Hey all,

I'd like to make sure I'm doing the correct thing when True growls.

Lately, we've been in a number of new situations with new people and his first reaction, particularly with strange men, is to give a fairly serious-sounding warning growl.

I've been telling him "No", putting him in a down or sit, and waiting out the wariness he has with strangers. I'd say he definitely looks to me and if I'm OK with the person he gradually settles down, comes around, and reverts back to his friendly self.

I *think* I'm handling this correctly since it never escalates but I don't know how many times I've read how inexperienced owners (like me) miss the first signs of a serious problem and I thought I'd better check.

Thanks!

 Quote: sarah morris

particularly with strange men, is to give a fairly serious-sounding warning growl.

Good Dog!! J/K

I do the same thing, although my dogs usually only do it when someone approaches my vehicle and they are crated. I tell them "stop".
The few times it has happened while they are on lead and someone has approached, I do what you explained. My dogs are fairly friendly so for them to growl at a strange person tends to put me on alert as well. Usually the person is harmless, but they are the people that like to pet dogs without proper introductions and my dogs do not really like to be crowded too much....hope that makes sense.

What are the situations you have him in? and what are the people doing when he growls?

It's happened when strangers come to the house. It happened with our new male Derm vet. He also growled at a man in the waiting room at the vet.

He's also growled at men when we're out on walks. Not always but it has happened.

I understand him feeling uneasy at the vet. I also understand him feeling territorial about the house. And I do think he doesn't want to be approached first...so what you say makes total sense.

The scariest moment was with the derm vet...it was the first time I wondered if he might bite. He obeyed me and got past it but for a minute there....

Sarah, this wouldn't work so well when out and about, but in the house, if we have strangers over and Oscar isn't settling down, or is acting protectively/territorially, I tell him to go lie on his bed (across the room, it's not in a crate). We socialize with the guest and he has to watch from afar. Only after he's calm and the people are all settled is he allowed to get up and come give a sniff - he does the approaching, and I usually give the guest a cookie to give Oscar. Other than that, we ignore the dog, and he usually just goes back to his bed on his own (he hates to be crowded as well, so paying him no attention is pretty inoffensive). This seems to get the point across that even if he doesn't approve of someone right away, I get the final say as to whether they stay or not...

If we're outside and Oscar growls, I both tell him to "stop" or "quiet" (like Carol) and redirect him, so he doesn't fixate. Only if he doesn't stop after I ask do I correct him.

It sounds like you're doing alright already though. The situation with the derm vet sounds unusually uncomfortable, as this stranger was both in your house and the point of the visit was to look True over (I assume?)... I don't blame him for being wary!

~Natalya

Hi Natalya,

Fortunately the incident with the derm vet was not a double whammy of a vet at the house...we were in his office, which for True was bad enough, I guess.

Thanks for the reassurance, guys. Always good to check in with the pros for this kind of thing.

YEPPER DEW- You are doing what most of us do in situations like this have been trained to do. Give the dog a command to divert their attention. Your dog then sees you handling the situation. Most dogs will wait to see how their Alpha reacts or handles strangers. If your dog, especially if he is young, observes your reactions as positive then eventually he will too.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE TO WALK DOWN A DARK ALLEY WITH... heehee.

JUST AN OL' GAL
MARSHA MAE A

I do what everyone describes when Chula growls at anyone. ('Enough!' and redirect) This generally happens when she views someone from a distance (over 50 feet away)
So, are there instances when you would not want to correct this?
What I'm getting at is, for example, when I walk her and someone approaches who seems a bit dodgy. Could I encourage a growl (ie 'good girl'), or is this playing w/ fire?

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

So, are there instances when you would not want to correct this?
What I'm getting at is, for example, when I walk her and someone approaches who seems a bit dodgy. Could I encourage a growl (ie 'good girl'), or is this playing w/ fire?

Does anyone have an opinion about this?

I think it's a good question, Lynne. I'm waiting for opinions, too.

Unless you know how to work with a dog in protection, I would
NOT encourage your dog to growl in any situation. Dogs like this are growling or barking out of fear, not protection, and praising a dog in this state mind does create a balanced dog.
Beware! I would really encourage Everyone to invest some time
in learning how to read dogs. Brenda Aloff has an excellent book on dog's body language!!