A Dogs Growl & What It Means

[GSDOWNER]

Growls can stand alone or be used to modify barking sounds to add a degree of threat. Below are 5 different ways a dog may grow and what the dog means by that growl:

1. Soft, low-pitched growling: "Beware!" "Back off!" This is used as a threat and usually causes the listener to move away, giving the dog more space.

2. Low-pitched growl-bark: This is a clear growl that leads to a bark. It means "I'm upset and I'm ready to fight!" This is a clear warning that pressing the dog will lead to aggression.

3. Higher midrange-pitched growl-bark: "I'm worried [or frightened], but I will defend myself." This is the threat of a less-confident animal who will, however, most likely fight back if pushed.

4. Undulating growl: This is a growl that goes from low midrange to high midrange with a kind of a semi-bark often added as the pitch rises. It means "I'm terrified. If you come at me, I may fight or I may run." This is the fearful-aggressive sound of a very unsure dog.

5. Noisy growl, with teeth hidden from view: "This is a good game!" "I'm having fun!" It is usually part of the play sequence and may be tucked in between a series of stutter-barks. It usually indicates intense concentration, as in a tug-of-war or play-acting aggression.

Dog Article courtesy ofI-love-dogs.com

My wife does all of these, I never knew what it meant in the past.
Thank you so much for the explanation.

My two dogs (both ladies) never behave like that!

We have something simular to this posted in our Mail sorting room...lol

[mackico]

Archie is a growl fiver. He playgrowls frequently, although it usually means he's getting a bit too excited and it's time for a quick time out to cool down or else he won't play by the rules.

He also does growl two at the yellow dog that comes onto our property and scent marks everything, even once Archie's waterbowls! I don't like that dog, and he doesn't either. We met it on the beach once, and he jumped on it but didn't actually bite it, and growled then as well.

[wragh]

Originally Posted by dawnsdad

My wife does all of these, I never knew what it meant in the past.
Thank you so much for the explanation.

My two dogs (both ladies) never behave like that!

LOL! Some good info though, the last one is the only one that comes out of my dogs.

I call growl number 5 the Chewbacca Chorus in our house!

[hippychickuk]

Originally Posted by dawnsdad

My wife does all of these, I never knew what it meant in the past.
Thank you so much for the explanation.

My two dogs (both ladies) never behave like that!

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by Anni

I call growl number 5 the Chewbacca Chorus in our house!

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by dawnsdad

My wife does all of these, I never knew what it meant in the past.
Thank you so much for the explanation.

My two dogs (both ladies) never behave like that!