One of the many ways dogs communicate is by growling, so it’s crucial for people who interact with dogs to comprehend what it means and how to respond. Your own natural ability to understand growling might astound you.
A study on how well humans can understand dog growls found that most people could tell the difference between a playful growl, an aggressive growl from a dog guarding food, and a fearful growl from a dog being approached by a stranger through audio. The comprehension of growls was more developed in those who frequently interacted with dogs.
The vocalizations that dogs use to communicate with one another can convey various meanings, emotions, and desires. Here are the various growls’ meanings and how to respond once you are aware of them.
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Playful Growling – ‘This Is Fun!’
When playing, dogs can be very expressive, and their growls can be frightful, especially to novice dog parents. Your puppy may growl at you if you play tug-of-war or other rough-and-tumble games with them, or at other dogs if they wrestle or chase them.
High-energy play is a good thing, and the growls are nothing to worry about. Pay attention to body language. If you’re new to dog parenting, attend a puppy socialization class or head to the dog park and watch how the dogs interact. This will help you distinguish between playful growls and fights.
When dogs are play growling, there’s no need to worry. However, if you notice that the growls are intensifying, you might just want to pause the game for a while until things calm down before continuing. Take a break. If your dog is interacting with another dog, keep them apart for a while.
You can resume playtime once the energy subsides. You can prevent play growling from turning into fight growling by doing this.
FAQ
Can dogs do a happy growl?
Growing with pleasure — Some dogs growl with pleasure when they are being petted or to get their attention. Some individuals perceive it as a danger, but it actually signals joy.
Do dogs growl to show affection?
They may also growl when you rub their stomach, expressing happiness and contentment. It means that a dog growling at you while being petted is normal and frequently a sweet sign of your dog’s affection for you.
Why would a friendly dog growl at me?
In situations involving things like resource guarding, stranger danger, feeling cornered, or feeling stressed, dogs will growl as a warning. These warning growls are a way for dogs to tell you or another animal to “back off” because they are uneasy.
Do dogs growl when they are playful?
Dogs do growl while playing, but there are two ways to distinguish between different growls. A playful growl is just a sound, accompanied by relaxed body movements (no tension), whereas an aggressive growl will be accompanied by snarling and snapping.