Tuesday Training Byte: Dealing with the dog that growls

Dogs' communication relies heavily on body language. We can better understand our dog when we look at clusters of body language and that paired with any vocalization the dog makes. My Rottweilers have at least four different vocalizations: a playful bark, the alerting bark, the Rottie "rumble" happy greeting growl, and the warning growl.

When a dog growls it is usually a warning that the dog is uncomfortable (fearful or anxious) about the approaching person or dog. Most dog bites are not true aggression, but rather a fearful dog attempting to communicate to the person or dog to back away, that the presence makes them anxious. I never punish a dog for the warning growl. If we take away the dog's ability to warn, he may go straight to the bite to get his point across. We should respect that the dog is trying to tell us he is very uncomfortable about that situation.

If your dog exhibits body language that indicates fear or anxiousness, acknowledge it. Some examples are trembling, stiff body, pursed lips, pacing or trying to move away, etc. I do not coddle my dog nor do I force him to move forward or accept the stranger. If my dog tries to hide behind me or go between my legs, I permit it to do so. Not allowing the dog an escape will make him feel more fearful. If in the house, I can put him on a leash so he can't run and hide under a bed, but he can stay nearer to me.

If your dog growls, do not keep petting him or pick him up as you try to reassure him as that can make him more nervous. Also, do not punish your dog for growling. Instead, try to get your dog to look at you and make eye contact once you notice his anxious response. When he gives eye contact, mark the behavior with a yes, followed by a treat. A very fearful dog will often not even take a treat. In this case, take a step or two back and then ask for eye contact with the watch me command, again followed with the marker word and treat.

It is your responsibility to keep your dog safe. This means advocating for your dog by not allowing people to approach and pet him or let others bring their dogs up to great him at any time he appears fearful. Do not force your dog into interactions or situations that make him fearful. We want our dog to trust us. Socialization is a process. Should he growl, take it seriously that you may have missed the body language indicators, and move to make your dog feel safe. Otherwise, he may bite as a last resort to get his point across. Most biters are fearful dogs rather than aggressive ones. Below is Dr. Sophia Yin's graphic on body language of fear. Happy training!