Have you ever gotten face to face with a dog, even your best best buddy, and have them produce a low, rumbling growl? It’s a sound, but not one that expresses, “I’d love a tummy rub,” but one that expresses, “Hey, buddy, give me room.” That sound will stand your hair on its head, but don’t go ballistic! That isn’t a sign your pup is about to become Cujo at any moment. It just means it’s time to find a Tulsa aggressive dog training program at Make Your Dog Epic!
Dogs will growl like humans grumble when they’re grumpy, and for whatever reason, even a little annoyed. A dog’s growl, and it doesn’t mean your pup’s a nasty pup, but simply that your pup is trying to tell you something, and sometimes, believe it or not, your pup isn’t even mad at you at all. Sometimes your furry friend is simply having a little too much fun and over-playing, or even defending a valued, important toy, like their favorite squeak toy or your favorite pair of slippers. Regardless, anyone whose pup is growing a lot in a manner in which it feels like auditioning for a horror flick, could probably benefit from Tulsa aggressive dog training. That’s when our crew at Make Your Dog Epic comes in, having helped a whole group of pups who yowl, bite, lunge, and yelp, even growl for a metal rock concert group audition routine. Trust us, with a little practice and a lot of patience, your grumpiest growler can become your happiest wagging best buddy.
Now, let’s dissect why a pup could have a growing issue, shall we? One behemoth reason is fear. Imagining yourself at a party with everyone taller, louder, and with no intention of ever shutting down? It’s noisy, crowded, and you just want to go to your quite and calm house and escape the chaos. Dogs have days when they’re feeling that, especially when not socialized in a proper manner, and that’s why Tulsa aggressive dog training is such a big campaign in digging up why a pup will develop a certain behavior. “Aww, no growing, kiddo,” and moving along isn’t for us, no sirree, no madam. Another big reason for growling is guarding. Dogs have a strong affection for items, a bone, toy, or a strange sock they’ve developed a liking for. If they perceive that you’re planning on stealing it, they will growl and say, “Back off, buddy, it’s mine.” That’s a behavior called resource guarding, and it’s a totally healthy one, but one that can get out of hand if not addressed. There are many tricks in our bag for repairing that, including training to grasp that sharing is caring and not handing over their treasure will mean it will not go down an infinite path in a landfill somewhere!
Another sneaky reason for growling is hurt. If your dog’s growling doesn’t have any source,it’s worth getting in and seeing a veterinarian to ensure that they’re not hurt somewhere. Dogs are resilient, and sometimes not great at reporting hurt until it’s hurtful enough that it can no longer be overlooked. That growl can mean, “Hey, something is wrong over here,buddy!” Once medical complications have been ruled out, Tulsa aggressive dog training can have your work down in regards to any ongoing behavior issue, as sometimes hurt can make a pup grumpy even when no longer in hurt. Now, if your puppy growls at play, that’s a whole new ballpark. Play growl sound a little high and go with a wagging tail and silly posturing. It’s themsaying, in a friendly voice, “I’m having such a tremendous time!” and not, “I’m about to attack.” But when roughhousing takes over, it’s a safe bet to break in and cool everyone down, because even friendly games can become free-for-alls when everyone gets a little too revved up. We can give you an ear for knowing when roughhousing turns into real concern, and then, with practice, you’ll have one step up over your pup!
Dog training a grumpy pup isn’t about punishing them; it’s about guidance and instruction. Can you picture having someone scream at you for getting nervous and scared? That’s not going to make a happy pup out of you, is it? Dogs don’t work any differently, believe it or not. That’s why our Tulsa aggressive dog training doesn’t just use positive encouragement and explicit instruction but a unique approach that allows your pup to learn at whatever pace makes them feel safe. We don’t rush our dogs through different things just to get them through. We spend the necessary time for each individual dog to help them desensitize at their own speed.
If you’re working with a pup that’s a little growly, don’t let it go any further. The less distance it’s traveled, the less work it’s going to require to correct down the road. And let’s face it, having a pup full of tension isn’t any sort of enjoyment for any of us at all. Our trainers at Make Your Dog Epic can have a positive impact for both yourself and your pup and make your family a tension-free one. Because in the long run, every pup deserves a chance to be epic, and every owner deserves a pup with whom they can trust and enjoy having at home.
So, when your pup growls at you, take a deep breath and remember: it’s simply their language. Not nasty, not intimidating, but simply attempting to try and inform you that something’s not sitting well with them. With a little guidance through our Tulsa aggressive dog training your pup, you can learn to tune in and understand them a whole lot better, and make them secure and safe with your presence too. Schedule your first Tulsa dog training lesson for just 50 cents today at: www.MakeYourDogEpic.com and see why we are the highest rated and most reviewed dog trainers in the area! Your pup will thank you so very much for it!