Should you be concerned when your dog growls?
Growling indicates various things, so it’s crucial to distinguish between the many different types of dog growls your pup can produce when interacting with you, other humans, and other animals.
What do dog growls mean?
Recognizing the different types of vocalizations is essential to keeping yourself, other people, and other animals safe. Be sure to watch your dog’s body language when it is growling.
Growling allows dogs to express themselves in a way humans can easily interpret—if we take the time to learn the language.
Types of growls
Growls are a form of dog communication, so you must understand growling behavior.
Growling doesn’t always mean your dog feels threatened.
Learning what your dog is trying to tell you will help you live in harmony with one another. If you don’t learn your dog’s growls, miscommunication is bound to happen.
Fortunately, with some observation and friendly play, you can learn to distinguish between the different types of growls your dog projects.
Warning growls
A warning growl tells the other person or animal not to come any closer. It is deep and rumbling, somewhat like thunder. A hard stare and bared teeth frequently accompany the sound. It will grow louder as you approach the dog (which you definitely shouldn’t do).
This is your dog’s way of displaying discomfort.
Consider the situation. If the dog is resource guarding, hovering over a resource like food or a toy, they’re alert, and a long, low growl indicates a warning. This growl says, “Don’t come any closer, or I may bite!”
Dogs may also issue warning growls when they feel cornered, threatened, or scared. In this case, yelps and a downward head position can accompany warning growls, and the dog may also show raised hackles or stiff body language.
If the dog is terrified or has seen something traumatic, it may avert its gaze while retaining the growl.
When dogs offer warning growls, they’re not hoping for an escalation of the situation but asking you to stay away to avoid a conflict.
This isn’t an aggressive dog’s growl (or matching the mindset). We’ll get to that type of growl in a moment.
Play growls
A play or pleasure growl is usually short and accompanied by playful, telling body language.
Think about a puppy at play: It will typically put its butt in the air and its front legs downward (just like a “downward dog” yoga pose), wag its tail, and bark.
Check for confirmation in the tail to make sure this is an affectionate growl.
Dogs with curly tails, like Pugs, will display a wagging, upright, curly tail when they want to play.
Dogs with long, fluffy tails, like Huskies, will have a loose, upright wag.
Some dogs express their interest in play by growling when playing tug-of-war with a rope.
Related to the play growl is the pleasure-seeking growl, the guttural noise your dog makes when it nudges you and wants a petting.
During play, the dog typically acts to match the noise, seeking eye contact and moving tauntingly to invite play and touch.
If your dog gets too involved in play and escalates into roughness, your dog may continue growling.
Track the tone of the growls to ensure they don’t veer into a resource-guarding warning growl, and check the body language accompanying the growl. This can occur more often with puppies who are still learning.
Be cautious to ensure that your play session doesn’t turn into roughhousing or wrestling, which could be dangerous for both you and your dog.
Aggressive growls
Aggressive growls are often loud and occur in multiple “warning shots.” These indicate that the dog will move forward and possibly attack.
Sometimes, aggressive growls are barely audible to humans and can occur right before what we may interpret as a “sudden attack.”
Listen carefully for the growl if a dog is backed up or curled away. A soft, aggressive growl could warn of aggressive behavior and indicate the dog is preparing to strike.
Frustration growls
Have you ever observed your dog trying to figure out a puzzle? What about when you’ve kept it in a separate room for a long time?
In addition to whining or making playful noises, the dog might growl. This commonly occurs when dogs are on leashed walks and prevented from meeting other people and dogs without a proper, calm greeting.
This type of growl signals frustration. All the dog wants to do is meet, greet, and likely play! However, the leash or barrier prevents it from doing that.
You can reduce frustrating growls by teaching your dog that it will experience the reward of a greeting if it stays calm and sits beforehand.
Not sure? Trust other dogs
If you’re unsure about the type of growl another dog is putting off while you’re walking your dog, trust your dog’s instincts.
How is your dog interpreting and reacting to the strange dog? By paying attention to both dogs in the conversation, you’ll be able to decipher what’s happening between them and potentially diffuse a dangerous situation before it can begin.
A safer way to observe involves watching dogs interact at dog parks. You’ll hear plenty of the play growling here, but other types of growls, too.
In addition to playing, dogs engage in other forms of socializing and boundary-setting at parks. Pay attention to which types of growls accompany various types of body language.
Respond to dog growls
Warning growls
If your dog issues a warning growl, it’s essential to respect their space and avoid approaching them. Identify the cause of discomfort and remove any triggers if possible. Seek professional help if the behavior persists.
Play growls or happy growls
When your dog engages in play growling, ensure the play remains gentle and does not escalate into roughness. Monitor their body language and tone of the growls to distinguish affection and playful behavior from potentially dangerous warning signs.
A play growl or pleasure growl is a low growl that sounds like a rumble and usually lasts longer than other dog growls.
Aggressive growls
If your dog exhibits aggressive growling, prioritize safety by creating distance and avoiding confrontation.
Aggressive growls can signal your dog is territorial and lead to snapping or biting.
Seek assistance from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to address any issues causing aggression.
Frustration growling
To address frustration growls, provide your dog with adequate mental and physical stimulation to prevent pent-up frustration. Use positive reinforcement to teach calm behavior and appropriate social interactions.
Address the underlying issue
Identify triggers
Observe the situations or stimuli that prompt your dog to growl. Common triggers include resource guarding, fear, pain, or previous traumatic experiences. Understanding these triggers is crucial in addressing the underlying issues.
Seek a professional evaluation
If your dog’s growling behavior persists or escalates, consult a qualified veterinarian or certified dog behaviorist to rule out any medical issues and assess the underlying cause.
Reinforce positive behavior
Use positive reinforcement techniques to create positive associations with triggers that cause growling. For example, if your dog growls due to fear or anxiety during specific situations, gradually expose it to those situations while pairing it with rewards to change its emotional response.
Modify behavior
Work with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to implement behavior modification techniques tailored to your dog’s triggers and responses.
This may involve desensitization and counterconditioning to change your dog’s emotional and behavioral responses.
Manage environment
Modify the dog’s environment to minimize triggers and create a safe, supportive space. This may involve providing a quiet retreat area, managing access to resources, or using management tools such as leashes or barriers when necessary.
Be consistent and patient
Addressing underlying issues causing growling requires patience, consistency, and a deep understanding of your dog’s needs and behavior.
Ensure that all family members and caregivers are on the same page regarding training and management approaches.
What to do if you can’t interpret dog growls
If you’re unsure what a dog is trying to communicate with its growl, assume the growl is a threat and allow it some space. This is also a safe behavior to model for others, especially children.
Suppose you believe your dog’s growling to be repeatedly aggressive. If it involves serious attempts to bite rather than nip, or your dog has bitten someone after a fierce growl, consider the immediate intervention of an animal behaviorist.
A professional can help you better understand and communicate with your dog, and they can help you figure out what is causing your dog to feel uncomfortable.
Record your dog’s sounds to see whether your interpretation is correct when interacting with the animal trainer.
Final thoughts on dog growls
Understanding and correctly interpreting different types of growling sounds is essential for fostering a safe and harmonious relationship.
By recognizing the different types of growls and their meanings, you can effectively respond to your dog’s communication and address any underlying issues causing the behavior.
Seeking professional guidance, positive reinforcement, and a supportive environment are vital in modifying your dog’s behavior and promoting positive interactions.
With patience, consistency, and a proactive approach, you can work towards minimizing growling behavior and nurturing a strong bond based on clear communication and mutual trust.