Growling...LOTS of Growling

[tiffers]

For the record, Chica is the ONLY dog I've ever 'owned' so...Walker is a whole new ball game. I have some concerns, that may be nothing to worry about...but, how do I know!?

First thing, he growls at random things when we are in the car. No big deal...well, the other day we are stopped at a red light and he rests his head on the back of my seat...so his nose is basically over my left shoulder looking out my window. I don't mind that...but, he barked and lunged at something..whatever it was...shaking my entire Jeep and basically scaring Chica and I to death. If we are driving or parked anywhere...he growls at things...random things...is he just one that'll growl? It worries me because is is 1/2 my weight and he's not as easy to control as Chica.

It's been raining and stuff for the past week...and if we are outside...and it thunders...he looks around...growling. :| You think I am kidding, but I'm serious.

And of course, when we play...he still growls. He never shows his teeth...EVER...but, he just growls...

[That_girl]

I would think all of that growling in those situations is his way of dealing with being insecure. Maybe as he becomes more comfortable with you it will decrease/go away?

Although that doesn't explain why he does while playing, unless he feels insecure then too? idk, that's all I got.

[special]

Although that doesn't explain why he does while playing, unless he feels insecure then too? .

I know a dog who growls during play. Her family encourages it. I, on the other hand, refuse to play with her when she growls. So she has learned to not growl when she plays with me. She lasts about 5 minutes, then forgets and starts growling again. At which point I turn my back on her.

This is the same dog who I trained (with methods learned here) to go sit on a rug when I enter her house, and stay there until I am ready to greet her. She does this only for me. Oops, sorry for the drift. :)

PS Roxy is a huge dobie/pit/shep mix. Very sweet dog. But I refuse to play with a dog who growls in play. So perhaps at some point in Walker's life, he had people who thought it was cute to let him growl during play.

[tiffers]

I know that he's not being mean, and I know many dogs at work who make all sorts of noises during playing. Not once has he ever shown his teeth to me or anyone...even when other dogs/cats are showing their's to him.

I don't know if this is the tip of the iceberg or if it's just...well, his personality.

[SarahK]

Perhaps while your trying to solve his growling issue, you should get a travel crate or something for in the car? Sounds like he could cause an accident, if he's lunging, barking etc.

[tiffers]

There's no way on Earth a crate big enough for him would fit anywhere in my Jeep. Not even on top! :eek:

He has taken a particular fancy to the very back. He jumps over the back seat and sits in the very back. He has the area all to himself.

I'll also mention, he only growls at things when we are stopped. Never in motion.

[Macawpower58]

He may just be very possessive/territorial. His car, stay away!

Tiffers, you won't see this dog's full attitude for several more months I'd bet. Whether he mellows with security, or gains attitude is a 50/50 toss. He is still not completely at home with you.

My advice is right now encourage behavior you like, and firmly discourage behavior you don't. If his growling is something you don't like, teach him 'quiet'. Lunging should always be discouraged. If you think he'll mouth more as he grows comfortable, start teaching him it is not acceptable for him to play that way anymore. His old habits are firmly ingrained, and now while he's still unsure, is the best time to try and shape new behaviors.

Have fun!

[MandyPug]

So my uncle had a rottie who growled all the time, never barked or showed his teeth... I was 5 and i'd lay on him and he'd do his growly thing but nothing else... We'd talk...

Sammy: Grrrr... Rrrrw?
Me: No i'm staying for a while...
Sammy: Grrrawaaallar!
Me: You don't say!
Sammy: Grrrgrowler... Grrrowl! *Slurp*

Not a mean bone in his body, used to lick me to death.

Just wondering if that was "aggression" and he was gonna slaughter me since he growled.

[theresa92841]

Two of my dogs like to growl when they play. I just in general keep an eye on them and make sure that they both are enjoying playing. And if they are, then I let them "talk" to each other.

I have one dog that barks like a maniac at stuff while I am driving. I keep trying to discourage that behavior and train it out of her. Let me tell you that doing that while driving is nigh impossible. One thing you could do to prevent lunging . . . dog seat belt. I always use seat belts for the pupsters. If I am in an accident, I don't want them injured or running around loose maybe getting lost . . . And it keeps them in the back where I want them.

[tiffers]

I've never had any dog but Chica, and Chica rarely misbehaves. So, Walker is a new thing...I am not freaked out or scared by his growling...I just didn't know if that was something to discourage right now in case it gets worse. I mean, I assume it's just him...he goes to the dog park he doesn't growl at anything. He just rubs on all the people and ignores the other dogs...

[theresa92841]

So far, I've found that every dog is different. Just when I think I have it figured out, I get a new one and realize . . . that this one has a lot more to teach me.

My new puppy is convinced that the only way she can go poo, is to go running around and jumping up on the fence or wall with her front legs first. Then she can go. I am sure that she learned this by being in the pet shop since how else could she get a little space. But sometimes I don't have a wall or fence handy. lol.

Anisette was my first puppy to growl when playing and at first it really freaked me out too. She also still barks at any dog on TV while the other dogs look at her like "what are you barking at?"

:D

[Um Tootous]

She also still barks at any dog on TV while the other dogs look at her like "what are you barking at?"
:D

This made me laugh, it is so true of animals. For people who don't think our pets are expressive they need to be around when one pet does something the other ones think is stupid or interesting, the expressions are undeniable as to their meaning.

I don't have any suggestions as to the growling or barking, we tell Shabka to be quiet and if she persists, I shake the water spray bottle at her, as a last displinary action, she'd be sprayed, we ussually don't have to go that far. Of course I'm always in the passenger seat, not sure how you'd accomplish this when you're the driver. I think the idea of getting a Doggy Seatbelt is great, at least Walker wouldn't be able to lunge over your shoulder startling you.

[Maxie]

My dog barks at the thunder and lighting I am surprised she isnt scared of it.

[CKelly976]

my dog growls and barks at my husbands creepy friends. Specifically three, one is an alcoholic, one is mentally handicapped, and the other has beaten and abandoned so many dogs its ridiculous.

she seems to be a pretty good judge of character :)

[SarahK]

What about the bar thingys that you can put across the back of the car, separating back from front?

I've used doggy seatbelts and they were a disaster!! My dogs we're happy enough in the car, they knew to stay in the back, but they did move around, so I got the seatbelts for safety, but they kept getting tangled in them and basically pinned to the back seat! It didn't make for happy doggies!

[tiffers]

I don't like those bar thingys. If I ever get rear-ended at any speed, my dog will be toast. :)

Both of them sit perfectly fine in the car and stay in the back seat. He only lunged one time. The lunging really wasn't my problem.

[Hunna]

Bandit and Cricket both growl and "mouth" my arm while playing. They will also do this to hubby, but no one else. Its their excited play. Its a deep growl, but not their mad growl. I've heard both. Its kinda like when a baby cries, and the Mom knows exactly whats needed? Unfortunately you havent had Walker long enuff to learn his different tones of communication. However, I never allow growling, even playing with others, as it could be taken as aggression. Any verbal correction is enuff for them to stop, just a quick "ant" will do.

I would vote for he is just playing, but...
If it makes you uncomfortable, or something you want to discourage, train him out of it. New house, new Mom, new rules, he should fall in line.

[squashynose]

I don't like those bar thingys. If I ever get rear-ended at any speed, my dog will be toast. :)

Both of them sit perfectly fine in the car and stay in the back seat. He only lunged one time. The lunging really wasn't my problem.

I think they would be anyway, loose. Straight through the windscreen. The safest place for pets to be in a car is in a crate, wedge up behind the seats. Those car harnesses are only good for tiny bumps. Anything with much force, and they snap, dog goes flying.

I don't think you should have him loose in the car, if he likes sitting right at the back, tie him in back there. Personally, I'd get a crate too. If doesn't need to be huge, he just has to fit in it.

Growling at thunder, bless him :) He's probably scared to death of this big booming noise he can't see or smell!

[theresa92841]

I think they would be anyway, loose. Straight through the windscreen. The safest place for pets to be in a car is in a crate, wedge up behind the seats. Those car harnesses are only good for tiny bumps. Anything with much force, and they snap, dog goes flying.

I don't think you should have him loose in the car, if he likes sitting right at the back, tie him in back there. Personally, I'd get a crate too. If doesn't need to be huge, he just has to fit in it.

Growling at thunder, bless him :) He's probably scared to death of this big booming noise he can't see or smell!

Why do you think the car harnesses would snap?

My dogs are in their normal harnesses. They are hooked to this (http://www.batzi.com/)which is connected to the seat belt.