Dog Growls But Doesn't Bite

[imported_Sarah Veach]

We are a Siberian Husky rescue, and we have a dog who has been in our rescue about a week. He's a wonderful dog (came housebroken, gentle, knows some commands, nondestructive, quiet), but he growls. He does not bite. We can take food from his mouth & do whatever we want. He does not bare teeth or snarl. He just growls (with body stiffening). However, people are scared of him, and he is going to be impossible to place. Is there a way to stop the behavior?

His history is he was running at large. The neighbor called animal control & gave them the dog's owner's name. The shelter sent the owner a certified letter, to which they got no response. He's about 1.5 years old.

He growled at my family (his foster family) for a few days. He stopped until today. He was neutered today. The vet's office muzzled him because of the growling. When I picked him up, he did not growl at me. They made me get him out of the cage. When I got home, he growled at me when I tried to get him out of the car. He was wagging his tail and growling. When he growls, normally he does not wag his tail. He's normally stiff. I have no problem with him in my face kissing me. He does not and will not bite.

The growling does not seem to be at certain times. It seems to be all the time.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance. We'd like to get this boy adoptable, which at present he is not.

[Clair Taberner]

from my understanding i think u should be wary of the growling and him stiffening. it's not to be ignored and it's good that yr taking notice, it's normally a sign of a dog being very unhappy/uncomfortable with whatever has caused him to react that way. it would be worth reading the nilif article and implementing it in the meantime to one of the advisors responding to you. all the best with him.

as an afterthought it could be he is just not sure as he doesn't know u that well and is being guarded.

nilif link:)http://gardenofegan.net/doggiebag/viewtopic.php?t=52&h ighlight=nilif

[Renee Premaza]

Hi Sarah,

It's a bit perplexing to figure out what could be at the root of all of this growling. During the times that he's NOT stiffening up, do you think it's possible that he could be "talking" to you? Some dogs will make noises that sound like growling, but the tone of the growl is higher-pitched.

Please tell me, if you can, at what times he does most of the growling. You did say that you take food from his mouth and "do whatever we want..." I would discourage you from forcefully taking food or other items out of his mouth if that can be avoided. If you've been told to do this "just so you can," please do not follow that advice - EVER! Unless the dog has something harmful or very valuable in his mouth, I would prefer that he learn a DROP IT cue. If he learns to drop it when he's asked, he will not learn to distrust you or anyone else who needs to get something away from him. I have replaced some play training games that were originally at the doggiedoor website. If you go to this link, you'll see an article on how to teach the dog to DROP IT:

http://gardenofegan.net/doggiebag/viewtopic.php?t=52

Scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll see a post that's entitled, "Play Training Games."

One thing you want to avoid doing is hollering at him, or "correcting him" for growling. He is clearly communicating that he's uncomfortable about *something*, although it sounds like there are many things that he's upset about. If there's anyway you can get a trainer or behaviorist to come to your home to meet him, that's the best way, IMO that you'll learn what's going on with him.

I would begin "studying" his behavior and whether you can determine if there is some kind of common denominator to this growling behavior. See if you can identify some of the triggers that causes him to growl.

I wish I could be of more help! Please keep us updated on anything that you learn about this growling behavior. Good luck!



We are a Siberian Husky rescue, and we have a dog who has been in our rescue about a week. He's a wonderful dog (came housebroken, gentle, knows some commands, nondestructive, quiet), but he growls. He does not bite. We can take food from his mouth & do whatever we want. He does not bare teeth or snarl. He just growls (with body stiffening). However, people are scared of him, and he is going to be impossible to place. Is there a way to stop the behavior?

His history is he was running at large. The neighbor called animal control & gave them the dog's owner's name. The shelter sent the owner a certified letter, to which they got no response. He's about 1.5 years old.

He growled at my family (his foster family) for a few days. He stopped until today. He was neutered today. The vet's office muzzled him because of the growling. When I picked him up, he did not growl at me. They made me get him out of the cage. When I got home, he growled at me when I tried to get him out of the car. He was wagging his tail and growling. When he growls, normally he does not wag his tail. He's normally stiff. I have no problem with him in my face kissing me. He does not and will not bite.

The growling does not seem to be at certain times. It seems to be all the time.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance. We'd like to get this boy adoptable, which at present he is not.

[imported_Sarah Veach]

During the times that he's NOT stiffening up, do you think it's possible that he could be "talking" to you? Some dogs will make noises that sound like growling, but the tone of the growl is higher-pitched.

Not sure. I've heard other dogs "talk" who didn't sound this way, but I've never heard a dog like this who was not aggressive. It's hard to figure. It's a very low pitch.

Please tell me, if you can, at what times he does most of the growling.

It's hard to pinpoint. He growls pretty much in all circumstances. You don't even have to be near him. And it's odd because he's very much a human's dog, not a dog's dog. When outside, he doesn't play with the others. He does his business & waits by the door to come back in.

I would discourage you from forcefully taking food or other items out of his mouth if that can be avoided.

Renee, we are a rescue. He is a homeless dog looking for a home. We had to test all responses because we do not place dogs who bite. I've never encountered a dog before who growls & doesn't bite. We had to be certain he wouldn't bite, and he won't.

I would prefer that he learn a DROP IT cue.

It was done for evaluation purposes, not training purposes. It's not something we routinely go around doing, taking food out of dogs' mouths - strictly for evaluation.

If there's anyway you can get a trainer or behaviorist to come to your home to meet him, that's the best way

Unfortunately, we did just that. Her advice was to "wait and see and reevaluate him in a month or so." She was concerned because of his body posture (stiffening) that accompanied the growling.

See if you can identify some of the triggers that causes him to growl.

I will start keeping a list. It's really baffling. He's such a wonderful dog otherwise. Thank you for responding.

[Renee Premaza]

Hi again, Sarah!

Maybe we can assume that the dog is growling because he's feeling anxious. As someone pointed out, he's only been with you for a short time, and he's not sure how things are going to go. I can understand his feeling stressed at the vet's.

Why not try getting a D.A.P. dispenser and plugging into an outlet in the house nearby where he spends a lot of his time? Are you familiar with this new type of product? If not, check out these links:

http://www.discountpetdrugs .com/feliwayanddap.html?O VRAW=the%20comfort%2 0zone&OVKEY=the%20co mfort%20zone&OVMTC=s tandard

This is the product itself, and it has been on sale.

Here's another link that will explain exactly what D.A.P. means (Dog Appeasement Pheromones):

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4923

I've recommended that many of my own clients purchase the D.A.P. dispensers, and I've seen some very nice results. As a matter of fact, when I do my obedience classes, I spray my pant-legs and my clients' pant-legs with the D.A.P. spray and it seems to keep the dogs MUCH calmer than when I don't use it.

I would also implement some very positive obedience training. Make sure you reward all of his good responses with a treat and tons of verbal praise, even if it's just for getting him to sit when he's asked. Positive obedience training will help build his self-confidence. It also teaches dogs that they can have a measure of control in making their environment work for them. In the process, we get them to behave appropriately while they think they're training us!

I would be very interested to know how things are going. Good luck!


During the times that he's NOT stiffening up, do you think it's possible that he could be "talking" to you? Some dogs will make noises that sound like growling, but the tone of the growl is higher-pitched.

Not sure. I've heard other dogs "talk" who didn't sound this way, but I've never heard a dog like this who was not aggressive. It's hard to figure. It's a very low pitch.

Please tell me, if you can, at what times he does most of the growling.

It's hard to pinpoint. He growls pretty much in all circumstances. You don't even have to be near him. And it's odd because he's very much a human's dog, not a dog's dog. When outside, he doesn't play with the others. He does his business & waits by the door to come back in.

I would discourage you from forcefully taking food or other items out of his mouth if that can be avoided.

Renee, we are a rescue. He is a homeless dog looking for a home. We had to test all responses because we do not place dogs who bite. I've never encountered a dog before who growls & doesn't bite. We had to be certain he wouldn't bite, and he won't.

I would prefer that he learn a DROP IT cue.

It was done for evaluation purposes, not training purposes. It's not something we routinely go around doing, taking food out of dogs' mouths - strictly for evaluation.

If there's anyway you can get a trainer or behaviorist to come to your home to meet him, that's the best way

Unfortunately, we did just that. Her advice was to "wait and see and reevaluate him in a month or so." She was concerned because of his body posture (stiffening) that accompanied the growling.

See if you can identify some of the triggers that causes him to growl.

I will start keeping a list. It's really baffling. He's such a wonderful dog otherwise. Thank you for responding.

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Sarah~

I have heard of other rescues doing this (pretty much) constant growling. It seemed to be their way of saying- I'm not comfortable in this new situation yet, please give me some space. Renee has given you some wonder advice to follow. The only other thing I can think of is that he is in pain. Was he checked out thoroughly by the vet when he got neutered? You said he doesn't play with the other dogs, does he run & play at all? Does he ever seem like he in in pain?

We are a Siberian Husky rescue, and we have a dog who has been in our rescue about a week. He's a wonderful dog (came housebroken, gentle, knows some commands, nondestructive, quiet), but he growls. He does not bite. We can take food from his mouth & do whatever we want. He does not bare teeth or snarl. He just growls (with body stiffening). However, people are scared of him, and he is going to be impossible to place. Is there a way to stop the behavior?

His history is he was running at large. The neighbor called animal control & gave them the dog's owner's name. The shelter sent the owner a certified letter, to which they got no response. He's about 1.5 years old.

He growled at my family (his foster family) for a few days. He stopped until today. He was neutered today. The vet's office muzzled him because of the growling. When I picked him up, he did not growl at me. They made me get him out of the cage. When I got home, he growled at me when I tried to get him out of the car. He was wagging his tail and growling. When he growls, normally he does not wag his tail. He's normally stiff. I have no problem with him in my face kissing me. He does not and will not bite.

The growling does not seem to be at certain times. It seems to be all the time.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance. We'd like to get this boy adoptable, which at present he is not.

[imported_Sarah Veach]

Was he checked out thoroughly by the vet when he got neutered? You said he doesn't play with the other dogs, does he run & play at all? Does he ever seem like he in in pain?

Melissa - excellent questions. Not thorough check by that vet but the prior vet (We use different vets for checkups/vaccines & spay/neuter). They muzzled him at both vets because his growling scared them. Yes, he runs & plays but prefers play with humans as opposed to dogs. I see no signs of pain whatsoever. Wish it were an easy answer like that. :(

[Missy Stewart]

I really do not have a lot of advice on this topic.. but I agree with a lot of what has been said. A dog will typically use growling as a distance INCREASING signal to those around him. Which basically means that the dog is asking you to "please" move away. Dogs will typically stick with what works for them... most people back away or pull their hands back when a dog growls. So it reinforces with the dog that growling=space
I am guessing (and this is just a guess) that your dog is using growling as a means to keep any "threats" at a distance. He is in a new enviroment and he is nervous. You also mentioned that he had been a stray picked up by animal control. Growling may be the only way this dog knows how to communicate with people (i.e. I don't growl and people appraoch me/I growl and people stay back).

I would also be wary of the dogs body language. Any dog can be a potential biter. Just b/c he hasent, does not mean that he wont. This does not mean that you should give up on the dog, it just means that you need to understand the warning signs. A dog on the defense will stiffen their body, like you mentioned your dog doing earlier. And while many dogs will bear their teeth before they bite, not all do. I would be cautious of the dog when in a stiff/growling posture. A lot of times people want to "comfort" the dog by petting it when it is postured as such. But you could potentially be inviting yourself into a dog bite.

There is, in my opnion, a great book written on interpreting and understanding a dogs body language. In running a rescue I think that it would be a GREAT resource for you!! It is a bit expensive, but you can buy it on amazon for less. It goes into a lot of detail on a dogs body language, how they communicate, and how to effectively train dogs with agression issues. The book also uses excellent illustrations that really help you to understand the content.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1591960738/qid=1111156542/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-5435477-4482350?v=glance&s=b ooks&n=507846

Please check it out. I really think it would be a great resource for you! I have used it with my dog Sonny, and it has helped a lot! Good luck!!