Understanding Dog Growling: A Key Communication Tool
Dog growling is often misunderstood and, unfortunately, sometimes punished by well-meaning owners. It's crucial to recognise that growling is a vital means of communication for our dogs. Instead of suppressing or punishing growling, we need to appreciate and respect it as valuable feedback from our dogs.
Punishing a dog for growling can have detrimental effects. It may suppress the growl altogether, depriving us of a warning sign that our dog is uncomfortable or feeling threatened.
Your dog's growl serves as a crucial form of communication, expressing their discomfort in a language we can understand. Surprisingly, before resorting to growling, dogs employ various subtle cues such as head turns, tongue flicks, and paw lifts to convey their unease. However, because we often overlook these subtle signals, growling becomes their final attempt to communicate their discomfort.
Punishing a growl can backfire dangerously. When you reprimand your dog for growling, you inadvertently teach them to suppress their discomfort rather than express it. They may still feel uneasy, scared, or angry, but now they refrain from vocalising it. This silence can lead to dangerous situations where a dog may resort to biting without warning, simply because they've been punished for growling.
In essence, your dog's growl acts as a warning system, much like a smoke alarm alerting us to potential danger. Punishing the growl is akin to disabling that alarm; it doesn't eliminate the underlying issue but rather removes the crucial warning sign, leaving you unaware of your dog's distress.
So, what should you do if your dog growls? Here are some tips to handle the situation effectively:
Respect Your Dog's Boundaries: If your dog growls, it's essential to respect their discomfort. Stop whatever you're doing that triggered the growl and give your dog space.
Identify What Is Triggering Your Dog: Think about the why behind your dog growling. Is it in response to being touched, groomed, or restrained? Does it happen during specific activities or interactions? Understanding the trigger can help you address the underlying issue.
Find Alternative Approaches: Explore gentler ways to interact with your dog that don't provoke growling. Use reward based training techniques, such as luring with treats, throwing one of their toys to help teach them that they can get up and move away when they are uncomfrtable.
Reduce Stressors: Evaluate your dog's environment for potential stressors and minimise them where possible. Stressors may include, unknown guests in the home, loud noises such as the vaccum, interactions with other animals. Reducing stress can help to decrease the likelihood of growling behaviour. Remember, stressors accumulate, so addressing them holistically is essential.
By respecting your dog's communication and addressing underlying issues, you can foster a healthier and more harmonious relationship. Remember, growling is your dog's way of expressing discomfort or unease—it's up to us to listen and respond appropriately.