Why Does My Dog Growl At Me At Night?

Why does my dog growl at me at night?

This is a question that I’ve been asked more than once. And if there’s one thing that’s frustrating, it’s that there are potentially dozens of reasons for this seemingly unusual behavior.

Now I’m not going to insult your intelligence by attempting to reveal a bunch of outdated, ineffective training techniques that promise to stop your dog growling at you.

Because the truth is that your dog is growling for a reason. And that reason (be it from aggression, territorialism, anxiety, etc.) is ultimately how you know something isn’t right.

See, even though it might not be ideal to get an unwanted wake-up call in the middle of the night from a growling dog. It’s an important form of communication that you need to pay attention to.

So let me just be crystal clear…

The idea of stopping your dog from growling is like trying to prevent them from barking.

It’s not going to get you anywhere fast and will probably do your dog more harm than good.

The first step, however, is simply understanding why it’s happening in the first place.

See, understand what’s causing your dog to growl, whether it be the neighbor’s cat, a passing car, or even a pretty leaf blowing in the wind, is the first step to getting to grips with stopping it.

Because if you can ultimately figure out what’s going on in your dog’s brain that’s causing them to growl. You’ll be in a much better position to put measures in place to limit it.

The second step? …teaching your dog emotional control.

Why?

Because a dog who knows how to remain calm, relax and content in any situation that usually causes them to growl will be a lot less likely to act upon it when it’s not needed.

Better still, teaching your dog to remain calm and in control of their emotions is a sure-fire way to keep any other potentially dangerous behavioral issues under control before they spiral out of control and cause you or your dog some real permanent damage.

And this is why before you do anything else, I’d highly recommend taking a few minutes to check out the short video below from Dan Abdelnoor (aka Doggy Dan) over at The Online Dog Trainer.

During the video, Dan talks specifically about why emotional control is the key to stopping unwanted growling before going on to reveal the exact steps you need to take to stop your dog’s persistent growling habit when the occasion doesn’t call for it.

While Dan’s methods won’t do all the hard work for you. They’re pretty awesome at dealing with practically any behavioral issue you’re likely to come across.

So watch the video, implement the training, and you should see a huge improvement in your dog’s ability to refrain from growling at you unnecessarily.

Here’s the link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Stop Your Dogs Obsessive, Frustrating Growling Habit… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!

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While growing can seem like a potentially dangerous behavior, the truth is that this isn’t always the case.

More often than not, growling is simply your dog’s way of trying to communicate something to you. The problem, however, is figuring out whether that communication is of a playful or aggressive nature.

Despite what you might think, dogs don’t always growl out of frustration or anger. In fact, there’ll be many a time when they display this behavior through affection, enjoyment, or even play.

For instance, a game of tug of war, a belly rub, or even a playful tussle with another dog are all proof that growling can be a form of play.

This is why you may have noticed your dog displaying the odd growl here and there when they are, in fact, in a good mood.

But here’s where you need to be careful.

See, even games that start out as innocent play can quickly take a turn for the worst if you don’t keep an eye on the potential warning signs of aggression in your dog.

And when that growling happens at night (i.e. when you’re asleep). Then it’s safe to say that extra precautions need to be taken to make sure your dog is in the right frame of mind and not about to scale a full-blown attack.

So here what you need to look out for.

A playful (non-threatening) growl can usually be summed up by the following behavioral traits.

A higher-pitched growl that is usually shorter in duration.
A loose, relaxed posture and a wagging tail.
A general sense of well-being and wide playful eyes.

If you spot any of the above signs, then there really shouldn’t be any cause for concern. And you should be confident your dog isn’t displaying any troubling signs of aggressive behavior.

However, if you notice the following…

A low deep growl that is longer in duration
Fixed stare and a rigid posture
A slight lip curl or bared teeth

These are clear signs that your dog is in a state of aggression. And you’d be wise to back off and give them space until the situation has de-escalated.

This is also where The Online Dog Trainer Program I mentioned previously can come in really handy too.

While it’s not an overnight cure, I still think you’ll be surprised at the profound effect Dan’s training techniques can have on your dog’s emotional state.

So watch the video, implement the training, and you should see a marked improvement in your dog’s ability to refrain from growling when it’s not needed.

Territorial Growling

Territorial behavior in dogs isn’t really anything new. And while some dogs couldn’t care less about defending their turf, others take pride in being the big dog on campus that likes to put everyone in their place.

This goes way back to dogs’ natural territorial instincts that dogs have displayed for thousands of years.

See, back then, dogs were primarily pack animals. And being part of a pack meant that there was a pecking order of hierarchy from strongest to weakest.

And even though those days have long since passed, this pack mentality still lays dormant in dogs. Which is why many still feel the need to do defend what they feel is rightfully theirs.

Hence the need to protect certain territory.

Now, if your dog growling is territorially based, it could be that they have deemed your regular sleeping spot (for instance, the bed or couch) as being their territory.

And if they happen to find you snoozing away on their territory, you can be your sweet cheeks they’re going to let you know about it.

Dominance

No dog is immune to demonstrating dominant behavior on occasion. It doesn’t matter if it’s the smallest Chihuahua or the largest German Shepherd. If your dog believes they are above you in any way, chances are that going to let you know about it.

So if you’ve noticed you’re dog being a little bossier than their usual self. And they’re starting to demonstrate aggressive growling tendencies when you’re attempting to get some shut-eye. Then they could simply be trying to up their position in the hierarchy.

They Want To Play

While nighttime might not be the most convenient time for a game of fetch, your dog could just be showing signs they need a little exercise.

While this won’t be the case for some dogs (particularly less active breeds), some dogs are simply hell-bent on spending the majority of their time burning through their limitless energy and want you to join the party.

It’s not ideal at night, I know. So if your dog’s growling tends to be that of a more playful nature, it might be time to rethink their exercise schedule during the day.

Pain Or Illness

Since we don’t speak dog, it’s important to make the best use of our other senses and keep a close watch to make sure they’re ok in the health department.

Arthritis, stiff joints, cognitive dysfunction. Even general aches and pains are all things that our dog will have to deal with at some time or another… especially as they start to get older.

So if you’ve noticed your dog isn’t acting their usual self, their persistent growling could just be their way of letting your know they’re not feeling 100%.

Your Dog Is Tired

If the roles are reversed, and you’re constantly trying to get your dog’s attention while they’re trying to get some sleep, growling is simply your dog’s way of telling you to back off and leave them be.

This particular type of growl won’t be that of a playful nature, and you’ll probably notice some of the previous warning signs discussed if you keep provoking them.

So if they’re tired, irritable, or just want to be left to their own devices for a while. Do yourself (and your dog) a favor by giving them a little space and letting them rest.

How To Stop Your Dog Growling At Night?

While it can be a pain in the proverbial if your dog won’t stop incessantly growling at you (especially at night). The best course of action is always going to be figuring out ‘Why.’

Only then will you have the knowledge to put measures in place to stop it from happening so frequently.

Again, if your dog seems out of sorts, then I’d highly recommend getting them checked out by a vet. Even if they physically look ok, there’s a lot that goes on in your dog’s body that you simply aren’t qualified to assess.

So put your mind at rest before moving on.

Figure Out The Root Cause Of The Growling

If a medical exam doesn’t bring up any apparent problems, then you’re going to have to do a little detective work to get to the root cause of the problem.

So consider the following…

Does your dog only growl at you at night, or does it happen at any other times during the day?
Is it just your they growl at, or is it other members of the family, guests, etc.?
Do they only tend to grow in a specific location or room? (for instance, the bedroom or when you’re sitting on the couch)

It might sound tedious, but you really need to consider all the options here as your dog’s persistent growling habit could be the cause of a very small insignificant thing.

For instance, if your dog is of a possessive nature and (unknown to you) deemed the couch as their personal space. They probably won’t take too kindly to an intruder on what they feel is ‘their properly.

Establish Pack Leadership

Dogs are pack animals by nature. And even though the pack mentality isn’t needed like it was thousands of years ago, it’s still something that is deeply ingrained into your dog’s DNA.

The problem, however, is that if your dog thinks that they are the pack leader, they won’t take too kindly to anyone who challenges it.

This is something that Dan talks about extensively in his video training over at The Online Dog Trainer.

While you’ll find some of the more common training methods you can put into practice to put yourself at the top of the pack (for instance, eating before your dog). Dan also goes a lot deeper into the subject in the extensive training inside his video membership site.

So if you haven’t done so already, it’s worth taking a quick look.

Redirect Their Attention

It might be surprising to hear that a dog’s focus can be easily redirected when given the right incentive.

And while this might not be a permanent solution to your dog’s unwanted growling. It could be a step in the right direction you need to effectively manage the behavior in the meantime.

Distractions can work well here, such as giving your dog their favorite chew or one of their preferred treats. As this will temporarily take their attention away from you towards something they truly want.

The trick here is to get the timing of the reward right because if you give in to your dog’s behavior while they’re mid-growl, it will ultimately send them the wrong message that growling at you is a good thing.

If, however, you were to simply show your dog their favorite toy or treat, and only give it to them when they’re stopped growling at you. In your dog’s mind, they’ll start to piece together that NOT growling at your equals something positive.

It can take a while to see the lasting effects of this particular technique, so it’s important to remain consistent if you want to permanently change your dog’s behavior for the better.

But stick with it, and I think you’ll be surprised by the outcome.

Wrapping Things Up

Although growling can be a cause for concern, it’s always important to take a step back and properly assess the situation before coming to any conclusions.

Body language is a great way of determining your dog’s state of mind when they growl (i.e. playful or aggressive). And once you realize this, you’ll ultimately be one step closer to putting an end to the behavior once and for all.

So follow the advice about, be patient, and more importantly, stay consistent.

If you do, I have no doubt you’ll get to the bottom of the issue sooner than you think.

Why Does My Dog Growl At Me At Night? – 5 Reasons Your Dog Growls