Has he ever gone further then just a growl? His body language always goes submissive like your describing, just from your voice? No standing rigid or escalating to showing teeth?

I've read (skimmed) this whole thread again. It's really bothering me that this all started suddenly after the dog was boarded for three days.

Barbara, there are a couple of things that might be useful to know: How old was this dog when you acquired him? Were you his first owner, aside from the breeder? Have you discussed any of this with the breeder?

And just to be absolutely sure, he never, ever growled at any of you before spending the three days at the boarding kennel (which would have been when he was about eight months old)?

 Quote: cheri grissom

I've read (skimmed) this whole thread again. It's really bothering me that this all started suddenly after the dog was boarded for three days.

Yes, several responses asked that the kennel people be questioned, and in fact I believe they were and reported no "incidents." It's really bothering me, too, but what's done is done.

Just so this doesn't get buried:

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Barbara, there are a couple of things that might be useful to know: How old was this dog when you acquired him? Were you his first owner, aside from the breeder? Have you discussed any of this with the breeder?

And just to be absolutely sure, he never, ever growled at any of you before spending the three days at the boarding kennel (which would have been when he was about eight months old)?

We are his first owners, got him at 7 weeks, from a breeder...this was the breeders first litter.

And he never ever growled before the boarding incident.

Any chance your vet's office has security cameras in the kennel areas?

I don't know about cameras in the kennel. When I questioned them because I called them after his first growling incident and the scratch on his nose, they insisted he was a happy go lucky puppy and didn't have any issues. They had no explaination for the why he would growl when crated.

Steve, usually he growls without teeth...if you continue to bother him in his crate, he'll show teeth, but we don't do that at all anymore...once he's in, he's left alone until he decides to come out. His body language only goes submissive when you speak in a harsh tone to correct him any other time he seems relaxed. He did growl then sit up and bark once when my son went to pet him good night when he was laying away from everyone down a hallway..I think he wanted to be left alone.

I changed his routine tonight and we actually had a night without a growl. We walked 2 miles, played fetch for 1/2 hour, moved his food dish to the deck instead of inside, gave him a bath. After the bath,I gave him an antler to chew on. He went to his bed, chewed for about an hour (we left him alone during this time). When he was done he decided to come over and join us, I put the bone away. We played some indoor fetch and by then he was ready for bed and he went to his crate on his own. No growling. He did moan however while he was eating, I was hand feeding and rubbing his belly, he was moaning at me while he ate and the tail was wagging the entire time.

I don't know that I would tolerate him doing that to me as his owner, even in his crate. I don't know that I would pick a fight with him over his crate, but I would let him know he's in there because I said he is. And he's out when I tell him. You could look up videos on here under crate games, it doesnt have to be force of any kind. No big confrontations, but just control of where he lays, sleeps, when he gets up, everything.

Like I said, no big fight, but if he growled, I'd put him in a long down on the spot. NO alpha roll or harsh treatment, just obedience without any choices. Don't put you son in any position of having to enforce anything. It comes from the adults. He may have had a terrible experience at the kennel or just his perception of the whole thing was terrible. Its over now, your not growling at me.

Steve, would you have him on leash in the house?

You could, I would just be trying to clear up the rules a little. I kinda think his growling is mostly from a little confusion.