Dogs will give a warning growl in situations involving things like resource guarding, stranger danger, feeling cornered, or feeling stressed. Dogs use these warning growls to communicate to you or another animal to “back off” because they are uncomfortable.
Stop whatever it is you're doing or the person/animal eliciting the growl is doing. If you know that your dog growls right before a bite, then move away and get safe. If you know the growl doesn't mean a bite is imminent, stop what you are doing.
The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.
Straight off the bat you should be correcting your dog's growling and/or snapping with a firm “no” at the onset of the behavior. When he stops growling, reward him with a “good boy”, or in the beginning, a treat if it's handy at the exact moment of training so that he knows what he is being rewarded for.
Why Do Dogs Growl? Growling is one way your dog communicates with you. It growls to let you know that it's afraid, in pain, or needs for you to back away from its possessions or territory. Often your first instinct is to run from a growling dog or to punish it for growling.
Growling is part of normal canine communication. People usually think of a dog's growl as a warning or as a sign of defense. Often, growling means that the dog needs space or is uncomfortable.
Most scientific studies indicate that it is very possible to rehabilitate a dog after they bite another dog or person.
Some dogs will lash out when they are in pain because they fear that they will be hurt more by those trying to help them. Neurological conditions such as seizures, viruses (such as Distemper) can cause your dog to act scared and shake.
This type of growl with a low volume and a deep, rumbling sound usually happens when a dog feels scared, possessive, or threatened. It is a warning growl that indicates their discomfort in a particular situation.
A dog who suddenly becomes disinterested in his pack may be experiencing a wide range of emotions, such as jealousy, anxiety or depression. Has anything changed in your home environment recently? Maybe someone moved into your home (or out of it). Maybe you've been taking him for walks less often than usual.
What are the manifestations of fear and/or anxiety related aggression? Fear or anxiety related aggression is perhaps the most common form of aggression in dogs. In reality most types of aggression listed above, except for predatory and disease related aggression, likely have a fear or anxiety component.
There are also various behaviors that can point to a dog being scared, such as whining, pacing, clinginess, submissive urination, or even biting. The dog may also be drooling, trembling, or even panting as a result of being scared.
Stop it or remove your dog from the situation before it escalates. Do not discipline your dog with physical, violent, or aggressive punishments. Opt for positive reinforcement before resorting to the use of aversives. Remember to reward your dog for good behavior.
"The motivation for lots of dog bites is fear," he says. "Others are territorial - if they're guarding something that they highly value, or defending their favourite resting place, their bed... Or if they've learned to defend, say, a dog bowl - that can result in aggression."
Yelling or pushing your puppy away may cause it to think that it's playtime, which will encourage even more biting and nipping. Reacting to its behavior with attention may cause the puppy to misinterpret you, which is why it's better to quietly and calmly remove yourself from the situation instead of yelling.
The safest and most effective way to treat an aggression problem is to implement behavior modification under the guidance of a qualified professional. Modifying a dog's behavior involves rewarding her for good behavior—so you'll likely be more successful if your dog enjoys praise, treats and toys.
So How Do We Fix Dog Aggression? Aggression is an incredibly complex topic, and every single case is different. Some aggression cases are entirely fixable, while others will always require a level of management.
Remove visual stimulus, get something between you (umbrella, car, garbage pail, blanket, etc.). Try firmly telling the approaching dog a familiar cue, such as “sit” or “stay.” Toss a large handful of treats on top of their head to startle them. The bigger the “treat bomb,” the more time you have to walk away.
Act like the alpha of the back and show him who is boss. Look him/her in the eye: When you give a command, look straight at your pet. Make sure he can see that you mean business and that it is not a command to be disobeyed. Always hold eye contact with your pet, no matter how big or small he or she is.
Anxiety. In addition to vocalizing pain, dogs also growl as their means to scare away people or animals when they feel anxious or fearful. Your dog's tense demeanor every time you pick him up might stem from a traumatic event. For example, you or other members of the family might have lost grip while holding the dog.
Frustration and Irritation
Commonly misinterpreted as aggression, your dogs can growl due to frustration as well which is most similar to a pleasure growl. Dogs don't handle irritation very well which is why it is often expressed with low, rumbling growl.
A fearful dog may lean away, lean back, tremble, crouch, lower his body or head, or roll onto his side or back. Often, his eyes will often be fully open with large pupils, his forehead will be wrinkled, and his tail will be lowered or tucked.