Have you ever been petting your pup or playing with your pup and, out of nowhere, your pup lets out a growl? It can be a little intimidating and scary when your best buddy seems mad, but don’t fret – this doesn’t mean your pup doesn’t care about you. Growling is simply a sign that your pup communicates when something’s not quite right. What happens at Make Your Dog Epic is our team can sort out for you what’s happening and answer in a positive, healthy manner for your pup and yourself. Our Tulsa aggressive dog training is the answer to you pup aggression questions. Our team at Make Your Dog Epic offers your first lesson at just 50 cents so it’s easy and affordable to get started!
To start, let’s break down what a growl actually signifies in a pup. A growl is your pup’s expression, saying, “Hey, I don’t feel comfortable at the moment.” It’s similar to when you request a room when overwhelmed with stimuli. Dogs will growl when frightened, in hurt, or defending a valued person or resource, such as a meal or a cherished toy. Knowing why your puppy’s growth is happening is the first key to acting appropriately in response. Tulsa aggressive dog training can help educate both your pup and yourself about working through such an incident in a peaceful and safe manner.
One of the most critical don’ts is punishing your dog for a growl. A growl is a sign, and it’s a positive one that they’re sending a heads-up our way. By punishing them for growling, they will cease issuing warnings and go immediately to less safe behavior such as snarling and biting. Instead, use your dog’s growl as an opening conversation, and don’t react reflexively. As a part of our crew at Make Your Dog Epic, we work with owners in learning and listening for your dog’s cues, and we can walk you through what to do when your dog growls.
Now that growing isn’t necessarily a problem behavior, it’s time to discover why your dog growled in the first place. Were they scared? Perhaps something scared them, or perhaps new humans and new animals make them scared. Were they injured? Dogs can sometimes have an issue with an injury, an illness, that isn’t necessarily seen at first glance. Perhaps they’re protecting food, a toy, or even a couch position. Whatever your answer, knowing your “why” is important. Tulsa aggressive dog training can inform you about seeing these triggers and allow your dog to become safer.
Once you understand what’s causing the growling, it’s time for action. Back off and give your dog room if they’re upset. Withdraw from whatever’s disturbing them and let them cool down first. Doing this teaches your dog that you’re listening and that your feelings matter to them. If they’re protective of a specific object, try distracting them with a toy or a treat and then remove the object, but remember, this is a short-term solution—we can work with you to correct the larger picture with Tulsa aggressive dog training and make these occurrences a thing of the past.
A secondary reaction to when your dog is growling can be through instilling trust in your dog. Dogs must feel secure and have confidence, and having a strong relationship with them can make a big difference in any problem, including one with a growling issue. Spend a lot of time with them, taking them for a stroll and working through simple commands such as “sit” and “stay.” Positive reinforcement, such as offering treats and praise when your dog is calm, teaches your dog that positive actions receive positive consequences, and at Make Your Dog Epic, we work with these techniques specifically because it’s an effective Tulsa aggressive dog training method plus it’s a lot of fun for both your dog and yourself.
Sometimes, though, a growl can actually be an indication of deeper behavior issues. Perhaps your dog’s experienced a trauma, and therefore, don’t have a positive way of coping with certain kinds of scenarios. That’s when expert intervention is in order. Our trainers at Make Your Dog Epic have a significant amount of background working with dogs who growl, bark, and become violent. Tulsa aggressive dog training is used to school them in calm behavior and school owners in a way that will instill trust and respect with your pet.
The training isn’t about getting rid of the growling, necessarily; it’s about having a healthy and happy relationship with your pet and yourself. Once your pet’s aware of your wishes and feels safe in its environment, it’ll have fewer motives to growl in the first place. Building that foundation with each and every one of our canine training students is important for us. Owners will learn to interpret a pet’s body language, recognize early forms of tension, and direct energy in a positive direction.
Every pet, naturally, is an individual, and one pet’s success could not work for another’s. That’s why our Tulsa aggressive training programs for canines become individualized for both pet and owner with each training session. Regardless of your pet’s breed, a little Chihuahua and a big German Shepherd, a plan will become developed for both your pet and yourself that works for both of your lives. With our guidance,your pet’s stressful, growling times will become your chance to draw nearer together with your pet.
If your dog growls at you, don’t go ballistic. Remember, it’s simply the way they’re communicating with you. Don’t go ballistic, don’t invade, and work at discovering why they’re irritated. In case you’re not sure what to do, no problem—we’re here to go through it with you. Schedule your first Tulsa dog training session for 50 cents today at www.MakeYourDogEpic.com. In a little practice, we can make these growling wags and have your pup become epic. Schedule your first Tulsa dog training lesson for just 50 cents today at: www.MakeYourDogEpic.com . Give us a call at 833-427-7959 now to get started making your dog epic!