Your dog is trying to tell you something when it growls. Once the underlying problem has been dealt with, it's likely the growling will be reduced or eliminated altogether. Growling at the Kids -Never punish your dog for growling. This is a form of dog language all humans, and especially dog owners, need to learn how to understand. Different environments convey different messages. ... Why is your dog growling? Share. You can get rid of your dog, or you can hope to re-establish some sort of acceptable pack order. Dog Growling — 4 Things to Know Dog growling is an early warning system — and your dog shouldn't be punished for it! Below are a few reasons on why a dog may suddenly growl, snap, lunge or bite. Steer Clear of Triggers. It is a warning that a dog might bite, so it's important to be very careful near a growling dog. Dogs and children can be majorly cute – or majorly scary. If your dog growls at your child he is sending a clear warning that he is very uncomfortable with the actions or proximity of the child. Growling is a sign of an underlying problem. Sometimes, the cause of aggression in dogs is pretty obvious and other times we have to dig deep to find the real reason our dogs acted out. There are a few steps you should take, depending on how close you are to your dog and baby when the growling occurs. In most cases though, there is always a reason for the growl. Dog Growling: 5 Things That Might Be to Blame ... We’ve been conditioned by movies and TV for decades to believe that a growling dog is an aggressive dog, and while that might be true in some cases, behaviorists say this is very often not the case. Your precious fur baby just released a nearly ... my cats that are from a different litter growled at each other and at my dog in the beginning. Remember, it’s very important to find the reason for your dog’s sudden aggression because then it can be addressed. Keep your dog away from whatever caused his sudden burst of aggression until your dog is seen by a veterinarian. If you’re very close when the dog growls at the baby: Pick up the baby right away and move him or her away from the dog. We all want to understand why our dogs suddenly become aggressive because if we can identify the cause, we can fix it. What do you do when your dog is aggressive towards children? Dog Growling at Nothing and for No Reason. It's a good idea for dog owners to have a deeper understanding of growling in their dogs so they know how to properly deal with it. That's because growling is often the first sign of aggression seen from a dog. Does Your Dog Growl At Your Children? Growling is one of the many ways dogs communicate, and it's important for humans who interact with dogs to understand what it means and the proper way to react. It's your job to figure out what your dog is trying to tell you. Most people regard growling in dogs as a warning, and it is. For instance, often times puppies and adult dogs growl while playing with another dog or their owners, and this is very normal behavior. This may seem counter-intuitive and may even go against the advice of your dog trainer or dog trainers you have seen on TV. When a dog growls, he or she is doing so for a reason. Rather than teaching your dog not to growl, it's vital that you determine the reason why the dog is growling and address that issue. ... if you notice growling for this reason… It’s challenging to know whether or not to trust your dog around children. ... Any time that your dog growls or displays a negative response without reason, tell them “no” and then put them on a time-out for half an hour or so, so that they learn that growling is bad and will get them nowhere. Put the baby down, further away from the dog, on a play mat or playpen. For instance, growling at an animal does not imply the same thing as growling for no reason. At times, dog owners have complained of their dog growling at nothing or for no reason. That is unless the dog is asleep and dreaming. It could be that the reason is not apparent to the owner. For this reason, it's important to understand why your dog is growling so you can figure out the degree of aggression and the best way to deal with the problem. At one time or another, you've probably heard a growling dog and instinctively known to keep your distance. You can get rid of your dog, or you can hope to re-establish some sort of acceptable pack order.