Why do dogs growl?

Hearing your dog growl can be alarming, and it can be tempting to want to tell them off. However, a growl is a valuable forms of communication. By growling, your dog is trying to tell you that they feel uncomfortable, worried, threatened or would like more space.

 

 

Why dogs growl

Dogs growl for many different reasons. Although every dog is an individual, common reasons include:

• Fear or anxiety.

• Frustration.

• Pain or discomfort.

• Protecting something they value.

• Feeling overwhelmed.

• Feeling trapped.

• Wanting more space.

• Wanting to stop or avoid an interaction.

• Playful interactions or ‘play fighting’.

 

 

Is growling a good thing?

In a way, yes. Growling gives us valuable information about how a dog is feeling and allows us to respond before the situation escalates.

 

Imagine if someone repeatedly ignored your requests to stop doing something that caused you discomfort, pain or fear. Eventually, you might decide to raise your voice or push them away.  Dogs communicate in a similar way.

 

A dog that growls is generally trying to avoid conflict, not start it. Conflict tends to only occur if the growl is ignored, punished or not effective at resolving the source of conflict. 

 

Whilst it is important to respect growls as vital communication, it’s also important to take growls as information that a dog is struggling, and endeavour to reduce their need to growl in the future by addressing the underlying emotional cause.

 

 

What should you do if your dog growls?

If your dog growls, the first priority is to immediately give your dog space or stop the interaction that triggered the growl. The second priority is to try to understand why it occurred. Make a note of what was happening before, during and after the growl, as well as any other factors that could have influenced the behaviour (e.g. pain or illness, hot weather, changes in routine, disrupted sleep, busy environments, and so on.

 

It is very important not to punish your dog for growling. Firstly, growling is a warning sign and indicates your dog is feeling stressed or uncomfortable. If you punish your dog for growling, it is very unlikely to make them feel better about the context that was causing them to growl. Secondly, punishing a dog for growling may cause them to skip this form of communication entirely and escalate to a bite without giving a helpful warning signal first. And finally, the use of punishment with dogs is associated with an increased risk of aggression and other problematic behaviours, and may damage your relationship with your dog.

 

Our goal shouldn't be to stop the growl. It should be to understand why the dog felt the need to growl in the first place so that we can reduce their need to growl in the future.

 

 

Learning to recognise earlier signs

Growling is rarely the first sign that a dog is uncomfortable. Many dogs give other signs of communication long before they growl. You might notice:

• Turning their head away or avoiding eye contact.

• Giving an intense or hard stare.

• Licking their lips (unless anticipating food).

• Yawning when not tired.

• Panting when not hot.

• Becoming still or tense.

• Moving away or hiding.

• Freezing.

• Showing the whites of their eyes.

• Closing their mouth suddenly.

• Tension in their faces, ears, tails or bodies.

• Pushing their lips forward into a pucker, or back into a grimace.

 

Recognising these earlier signals gives us an opportunity to respond before a dog feels the need to escalate.

 

 

When should you seek professional help?

Occasional growling doesn't necessarily mean your dog has a serious behavioural problem.

However, it's sensible to seek professional advice if:

• Your dog has started growling suddenly.

• The behaviour is becoming more frequent.

• Your dog has snapped or bitten.

• You're unsure why they're growling.

• Children or vulnerable adults are involved.

 

The earlier behavioural concerns are addressed, the easier they are often to resolve.

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As a CCAB-accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist, I carry out comprehensive behavioural assessments to understand the individual factors influencing your dog's behaviour. From there, I develop a tailored behaviour modification plan designed to improve your dog's behaviour and emotional wellbeing while helping everyone stay safe. If you're worried about growling, I'd be happy to help.