While it’s usually a squirrel or a bird, you never know when it’s going to be an actual burglar or criminal individual with bad energy around them, or if the house is on fire, so I always check when they alert bark, and then tell them “Thank you, that’s enough” or “quiet” once I’ve checked things out. Good luck with your new pup and your patience will hopefully pay off soon.? After he got close enough to her where she could pick up his scent, she would start wiggling with happiness that it was him and not a burglar, haha. When we would pass children on our walks, I would create more distance to keep her comfortable and again, she got lots of yummy treats and affection. Dogs can’t use words to tell you when they’re in pain, so they may growl. Any advice? In effect, all we have to teach the dog is that other dogs and people — especially strangers and children — are no threat and then, the dog has no reason to growl. ? It’s easier if she first knows the “Speak” command, but it works really well for Haley when I want her to stop barking. Harley has never growled at a person – just not in his nature. It’s nice having a dog that will alert you to something at night. I know there’s a lot of debate about dominance in dogs, but dogs are opportunists (like us humans) that like to get what they want or get their way. For example, I would put myself between her and the object she feared instead of having her out in front of me. Rather than antagonizing the dog's condition, by subjecting him to infrequent and scary hugging or examination by strangers often followed by correction and punishment, the goal is to progressively build the dog's confidence via several hundred gentle approaches and brief examinations, each with pleasant consequences. When Haley barks defensively at someone (like when a stranger comes to the door), if I tell her “It’s Okay”, I expect her to stop barking and relax and she’ll back off and let me handle the situation. 1. Hi Daisy, I think you’re right that this is most likely a learned behavior from her previous (single) owner, but that probably doesn’t make your husband feel better when he walks into the room. You can repeat the exercise by getting closer to his bowl each time, until you can stand right beside the bowl while he eats. Maybe they could just drop a treat on the floor as they pass through the room, so the sight of just seeing the boys becomes a positive experience. A fearful or aggressive dog should never be “flooded” by a social stimulus. I wonder what it is that triggers Sinead’s growling. When we got her, she would not even go outside to poop. Step 1 For improperly socialized dogs, aggressive behaviors can be a common problem, especially toward strangers. Today he barked at a group of children sitting in long grass in a field. Great post. When you do as much training and as many dog sports with your dogs as I do, you get to know them very, very well. 🙂. That’s interesting, Theresa. They told me . We adopted Sade-Mae when she was 2 yrs old, she is a lg Shepard/Retrivor mix. I would tell them to stop and pull them away. If they learn growling will get you to change your behavior, they will do it every time. Required fields are marked *. Another view says to give him a treat and make him relax before doing anything. He always growls when someone enters the house or hears something during the night, but today when my kids were waiting for the bus my neighbour was walking towards my kids and he started barking and growling like I never heard him do before! Stop by our blog for details. Now I’m having a bit of a problem with him barking and growling at my stepdad , my sister and my mom . A bark collar is designed to deliver a spray, noise or even an electric shock when a dog barks. She was very fearful, but not aggressive. I think it’s because she always looks so sweet and composed in your photos. I squeeze and love him but if for example he’s trying to root through the bin or he’s sat on the settee and someone wants him to move he makes this horrible blood curdling bark and snaps I don’t wanna give up on him so I’m asking for help. Whilst on a walk, a dog off of the lead attacked me, my dog reacted by pinning the other down, and getting it away from me. To the point he doesn’t like male guy’s. Hopefully, this is just a small bump in the road and with your help and patience, she’ll soon be calm and relaxed around your guests. They no longer live w/us but when they visit she gives Britt hard stares, growls, follows her closly. The dog is now kept in a sit-stay while the stranger alternately retreats and approaches (and treats) the dog several times in succession, progressively increasing the speed and varying the manner with each approach. One thought, with all the on line ordering and delivery companies entering our yards and porches it would really make since to keep your pets in doors when you know there is a pending delivery. It sounds like he had a rough start with his first owner and probably the best thing would be to work with a local trainer that would come to your home and help with the barking and growling issue. Now I’m really happy if she ever growls! 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. Thanks for stopping by today, Alice! Good luck and congrats on adopting your new family member!💗. I’m not sure what to do to correct that. I wonder if they growl at any other male voices on speakerphone or if they have issues with men in general. Barking is pretty normal as long as it’s not an aggressive type of barking while bearing teeth. Thanks, Lisa! The “attack” by the handler  — the dog's only immediate ally — tends to make dogs especially nervous and “spooky”. Also we have nominated you to participate in the 8 photos of happiness challenge. In the meantime, use the tips from my post along with maybe some distraction techniques (like using treats and having her sit or do other commands or distract her with toys) to see if you can focus her attention on something else before it escalates or you get too close to the other person or dog. ? It sounds like the male trainer has had pretty good results with her, but it wouldn’t hurt to try a different trainer for the aggression since it seems to be getting worse. It’s great Teddy lets you know how’s he’s feeling. Once owner and friend have each approached the dog twenty- or thirty-times, the friends continue to restrain the dogs on leash while the owners work as strangers with the next dog in line. The hard stares would make me a little nervous too, so I think I would try hiring a behaviorist to come to your house and work with Sade and Britt (if that’s not too much trouble for Britt to be there a few times). I will be sharing this because it is such an important topic with helpful tips. The main problem is her growling and barking at everyone who comes into our home, she’s fine at first and will wag her tail but after a minute or so she starts growling. We slowly decreased the distance to the children and increased the level of interaction but only within Haley’s comfort zone and while ensuring the safety of the kids. I use the same principle for teaching good door manners, which is another way of helping a dog learn to respect space. Thanks again. I love the way they look but I haven’t spent any time around either type of the Cardigans. I haven’t written a post about that yet, but I’m sure some of my dog blogging friends commenting here have some articles on the topic if you visit their sites. In fact, lure-reward (non-contact) training techniques (illustrated in the DVDs) are the techniques de rigueur for working with fearful and/or aggressive dogs. I was walking my dog today who is generally very friendly to people who approach him. Teddy is our dog that growls. Have you tried training Mila on the “Quiet” command? We have only had him from last February. I would think leaving (walking away or giving in to) the growling might only make him more inclined to show his displeasure when he doesn’t get his way. And then it is time for MUCH more classical conditioning and desensitization. For example, maybe the other workers happily call her out of the room versus taking her out without verbal encouragement. If I am unable to protect them from the situation they are speaking to me about through their growl, I have trained a whole lot of counter cues to keep things from further escalating. What To Do When Your Dog Growls at Someone. I really wish I could offer an easy fix here but hopefully you’ll give the trainer a shot and you’ll have many happy years with your new boy. Nothing worked, it is getting worse. That being said, it’s pretty normal for most dogs to bark and maybe growl when the doorbell rings or the UPS man shows up at the door. The dog still doesn’t like strangers and wants to growl, but dare not. Time and patience are needed! We pulled her away pretty quickly and had the talk about respecting dogs’ space, and I was very thankful for the growl and that that’s all it ended up being. You should be far enough away so that … Correct growling and snapping right away. Instead, I would work to reclaim your space, both around your feet and warm stove and around his food bowl. But mostly, I am scared now to take her to such places, knowing het strength. Of course, it probably wouldn’t hurt to bring along some tasty treats for them when you meet them for the first time. Great post to let folks know about these things! In Week 1 the owner teaches the dog the routine described below, with the friend holding the leash and then, the friend works the dog while the owner holds the leash. Evaluate the stressors in your dog’s world and reduce or eliminate as many of them as possible. Thank you. Progressive desensitization basically comprises shaping the classical conditioning process. If you are worried about your pet’s behaviour around strangers, keep them on a … You can stand between him and his bowl until he sits and looks at you, then step out of the way and allow him to eat. It sounds like you’ve done a great job of trying to help Sade overcome her nervousness and the training class was a good idea, along with Britt giving treats and praise. Instead of teaching the dog to be quiet, punishing a dog will make him more aggressive or anxious, and more likely to bark. Diffuse your dog’s reaction by putting distance between her and the person she’s reacting to, even if that means turning around and walking in the opposite direction. Tonight the dog will eat dinner, handfed by strangers. If he barks when you open the door, practice opening and closing your door (and even greeting an imaginary person). To prevent your dog from injuring someone else, take steps to keep him away from strangers or train your dog not to nip at them at all with positive, reward-based training techniques. I am not supposed to stop it? My Dog Barks at Strangers When We Are Out for a Walk . Hang in there and you’ll probably see your sweet lab’s personality return soon. Enticing the dog to approach for the first time is the most time consuming aspect of treatment, thereafter training proceeds quickly and smoothly. We do discourage growling. The dog still feels uptight, but no longer gives warning. It sounds like Sadie’s doing great and adjusting well. Dogs growl because they are insecure and anxious in social situations. I don’t know where you live but if she did bite him would your local law mean that she would be put to sleep for being deemed ‘out of control’? I have been telling him of for growling because I don’t know what else to do..? I think when he is unsure. It’s a subtle way of letting him know that you’re in control and allowing him access to the food. And I think I understand him better! I guess she heard something that really scared her on those few occasions but it’s kind of hard to go back to sleep after that, lol! Those are bout the only exceptions, when she is not growling. We’ve come a long way since then and I’m sure our dogs are happy about that too. Allow him to explore new experiences on his own terms and you’ll probably see this barking and hiding behavior resolve itself soon. When your dog starts to bark excessively simply use the dog whistle which will omit a high-pitched and unpleasant sound and distract your dog from the stimulus. Good luck with the new relationship and thanks for stopping by and visiting us! The growl is not necessarily an indication of an irreparably flawed temperament but rather, the growl is simply an advertisement of the dog's discomfort at having been forced into a threatening situation for which he has been given insufficient preparation, i.e., the owner is trying to push the dog too far too fast. “What Should You Do When Your Dog Growls at Someone?”. I’m having a bit of trouble with my 8 month old chorkie He s fine in the house playing and stuff but when he’s laid down and we go to stroke him he growls and he even bit my little brother today we only recently got him and I really don’t want to have to find him a new home I want to help him cause i honestly just think he’s scared! It mentions avoiding traumatic experiences, but her growling may be more about the fear phase than the fight with the other dog. You’ll want to look for a trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques and also one who has some experience with working with aggressive dogs. She does the same to strange men, when my husband is around, who is more confident than me. While they may seem ideal on the surface, you might want to consider this option carefully. I don’t mean to imply that everything you need to know about fixing an issue with a reactive dog is found in the paragraph above. She is about one year old and was tortured, when she lived as a street dog for maybe her first 3 or 4 months, then she was neglected by her first adopters (not fed enough, no training, no walks, no socialization). Thank you so much for your response!! Weeks 3 & 4 are similar to Weeks 1 & 2, but employing a down for examination instead of the sit, and in Week 4 everybody wears something a little out of the ordinary, e.g., floppy hats, sunglasses, false beards, sou'wester and Wellies, Mickey Mouse masks, frogman's flippers, etc. She started to fight with the harness and the lead, then stood in front of me and just growled, whilst the other dog owner commented on how lovely and playful his dog was being…. The problem is extremely serious and a delinquent response on behalf of the owner spells disaster for the dog and danger for strangers and children. Lana looked like such a sweet girl, but I remember you writing about how she was kind of pushy or bossy with Ace. Does it have to do with them getting closer to her or trying to pet her? She has no issues with the male workers at thr 2 daycare places, we use. Luckily, this phase doesn’t last very long but it can be crazy time…think teenagers, lol! The other talks about him wanting to become dominant in more and more ways as he is always looking for ways to influence his control and presence, like to sit on the couch or to sleep on our bed. Your thought about starting obedience training is a fantastic idea! Dogs are often more reactive (lunging, barking, growling) when they are restricted by a leash. This is such a great article! My last foster dog (Lana) was somewhat leash reactive, but with her it was more frustration/excitement and I think also wanting to make sure the other dog knew she was “in charge.” She would bark and growl and pull. He’s mellowed a lot in the 3+ years we’ve had him, but I’m still aware and cautious for his sake. I’d really appreciate some more help, the article is great, but I’m still at an end. It sounds scary to me – a lot. If the stranger stands at a distance where the dog feels comfortable, tosses a treat and then steps back, characteristically, the dog will tentatively approach to grab the treat before bidding a hasty retreat. Thank you, Beverley. I like your real-life example with the kids. For example, for people who are nervous when speaking in public, reading from cue cards is less nerve-racking than giving an extemporaneous address in front of two thousand people. If your dog growls at you, then it's important to … If Haley gets too worked up barking or growling at the window or door, I make her go lay down in her bed before answering the door. That’s so interesting, Carolyn. I admit, that’s a pretty broad question to answer because dogs growl for a lot of different reasons. There could be so many things, from the way someone looks to even the way they smell, I guess. I think a lot of people assume they are very lab-like because of their retriever name and they look similar to labs. They’re usually not that expensive and can offer some great tips and advice. ? But it really startles people when they first hear it. I really need help, people have started looking at us in utter disgust, or lurching to run away from her, which of course makes the desire to play even worse. Again, lure-reward techniques are absolutely essential when training fearful dogs to approach and sit. With the dog in a sit-stay, back-up, approach, instruct the dog to sit, reach for his collar and offer the treat. I get a lot of questions from people about how to get their dogs to stop lunging and growling and freaking out when they see other dogs on walks. I adopted him since he was about 3, and ever since he is extremely harmless, even if he growls. So true – and that’s why I’m always baffled by people who want to cut out the treats as soon as possible. Later, they could wait until the dog approaches them just a little bit before dropping a treat. Browse around awhile and you’ll find lots of helpful training tips and information along with some news, product reviews and yes, even a few dog tales! Our newly adopted 5 year old terrier growls and barks at my husband when he appears from another room or from outside. I learned to be thankful for his growls so I could make him more comfortable. It as if the dog is trying to communicate to the approaching dog or stranger, “Keep back! We definitely agree with the 7 points listed, especially keeping distance. Mila has been barking at more dogs lately when we go for our walks. Instead, keep him busy. This exercise to get your dog’s attention might work well for the food bowl issue. I am concerned taking her out anywhere, where men can get too close and I cannot prevent worse things from happening. This site is devoted to the community of dog lovers, dog owners and most of all, our four-legged family members who give us their unconditional love. Thanks for giving her a great home! I’m forever distracting her from Britt! Just quietly block him with your body from what he wants until he sits and looks at you for permission. The entire process is repeated with at least twice as many trials, before the owners move on to work with the next dog in the line, and so forth.To encourage the dogs to approach strangers, work with hungry dogs and plenty of tasty food treats. Have you ever been concerned when your dog growled at someone? Similarly, merely contacting, let alone correcting an aggressive dog may precipitate aggressive behavior. People are constantly wanting to pet him and are kneeling down which probably has made him worse. He is very friendly with everyone he meets and for him not to like someone is really, really odd. Don’t worry though, it’s a normal phase of their development and it means you may need to reinforce training, do some more socializing and nip any problem behaviors in the bud. I wonder how she’s doing with her reactive issues now that she’s in her new home. We continue to work on her *greeting* ppl at the door, jumping on them ect, that is going well, but she WILL NOT stop the behaviors w/our granddaughter Britt, I had her go to traing classes w/myself & Sade-Mae, have told her ti calmly but firmly let Sade-Mae know this is not good behavior, Britt praises & gives treats when Sade-Mae doesn’t growl, hard stare or stalk her but none of it works. Oh gosh, I’m so sorry that happened again. I quickly learned to keep her closer and put myself between her and whatever she felt threatened by. I’m so impressed that at 12 years old you’re more caring and responsible than many adult dog owners. That does sound cute! Good luck with the training! Would Sade still growl or does she only growl and stare if Britt tries to look at her or interact with her? The good news is, she warms up to him quickly and enjoys sitting on his lap and playing with him, so she’s not just a one-person dog. If the boys could also work on not approaching your little guy or making eye contact at first. Just like people, dogs have their unique personal space range and it’s thoughtful that you make sure people understand and respect his space. It is important not to push the dog too far too fast. Thanks for stopping by the blog and for your kind comment! Oh, forgot to mention, it seems. Thanks, Pamela. HELP!! Each day, weigh out the dogs daily ration of kibble, put it in a plastic bag with a pinch of freeze-dried liver powder, shake well and use as directed. https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Behavior-Understanding-Fear-Periods-in-Dogs. What If Your Dog’s Growling at Someone Outside Your Home? I’m sure you haven’t ruined anything and the fact that you’re aware of his mood and have been making good progress tells me your boy is in good hands. Knowing acceptable protocol, i.e., knowing “what to do”, often reduces anxiety when under stress. Your pup might have learned that growling works to make you back away from the food bowl or stay in place when he’s comfortable. I’ve also allowed her to bark on a few occasions when someone suspicious was close to the house. on command, as described in Malamute Memories. It might take a little time at first for your lab to catch on, since he’s going through those difficult adolescent months, but it’s a great way to communicate and reassure them when needed. Very good article I enjoyed it. more ». I think he was just worried,,,,and I love him for that! Should I say it’s ok and justify his behaviour to the target of the barking? I hope the tips in the post can help in the meantime and there are also some comments from a few other readers that adopted a new dog and had some issues with growling. Once the dog is accustomed to any manner, or speed, of approach, the stranger may stand in front of the dog and periodically offer treats while the dog remains in a sit-stay. Situation #1: My dog is aggressive toward strangers That is why I am so desperate now and almost hopeless. The stand-stay will be reintroduced once the dog is no longer afraid of people.Troubleshooting To expedite desensitization, it is advisable to subject the dog to a couple of hundred sit for examinations, involving half a dozen or so strangers, in a single session. Thanks Kaitlin! Whether performed as a preventive exercise for puppies and good natured adult dogs, or as a therapeutic exercise for growly adult dogs, the following procedure may be applied to a single dog at home or in a private consultation, or in a class format as described below.Confidence Building Classes  One or more six-week classes may be required to rehabilitate adult fearful dogs. Should the dog ever growl at anyone in the future, instruct the dog to shush (so as not to frighten people) and immediately remove the dog from the stressful situation (because he is still frightened). Since she’s very aggressive and barking at guests, it’s probably a good idea to have some help from a trainer who uses positive-reinforcement techniques and also has experience working with aggression issues. Take a deep breath or 50, enough … Great post with a lot of good tips! It’s now a command I use all the time in different situations, from barking at strangers to when she gets scared by an usual or loud noise. Use this link to get your first month for free. She is not showing teeth. As for training, we have had a special session few days ago. I think, she needs more obedience training, she just barely knows few commands and woulf not stay put yet at all. I never discourage my dogs when they are telling me about something the see or hear. But, she does have a tendency to growl at strangers from time to time, and it seems totally random. 🙂. Haley does that sometimes too and I think it’s usually something she hears or smells that I don’t notice. I am 12 and have a Aussie puppy (8 mts), Lassie. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using one and they can be super useful, especially during this high-energy, adolescence phase. ? If your dog is barking or growling at a stranger, stay calm and try to reassure them that everything’s OK. Owners often report that their dog is perfectly fine off-leash but that he invariably becomes reactive on-leash (i.e., with his owner close) and when other dogs and strangers approach. Very good advice – I especially like that you point out that counterconditioning doesn’t happen overnight.