Growling is Good

Growling is Good

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Imagine the following scenario…
A woman is walking her normally well-behaved dog as she does every day. Recently, however, she noticed that her dog started growling at the children he saw out and about while on walks. The woman calls her vet for input and the vet suggests she bring the dog in for an exam since illness and physical issues can be the cause of behavior problems and the vet thought it would be a good idea to either diagnose the problem or rule that out. Fortunately (or not), the vet found nothing physically wrong with the dog, so he suggested that the woman call a trainer and he suggested one whom he thought of highly.
The trainer suggested by her vet followed traditional training methods. The woman was taught to correct her dog’s growling by giving a short, quick yank on a choke collar and saying “No!” After a week or so of following this advice, she was thrilled to see that her dog had stopped growling at children. SUCCESS!!!
The woman felt confident about her dog and his behavior.
Some time later, a child ran up to the dog while on a walk and reached her hand out to pet him. Of course, the dog’s owner was not concerned and had no reservations about the child petting her dog. The dog, as expected, didn’t growl at all. Suddenly, without any warning, the dog whipped his head around and bit the child’s hand.
His owner described this incident later as happening “…out of nowhere!” And she was correct… sort of.
Did it really come out of nowhere?  Well, not exactly.
Dogs growl for a reason – it is a valuable warning signal. The dog’s previous growling episodes were a way of telling his owner, “I’m kind of freaking out about these kids that we see on our walks.” It was also his way of telling the children, “GET THE HECK AWAY FROM ME!”
For whatever reason, the dog began to see the children as something that should concern him. Correcting his growling did nothing more than force him to inhibit his natural warning system, but it did nothing to help him change his feelings about children. As a result, it was only a matter of time that some child would physically breach his comfort zone and come too close. Without the warning growl the dog’s only option was to bypass the warning stage and escalate to a bite.
Correcting a growl, snarl, or even a snap or a lunge is like putting a Band-Aid on an infected wound. It will disguise the problem for a period of time, but won’t cure it – in fact, it will only get worse. Aggressive acts are simply reactions to fear. Just like us, when dogs become fearful they have the choice of fight or flight (that means staying to deal with whatever is about to happen or to run away). When a dog is on a leash the flight option is eliminated and is left with only one choice – to stay and deal with whatever he perceives is about to happen (he is a dog after all and his ability to think things through is limited to what his gut tells him). While some dogs may hide behind their owners’ legs, others may act out in an aggressive manner.
When a warning display is inhibited and escape is not an option, a dog that feels helpless may just shut down. Though this dog gave no sign of distress, someone experienced in reading dog body language would likely have seen his signals. Perhaps he put his head down, maybe his ears were held close to his head, his eyes might have been wide with the whites showing, his tail might have been clamped down (a dog covering his back end with his tail is akin to a scared person covering his/her eyes). Feeling afraid or cornered with no way to express it, the dog panicked and bit the hand that he thought was attacking him.
I know, I know, you’re asking, “What’s the answer?”
If your dog is displaying aggressive behavior, you need to see a trainer/behaviorist who is experienced in dog-friendly training methods, knows dog behavior and is also experienced with aggression issues (not all trainers are and not all will tell you unless you ask – some won’t even take aggression cases).
Make the call right away – call more than one. If these issues aren’t addressed, it could result in a human or other dog receiving a serious bite. And don’t think that if your dog is small he/she can’t do much damage and that it isn’t that big a deal. Trust me, you can be sued for any degree of biting that breaks the skin and that will do damage to your pocket book and your insurance rates.
What can you do in the meantime?
There are several important things that you, the owner, should do if your dog is displaying aggressive behaviors towards a human or other dog…
First, and often the easiest thing to do is AVOID CONTACT WITH THE THINGS THAT FREAK YOUR DOG OUT! If you usually walk him in a heavily populated area and he’s reactive to strange people, find somewhere else or choose a different time of day to walk him. Not making that adjustment will not only put you in a compromising position, but might even make his fear worse over time.
If you suddenly come upon something that makes your dog react aggressively, STAY CALM!  He will be taking his cues from you. Breath normally, keep your voice calm and cheerful, and remove him from the situation quickly and without making a production out of it. Try to avoid any tension on the leash… that feeling of tension is a glaring signal to your dog – in a negative way.
The good news is that you don’t have to assume that you have an aggressive dog just because your dog is displaying aggressive behaviors. You do have a dog with a problem, but one that can very often be resolved with the appropriate behavioral modification.

Thank your dog for growling

By Leah Roberts, Orlando Dog Training and Behavior Examiner

Dobie’s story

Dobie started growling at children while on walks.  On a recommendation by his vet, his concerned owner brought him to see a trainer who followed traditional training methods.  Here she was taught to correct Dobie’s growling by giving a short, quick yank on a choke collar and saying “No!”  After a week or so of following this advice, she was very happy to see that Dobie had stopped growling at children.

And then a while later, a child ran up to the dog while on a walk and reached out her hand to pet him.  Because Dobie didn’t growl, the child was not hesitant and the owner was not concerned.  Suddenly Dobie turned and bit the child’s hand.  His owner described this incident later as “It happened out of nowhere!”

Growling is a valuable warning signal

Did it really come out of nowhere?  Not at all.  Dobie’s growling was a way of telling his owner, “I am afraid of these children who come by while we are on a walk.”  It was also his way of telling the children, “Please get away from me.”  For whatever reason, Dobie had begun to perceive children as a threat.  Correcting his growling forced him to inhibit his warnings, but his feelings about children did not change.  Therefore it was only a matter of time that some child would step over his fear threshhold, and without the warning growl Dobie’s only way to cope was to escalate to a bite.

Correcting a growl, snarl, or even a lunge/snap is like putting a bandage on an infected wound.  It will disguise the problem for a period of time, but not solve it – in fact, it will fester and get worse.  Aggressive acts are simply reactions to a fearful stimulus.  Like humans, when dogs become fearful they have the choice of fight or flight.  Some dogs hide behind their owners’ legs.  Others act out in an aggressive manner.

When a warning display is inhibited and escape is not an option, the dog (or human) who feels helpless will shut down.  Though Dobie appeared to be in no distress, one experienced in reading dog body language would have seen his signals.  His head was down, his ears were tensely held close to his head, the whites were showing in his eyes, and his tail was held clamped down.  Feeling cornered and with no way to express it, he panicked and bit the hand that he perceived as attacking him.

Not only does correction inhibit the dog’s way of communicating his discomfort, the owner’s tone and body language exacerbate it.  To the dog, the child’s approach not only makes him nervous, it causes his owner to tense up and yell.  This is powerful confirmation to the dog whose owner is his whole world that his fears are well-founded.

Wouldn't you prefer this warning to none at all?

Wouldn't you prefer this warning to none at all?

Heal the cause, not the symptom

Fortunately, due to modern research in behavioral science,  more humane and effective ways of dealing with aggressive acts have been developed.  These methods are grounded in the use of desensitization and counter conditioning.   On the Clicker Train USA website, it states: “We want to counter condition our fearful dog to accept other dogs.  By combining counter conditioning and desensitization we can accomplish that.  We will start exposing our dog to other dogs at a very low level – in this case a far enough distance (that’s the densensitization part).  In addition, we will give the dog very tasty treats when he sees the other dogs (that’s the counter conditioning part).  Gradually, we can convince the dog that other dogs mean good treats.”

Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT took this concept one step further when she developed the Look At That (LAT) game detailed in her book, “Control Unleashed.”  Previously counter conditioning protocols required the dog to look away from the aversive stimuli (person or dog that frightened him).  With this method, the dog is actually rewarded for looking AT the object of fear.  The result is that the dog starts to seek opportunities to look at, and even eventually approach, the object that used to cause him to growl, lunge, or snap.  Instead of thinking, “uh oh, here comes something scary,” his response changes to “oh yay, here comes something that makes GOOD things happen!”

Kellie Snider, MS, the Manager of Animal Behavior Programs at the SPCA of Texas, developed Constructional Aggression Treatment (CAT) as her graduate thesis under the direction of behavior analyst Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, PhD.   In this revolutionary treatment, the dog is rewarded for calm behavior by allowing him to increase his distance from the feared object.  Since it’s very important that the dog be kept below his fear threshhold at all times, the procedure requires that the initial distance be easy for the dog to handle, therefore helping to increase his feeling of safety when in the vicinity of the person or dog that frightens him.

On her website Kellie states, “In the CAT procedure we use the reinforcer the dog is already working for.  It is usually distance from the aversive stimuli.  In our treatment we provide the outcome he wants only when he behaves in safe, friendly ways.”   As with the LAT method, there is an additional benefit that is not a result of procedures using corrections.  ”But a funny thing happens in the treatment,” she continues.  ”He learns to like other people and dogs.”

His body language will tell you everything you need to know.

His body language will tell you everything you need to know.

Get help!

If your dog is displaying aggressive behavior, you need to see a trainer/behaviorist who is both a practitioner of dog-friendly methods based in modern behavioral science and also experienced with aggression issues.

If these issues aren’t addressed, it could result in a human or other dog receiving a serious bite.  One of our local behaviorists is Belinda DeLaby, CBC, CPDT, the owner of Canine Action, Inc. in Oviedo.  Belinda has been training dogs for 15 years and has extensive experience dealing with aggression.

Other resources for finding a good trainer who has the necessary experience and education in modern methods for aggression issues can be found at the bottom of the page of the Helpful Links page of the Dog Willing website.  These listings include Orlando area trainers and behaviorists, but also list international resources.

What can you do?

Meanwhile there are several important things that you, the owner, should do if your dog is displaying aggressive behaviors towards a human or other dog:

  • Avoid contact with whatever it is your dog fears.  If you usually walk him in a heavily populated area and he’s reactive to strange people, choose another more quiet place to walk him.  The more exposure he has without therapy, the worse his fears are likely to get.
  • If you suddenly come upon an aversive stimuli (something that makes your dog react aggressively), STAY CALM.  He will be taking his cues from you.  Keep breathing, keep your voice calm and cheerful, and take him out of the situation as quickly and nonchalantly as you can.  If possible, don’t put any tension on his leash – that tension travels right through him.
  • Call your local experienced behaviorist as soon as possible and make an appointment for evaluation.

Lastly, don’t assume that just because your dog is displaying aggressive behaviors, you have an aggressive dog.  He is not a bad dog, he is a dog with a problem that can very often be resolved with the right behavioral modification therapy.

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Leah Roberts has been training pet dogs in the Central Florida area for the last eight years. She specializes in clicker training, socialization.

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9 Responses to “Growling is Good”

  1. Dawn

    14. Sep, 2011

    Excellent advice!!! I remember reading about this when I was getting my dog-trainer certification. A growl is a warning and a dog should feel free to express it if he is uncomfortable with a situation. Work with him by making him more comfortable with the situation rather than punishing him for expressing his feelings.

  2. Shannon Cole

    06. Dec, 2011

    Being a pet Sitter who specializes in pet with behavioral issues, medical issues & senior pets I’ve learned reading an animals body language is essential! They do it for a reason!! I 100% trust animals instincts & when I see a dog growl I know to take heed & look for the understandable reasoning behind it! This is a great article explaining why growling isn’t a bad thing!

  3. Jenn

    07. Dec, 2011

    I have a new puppy (11 weeks) who is growling at my teen children when the puppy is in my lap and my children get near us. He also growls (sometimes) not always if he is trying to get in our recliner and we try to give a boost to help out. I don’t think he feels threatens in either situation. Is this normal behavior for a puppy? I haven’t ever seen such a young puppy behave this way. We have had him for 3 1/2 weeks now.

  4. Dianna

    07. Dec, 2011

    Jenn, I had a German Shepherd who used to growl at my daughter when he was in my lap. I took him everywhere with me. I was inexperienced way back then and didn’t realize the pup was protecting me as his own. One day my daughter came up behind me to hug me and the dog, now much older lunged at her. Your dog needs to know your children are part of your “pack” as he is. If you aren’t sure how to correct this behavior, contact a trainer. You won’t be sorry.

  5. Bear

    07. Dec, 2011

    It doesn’t sound like a “Dominance” thing or a “protection” thing… it sounds like resource guarding. Plenty of dogs see their owner as a precious resource (because we make it rain good things! We are quite valuable, no?) and will react to other people or things who approach their owner while they are “using” them. Definitely seek out professional training, but off the top of my head I’d suggest gently depositing the puppy on the floor and ignoring it when it exhibits such behavior towards the children… Also, include the children in feeding and training. The dog needs to understand that children are a good thing, and that they can also make it rain good stuff.
    As for the growling when you try to help him into the recliner, it just sounds like he doesn’t like to be handled. The easiest way to fix that is to very gradually desensitize him to handling. Routine gentling exercises help puppies (and adult dogs) to associate manhandling with good feelings. Dogstardaily.com has some wonderful articles (searchable by subject) that may assist you, but they are not substitutes for professional help. Seek out a positive, reward-based trainer. You won’t be sorry, Dianna is right! Just be sure that the trainer doesn’t advise any corrections as they actually exacerbate issues (aggression in particular!)

  6. Trainer

    07. Dec, 2011

    This article may have valid points concerning situations like the one mentioned in the first part of the article, but is not correct overall. I really hope dog owners will find someone with something practical rather than “avoid, avoid, avoid.” And once your dog is growling, you’re already rehearsing bad behavior and further establishing it– so I can see avoiding for that purpose, but it won’t fix anything.

    Many dogs DO need to be corrected for showing aggression at some point in their training. Key phrase being “at the right point,” because training will go much further if things are clear for the dog, and if there’s one thing true– aggression is not acceptable. Now, how is a dog supposed to know it’s not acceptable behavior if you do not correct it, but simply allow it and back away? We may want to correct the unwanted behavior before it escalates into anything more. For example, once a dog is corrected for aggressive behavior (unwanted behavior) it’s given another behavior to do and is rewarded for doing that, but you may still need to proof these behaviors by correcting any remaining aggression.

    You are WAY oversimplifying by saying “Aggressive acts are simply reactions to fear.” That is not always the case at all. A growl is a warning, but not necessarily one based in fear.

    You also say “The good news is that you don’t have to assume that you have an aggressive dog just because your dog is displaying aggressive behaviors.” That doesn’t seem to make sense. If the dog is *being* aggressive, then it *is* aggressive, at least in some situations. People need to take it more seriously than they do, as many pet owners due to their emotional involvement do not acknowledge there is a real problem. Their dog is just “unsure” or “shy,” and articles like this take responsibility away from the owner just by the title alone “Growling is a good thing,” it’s neither a good thing nor a bad thing, in my opinion. It depends on the situation. Most of the time, growling is an unwanted behavior that precipitates more aggression and signifies possible behavior problems.

    Anyway, I found this response to your article online and it has many good points, http://www.facebook.com/pawsnmotion/posts/287159947992963
    Here’s some of it (and I did not write this:)
    First, it is premised on a faulty notion that the dog that is now silent still feels uncomfortable and anxious. This may very well be the case sometimes; observing the rest of the dog’s body language and behavior will give us the answer. But in my experience dealing with aggressive, anxious, and confidence-lacking dogs, effectively interrupting their aggressive thought pattern at the outset, telling them to stop growling, often actually disrupts the entire process from playing out from thought to act. It’s not just a “band aid” that stops an outward behavior, but it’s an interruption that redirects their thought process entirely. Along with a robust and balanced obedience training program that includes confidence building and changing the relationship between dog and owner, correcting growling is not just a band aid, but a true fix.

    The second problem with the post is that it describes a “traditional” training approach as a very one-sided interaction in which a dog is only corrected for the growling behavior. Any trainer, regardless of their tools or methods, who is remotely qualified to effectively deal with aggression both CORRECTS the precursor to further aggression (growling) and ALSO works to desensitize the dog to the children and make children a positive experience by having calm children nearby during training and setting up positive experiences with children. In fact, providing the full feedback to the dog in a balanced training experience so the dog sees both sides of the coin is the best way to ensure the dog completely understands the expectations.

  7. Tegan

    07. Dec, 2011

    Excellent advice. I’ve queued this to post on twitter. I must say, the pictures in this article are the scariest looking dogs I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot of dogs! Would love to know what was the trigger to all these guys aggression… Would hate to be on the wrong side of them.

  8. Aaron

    07. Dec, 2011

    My wife and I have been professionally training, boarding, grooming and handling dogs for about 15 years now and own 8 wonderful of our own, all rescued and all different breeds. I am not so sure that this information is correct. The trainer in this case just corrected the behavior and not the underlying problem. So, the dog went from not giving a warning to spontaneous attack. If the trainer would have addressed the underlying issue (whether that be fear aggression, or the dog being over-protective of the owner) then the dog would respect the children. Also, dogs feed off of the energy exhibited by the owner. So, if the owner is nervous about the children being around the dog, the dog senses the nervous energy, and fear in their owner and springs to protect, because the dog does not know where their owner’s fear comes from just that it is there. Finally, the owner should be more in tuned with their animal – dog ownership is a give and take. If you are not fully aware of your dogs posture, body language and what it means then you are destined to fail in keeping your dog and the public protected.
    So, the problem is two fold – one, the trainer was not thorough in the complete psychological evaluation of the dog, and two, the owner felt fear and anxiety when the children approached that transferred to the dog.

  9. Trainer 2

    08. Dec, 2011

    In response to Trainer above – there are many rebuttals to the Facebook post that you cite, located here: http://www.facebook.com/pawsnmotion#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=197850236966100&id=251550661567160

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