Growling during play does not mean your dog is aggressive. It simply means they're having a great time. Your dog might even growl during a particularly pleasing cuddle or patting session. Many dogs growl talk to communicate contentment or as a greeting.
Prevention is Best. Puppy play growling is fun, but it can scare some pet owners. If your puppy growls while playing, just stop the game. Once your puppy stops growling, start the game again.
One last reason not to growl at your dog. Growls serve many purposes for dogs. Dogs growl during play, they growl during sleep, and they growl to display anxiety or threats.
For most dogs, growling is part of play and not a reason to worry. As long as your dog's tail is wagging and he's not showing any signs of aggression, he's most likely playing.
Puppies can play rough. Puppy play consists of chasing, pouncing, barking, growling and biting. Many pet owners mistake normal play behavior as aggression or laugh off behavior that is a warning sign for truly aggressive behavior.
The Growl: Dogs do growl while playing, but there are two ways to tell different growls apart. An aggressive growl will be accompanied by snarling and snapping, while a playful growl is just a sound, accompanied by relaxed body movements (no tension).
While playing tug of war, your dog might get excited and begin growling. This is normal, as the game itself is predatory behavior. However, it is important to keep your dog from becoming overly excited or aggressive, and take breaks to keep the game from getting out of control.
Accordingly, there is nothing wrong with a growl. It's simply a way for our dogs to convey how they are feeling. And it's important that we give our dogs the freedom to do so.
Roughhousing is just part of the fun and in most cases, it's completely healthy, safe and harmless. However, sometimes it can become dangerous if a pup takes it too far. It's totally normal for dogs to play-bite, bark, chase, swipe, and lunge, as long as it's in a gentle and friendly manner.
You may also notice play growling when you play tug-of-war with your dog. Gentle growling is not a bad sign unless your dog is escalating and showing other signs of aggression. If your dog nips at your hand, lunges at you, or the growling gets very threatening, it's important to end the game.
If your dog's growling becomes deeper and more intense, take a quick break. Drop the toy, stop moving, and get their attention. Tell them to “sit,” “lay down,” or practice a new trick they're learning to gauge their behavior. If they're able to pull it together and calm down, go ahead and start playing again.
Growling is actually a good thing! It is one way your dog is communicating with you. We need to start listening to their communication instead of repressing it.
Dogs Growl to Communicate
Growling seems like an aggressive act. After all, it usually precedes a bite. But, at its core, growling is about communication. Dogs growl to indicate they're unhappy, uncomfortable, or even fearful about a particular situation.
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. A dominant dog may stare, bark, growl, snap, or even bite when you give him a command or ask him to give up a toy, treat, or resting place.
Abnormal Puppy Behavior. So, an “aggressive puppy” is a puppy that displays an abnormal intensity, frequency, or duration of behaviors such as lunging, snarling, growling, baring teeth, or biting.
Never play tug-of-war or wrestling games with your puppy if you're having a nipping problem. These types of games encourage out-of-control behavior, grabbing, lunging and competition with you. These aren't behaviors you want her to learn.
They should be friendly with strangers and other dogs, and they should not show any “grown up” aggressive behavior like snarling, lunging, or serious biting. Your pup may well become more reserved around people and less tolerant of annoyances as he reaches adolescence and adulthood, which can be perfectly normal.
Some normal puppy play behavior includes chasing and pouncing on a butterfly or chasing the tail, but puppy play often involves other characteristics that may be perceived as aggressive. Barking, growling, snapping, and biting are all behaviors that puppies may exhibit during normal play.
Different animals will use growling in specific contexts as a form of communication. In humans, low or dull rumbling noises may also be emitted when they are discontent with something or they are angry, although this human sound is often termed "groaning".
Growling, rumbling, or gurgling can come from the stomach or the small intestines (small bowel). The noises are commonly linked to hunger because they're typically louder when the stomach or intestines are empty. Without any contents in them, the organs don't muffle noises as well.
To growl is to make a deep, rumbling grrrrr sound in the throat, like a guard dog does at an intruder. Growling is typically interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or show hostility.
When does a line get crossed between play fighting and a dog actually exhibiting aggressive behavior? Signs of dog aggression include raised hackles, stiffness, snapping, or lunging. If either dog shows aggression, separate them immediately. But be careful: Never get between two fighting dogs.