Ask the Trainer: Growls not always bad

This week, I want to highlight the benefits of growling, which is generally viewed as negative.

Many dog owners try to stop their pets from growling because people find it offensive or intimidating. A growl should viewed positively as a clear and direct warning. Dogs that have been corrected for the growl and not had the reason resolved are likely to drop this warning and take the next step in communicating their discomfort, stress or anxiety with a bite or attack without any warning at all.

The value of allowing dogs to growl was demonstrated in our home when very confident puppies decided to visit Dad while he was in his crate.

Crates are treated as personal dens in our home and are a safe retreat for our dogs when they choose to remove themselves from a situation. He had done this when he had had enough of playing with his boys.

Unfortunately, five-week-old puppies aren't necessarily familiar with this house rule and when he growled in a low pitch, he clearly indicated he was under stress and needed guidance from me as to how to deal with the situation (which, by the way, involved me removing the puppies and securing his door).

The situation was dealt with easily without harm coming to the puppies and Dad quickly settling in his safe place and drifting off into undisturbed sleep.

This situation may have had a very different end with him not indicating his stress and going straight to an attack of some degree if I had of looked at growling negatively and attempted to repress this form of communication in my dogs.

There are definitely times when a growl is an advantage to let us know our dogs are not comfortable with a situation. It is far better for our dogs to express themselves vocally than physically if they happen to decide to become resource guarders, territorial, fearful or protective.

This allows us a chance to help them with this issue through desensitisation training and confidence-building rather than having to euthanise because an attack or bite situation occurred.

It is important to know that play growling is non-aggressive and completely normal. Growling is experimental for my puppies as they learn to communicate both vocally and with body language.

They are learning there are meanings in every tone and movement they and their litter mates make and when our dogs communicate with us or each other, both these elements must be taken into consideration.

Growling, lip curling, cowering, backing away and fixed posture equals "enough is enough". When there is growling, relaxed posture, freely wagging tails and chasing, this indicates "play time".

Paw point of the week

Growling is a form of communication which should be listened to rather than discouraged.

Contact me for the chance to have your question selected for publication at nadines@dogguru.co.nz or for further information on Dog Guru, visit www.dogguru.co.nz