Quote: barbara yusko

Another example, I brought my dog home after an exhausting day at doggie day camp. I sat down on the floor to pet him and be with him and I was talking to him...he walked over to me, sat down right next to me so that his shoulders were touching mine and then laid his head on my shoulders and then lap and then as he was laying there he started to growl...no teeth...just a growl. He was the one who approached me, laid down next to me and then started to growl....I'm not even sure if these are growls or moans or his way of communicating, but I don't really like it. My husband said he thought the dog didn't want me in that area because he wanted to sleep so he came over and growled and was trying to force me to move by laying so close to me.

Anybody else notice that this incident seems quite different from the other growling incidents described? In this case, the dog approached the owner, laid his head on her lap and then growled. In the other cases, I believe it was always one of the humans approaching the dog, whether in the crate, on his bed, or eating something.

I have owned some dogs who were very vocal and sometimes used growling in a "talking" sort of way. A couple of them specifically would lay down next to me, start growling very softly, then gradually increase the volume, until I finally gave in and started petting them. That is exactly what they were saying, "Pet me! Pay attention to me!" I should add that these were mature dogs that I knew very well and could tell very accurately what each different tone of bark or growl or whine meant.

I'm not saying that's necessarily what is going on in this case (and certainly not in the instances where the dog growls at being approached). But the OP did say this is her first dog, so it might be helpful for her to know that dogs do communicate in a lot of different ways and they can have different growls or barks for different situations, and while the word "growl" generally has a negative connotation, sometimes, certain growls are just a way of talking.

 Quote: cheri grissom

Anybody else notice that this incident seems quite different from the other growling incidents described? In this case, the dog approached the owner, laid his head on her lap and then growled. In the other cases, I believe it was always one of the humans approaching the dog, whether in the crate, on his bed, or eating something.

I have owned some dogs who were very vocal and sometimes used growling in a "talking" sort of way. A couple of them specifically would lay down next to me, start growling very softly, then gradually increase the volume, until I finally gave in and started petting them. That is exactly what they were saying, "Pet me! Pay attention to me!" I should add that these were mature dogs that I knew very well and could tell very accurately what each different tone of bark or growl or whine meant.

I'm not saying that's necessarily what is going on in this case (and certainly not in the instances where the dog growls at being approached). But the OP did say this is her first dog, so it might be helpful for her to know that dogs do communicate in a lot of different ways and they can have different growls or barks for different situations, and while the word "growl" generally has a negative connotation, sometimes, certain growls are just a way of talking.

Yup. It stand out as different from all the other events.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Is there any chance of a video clip of the growling when he is lying by you after he chose to be there? (I understand this isn't the same as growling and barking to get away from his bed.) And is there any chance of a clip of that, too?

This is the O.P.'s first dog, and I was hoping that we could see a clip of that head-on-lap vocalizing as well as the warning growls.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

This is the O.P.'s first dog, and I was hoping that we could see a clip of that head-on-lap vocalizing as well as the warning growls.

Yep, you're right, Connie, you did point out the difference already. I guess by the time I got through reading the whole thread, several things had already left my short-term memory.

I agree that video clips would be very helpful. I'm thinking there may be at least a couple different issues going on here, and it's got to be frustrating to a first-time dog owner looking for answers.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

... by the time I got through reading the whole thread, several things had already left my short-term memory.

What thread?

I'll try to get a video clip as soon as possible. Never thought of video taping before as I've been more concerned with the growling. I should mention that he will approach you and growl...he's walked up to myself and my son, sat down next to us while we were standing (he makes sure his body is touching our legs) and when you reach down and pet the top of his head, he'll growl and it does start out soft like a moan, but gets louder. It's very different from when you approach him in his crate, which I've made off limits....once he's in, we are going to leave him alone - that growl is more defensive and his body language is tense. He'll food guard certain items, but he also likes being hand fed and doesn't growl for that. I did tell my husband I thought the dog was trying to communicate but it sounds like a growl which does carry a negative impression. His body language is not usually tense when he approaches you.
To answer some questions posted...He is walked 1.5 to 2 miles daily and we play fetch almost every day. We also practice his training, sit, stay, down, settle, etc....every other day.
When I am home, he is the center of my attention most of the time. He's only been to doggie day camp one time and he was good there, no growling, and came home exhausted. The issue started with boarding and I'm not taking him back there.

I did look into pano (someone mentioned it)and he is a big dog, large father, strong muscular girth acrossed the shoulders with room to grow. I'm going to have him checked for a medical reason, but he's shown no sign of limping or pain.

I never expected growling from a lab, I thought he was a gentle breed...I've made every excuse possible, communicating with us, wants to be left alone, etc...we all love him and give him tons of attention.

 Quote:

I should mention that he will approach you and growl...he's walked up to myself and my son, sat down next to us while we were standing (he makes sure his body is touching our legs) and when you reach down and pet the top of his head, he'll growl and it does start out soft like a moan, but gets louder.

Like he's pushing between you a little? Have you ever told him to knock it off or made him lay down right away when he growls? Given him any kind of command in responce to his growling?

A few months ago my ACDx and I were locked in a battle. I was applying an ointment to his face 2 times a day. During that period of time, he would come up, lean on me, but it was nearly impossible to pet him without eliciting some sort of growl.
He would seek my company, lean on me as you describe, growl if I touched him.
It sucked.
We undertook a 2 wk + program of desensitizing him to touch (Connie guided this). Did a strict month of NILIF, we acted like he didn't exist, he had to suck up to get any attention at all, even a look.
Since then, I have heard no growls, none. He does not hip check any longer.

Steve -
in response to your question, I made it sound like he is trying to come between my son and I and what I meant was that he has growled at all of us, my son and I, individually. I could be standing in the hall and he'll approach me then sit down and growl. He'll do the same to my son. I have an older 16 year old son and my husband who he doesn't really come up to and growl, but he will growl at them when he is in his crate...so as I mentioned crate is off limits from people contact once he decides to go into it. We have told him No, No Growling, We've told him to go lay down, but obviously to no avail because he's not understanding its the growl we are correcting. When we tell him No in a strong tone, he cowers or he really comes over and rubs against you because he doesn't want you mad at him and you can tell he's really trying to keep us happy...which is really strange because we have never been physical with him...he's gone through all the positive reinforcement training sessions...unless of course someone did something to him when he was boarded.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

A few months ago my ACDx and I were locked in a battle. I was applying an ointment to his face 2 times a day. During that period of time, he would come up, lean on me, but it was nearly impossible to pet him without eliciting some sort of growl.
He would seek my company, lean on me as you describe, growl if I touched him.
It sucked.
We undertook a 2 wk + program of desensitizing him to touch (Connie guided this). Did a strict month of NILIF, we acted like he didn't exist, he had to suck up to get any attention at all, even a look.
Since then, I have heard no growls, none. He does not hip check any longer.

Betty did an amazingly stick-to-it job with her dog. She completely turned around her embattled relationship with him.