Growling continued

Dog-to-Human Growls
Much like dog-to-dog growling, dogs have different reasons for growling at humans. Some dogs growl playfully when interacting with humans. Other dogs growl at children, or men with hats, or some other elusive reason. Again, look at the context in which the growling happens – what does the your dog’s body language tell you? Is he stiff or floppy?

What NOT To Do If Your Dog Growls

Knowing there are different reasons behind your dogs’ growls, it’s important to pay attention to the situation before deciding what to do with a growl. If the growl is playful, you probably don’t have to do anything about it, unless the growling bothers you.

 If you think the growl is more serious, it’s important to proceed with caution. A growl is a good, clear warning signal and one that you should heed. Your dog is clearly telling you that he’s not comfortable with the situation. The most important thing to note is that a growl is information.

 Punishing your dog for growling will not fix the problem. Punishing a growl will only take that form of communication away from your dog. The next time your dog is in the same situation, he will try a different form of communication – this time he may snarl or even snap. If you punish this form of communication, you’ll have a dog that bites without warning.   If you punish your dog for growling (by yelling or swatting at him, or taking his food bowl away), you are doing two things: (1) reinforcing his belief that people who approach his food bowl are dangerous and (2) getting rid of a perfectly good warning system. You are not, I repeat NOT, fixing the underlying problem.

 Forcing your dog to tolerate a situation that makes him uncomfortable is a recipe for disaster. By doing this, you are giving the dog no option to get out of the situation. If, for example, your dog is uncomfortable around small children and you hold your dog’s collar while allowing children to approach your dog, you aren’t helping alleviate your dog’s discomfort. You are actually contributing to the discomfort which could lead to a snarl, snap, or a bite.

 Coming up next time;  What to do if your dog growls at you

Growling - Is it bad?

Yup, I am the talker in this K9 family of 3.  I bark & I growl.  When a foster dog is added to our pack, I am the one to say "let's play" with a growl and also "give me my toy" with a growl.  Humans think I am a bad dog because I growl but I am not. So here is my explanation to help you humans understand your dog's growls.

What is A Growl?
Dogs can’t use words to communicate, so they rely on body language and vocalizations (growls, barks, and whines, to name a few) to “have conversations.” Dogs converse with other dogs, as well as with people with these vocalizations. To really understand your dog, you have to know what growling does – and does not – mean.

Why Do Dogs Growl?
Not all growls are created equal. To decipher the meaning of a growl, you need to find out why your dog is growling. There are many reasons dogs growl – when playing, dreaming, protecting something of value, if they feel threatened, or scared.

 What Does A Growl Mean?

Dog-to-Dog Growls
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to take into consideration the context in which your dog is growling. Remember, dogs don’t have words. They can only use their body language and vocalizations to communicate with their dog friends. Growling is one way dogs communicate with one another. Sometimes dogs growl when they are playing happily with another dog-friend. Wondering how to tell the difference between a serious and a playful growl? Take a look at your dog’s body. Do you see the following?

 “Loose” bodies (not rigid and stiff)

Mutual playing (both dogs are content to play together, neither one looks scared or threatened)
Willingness to continue playing together (if one gets the chance to leave, does he?)
Cooperative play (dogs take turns “winning” or pinning each other)

 If you see these things, the dogs are most likely engaging in normal dog-play. If either dog looks scared, looks like they are bullying the other dog, or moves stiffly, it’s time to interrupt play-time and let them settle down before allowing them to play again.

 Dogs also growl to communicate their uneasiness. Your dog may growl at another dog if that dog is:

 Unfamiliar

Too close to a valued object
Behaving inappropriately (jumping on your dog, for instance)
Crowding your dog’s space

When I come back, I will go into Dog to Human Growls.  Hana Banana

Lost Dog

I just saw a new Lost Dog poster on the local grocery store bulletin board and says No ID Tag?!? Don't people understand that their dogs can run out the door, break free from their leash, or escape through an unlatched gate? My neighbors' dog ran out the front door during their New Year's Eve party. They searched and searched for hours and eventually they found him - but they were lucky. Did you know less than 5% of all lost pets are reunited with their owners? It may even be a low as 2 or 3%. This is a terribly sad statistic especially because many of those poor pets could have been returned to their owners if only they had been wearing an ID tag.  Rabies tag is not much good when your vet's office is closed!  A microchip is an excellent identification system but again, your dog either has to be taken to a vet or Humane Society to be able to have it read.  So please include an ID tag to your dog's collar along with his Rabies and microchip.  It may save his life!

New Bipartisan law Would Make Dog Bandanas Mandatory!

Check this out!  I want to go shopping for a new bandana, mom!
http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-bipartisan-law-would-make-dog-neckerchiefs-man,26301/

A Bit of Kibble

Show the world when you are happy.  Wag your tail if you have one or wiggle your butt if you don't have a tail.  Humans like signs telling them how you feel.

Hana Banana

Hot, Humid, Dehydration

Well, I don't know about you but I kinda keep a low profile in this weather.  Laying on the deck in the shade, watching the elm trees, just in case of squirrel alert, is my style.  Not LoonaToon!  She is a Wirehaired Pointer and she goes and goes and goes like she is powered by the Everyready Bunny.  Dehydration can be a summertime hazard for all us canines, not just those nutso ones like Loona.  Of course one on the best ways to keep us safe in the summertime is a lot of cool, clean, fresh water.  We have ice cubes floating in our water bucket!  This afternoon Mom gave us each a Kong.  Not just an ordinary Kong but a frozen one with CANNED FOOD in it!!!  Wow did that hit the spot!  Why the canned food?  I did not do anything spectacular or funny today.  No training session.  No performances.  Ohhhh...to increase the moisture content in our diets for prevention of dehydration.  Pass this on to your Mom.

Stay cool, Hana

Duffy The Tale of Terrier

Mom just finished reading this book.  She was quite intent on reading (must of been too good to put down) because everytime I tried to bug her, she'd say "go find dirty toy" (the rag of a toy I drag around) to get me focused on something besides her.  This book is written by a Hudson resident and by mom's reaction (smiles) is must read!

http://www.duffythedog.com/