may be causing your puppy to growl (environmental, anxiety etc).
Effective Positive Reinforcement Will Prevent Puppy Growling
Positive reinforcement is an essential component in addressing all kinds of puppy (and grown dog) behavioral problems.
In principle, it works by praising and rewarding good behavior while basically ignoring the dog when they exhibit unwanted features.
For it to be effective it is absolutely essential to remain consistent during the training which may take anywhere between a few days to a few months.
Therefore, be sure that all members of the household understand and follow these rules.
It only takes one slip up to unwrap anything that had already been learned, but when done well it can be a huge asset to not only addressing the core problem but also for enhancing future training.
#1 – How To Effectively Ignore Your Growling Puppy
For puppies who exhibit a consistent growling habit when playing, the best approach is to end play as soon as the growling begins.
Totally ignore them until they have calmed down – do not even make any eye contact and instead find something else to keep yourself busy.
Once they have settled down for a few minutes, reward them with a treat and vocalize your happiness with them.
The key here is to make it clear that growling is not acceptable when they play with you.
Repetition and consistency is the route to success and every puppy will eventually figure it out.
This is one of the most effective methods I know.
#2 – Commanding Puppies To Stop Growling
We’ve all encountered owners who seem lucky to enjoy the company of such an obedient dog.
Truth is that luck has nothing to do with it – training is the key and it simply takes time!
However, the next step and one that can be introduced early is to order them to stop growling.
“Quiet” is obviously ideal, and for this to be done effectively we’re again going to use the obedience = reward formula.
When your puppy starts to growl (at any time, not just during play) say “Quiet” in a focused yet middle tone.
Take some time to practice this first as you will be looking to make it consistent every time.
When they eventually obey, reward with praise and a treat.
Once again, it will take time but the benefits are outstanding!
#3 – Use Distractions
Should your puppy seem prone to spontaneous growling, there is no better or more effective short term solution than to provide them something to play with or chew.
The key to using these effectively is to resist the temptation to “roughhouse” (and be sure to instruct kids on this rule).
Engaging in playful wrestling may be interpreted by the pup as you trying to steal/take away their toy.
Naturally, this is going to lead very swiftly to growing which is the last thing we want.
#4 – Evaluate What Is Causing The Stress
Stressors are going to vary between puppies and it can be difficult to establish what is causing them to growl.
Examples may include the presence of strangers, noise, unusual scents, even the simple ‘feel’ of a room can make some pups uncomfortable.
Look at what may be causing the problem from your pup’s point of view.
- Does it happen throughout the day or at a specific time?
- Is their collar make them uncomfortable?
- Could it be when certain people are present?
- Perhaps carrying the scent of another unfamiliar animal?
- Is it before a scheduled meal time?
The list is endless!
#5 – Consider Deterrents
While I do not usually advocate the use of remedial/punishing tools, some people find that something as simple as a squirt from a water gun can help wash out a growing habit.
If considering using such tools it is worth consulting with a local expert first who will be able to properly evaluate the situation and make suggestions specific to your case.
Chances are that they may also be able to identify the early signs of any other unwanted behaviors.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide will have made it clear that in most cases puppy growling is just a natural part of their development.
Yet should the growling become associated with aggressive and/or excessively destructive behavior then it must be addressed as soon as possible.
Never forget that puppies tend to be far smarter at an early age than most humans will give them credit for.
Also remember that they are still learning boundaries and rules, meaning that they require just as much patience and care as a human baby would.
There are ways to reduce this behavior and they can – and arguably should – be used at the same time of preventing other antisocial behaviors.
For example, chewing on objects other than their toys, how to act when on the leash, and many others.
But ultimately, being able to effectively use positive reinforcement is a massive advantage, and should develop a happy and well-behaved pet.
