Hearing your dog growl can be scary and even embarrassing if the growling is done toward someone else. Although labradors are not generally considered aggressive breeds, any dog could growl under the right circumstances. In addition to this, every dog is different, and some growl more than others. Labrador owners who have a frequently growling lab have likely asked themselves:: why do labradors growl?
Labradors growl when they are fearful, anxious, or in pain. Growling is a form of communication for dogs. Labradors may also growl out of pleasure and not out of aggression.
In this article, we will be explaining why your labrador is growling. We will also be answering some other commonly asked questions and providing some other things you should consider when it comes to your dog’s growling.
Reasons Your Labrador Growls
There are five main reasons why dogs growl. Dogs growl as a response to anxiety, pain, and illness.
Dogs also growl to exhibit a warning sign before becoming aggressive. However, some dogs do something called pleasure growling when they enjoy something. Here are five reasons your labrador growls.
Your Labrador Is Anxious
Growling is a common reaction to anxiety and fear in dogs. As a result, your dog may growl at other people, dogs, and even at nothing at all whenever he feels afraid, threatened, or anxious.
Although growling is a normal response to dogs’ fear and anxiety, it is a good idea to visit with an animal behaviorist or qualified dog trainer about this problem.
They will likely be able to help you with identifying and eliminating, or reducing the fear or anxiety-causing agent for your dog. In addition to this, they will also reduce the chances of this growling escalating into aggressive behaviors.
Your Labrador Is Warning You
Growling is a common warning sign that dogs give before becoming aggressive. If a dog growls before biting, lunging, or exhibiting any other kind of aggressive behavior, then this is the cause of his growling.
If your dog shows signs of aggression, it is crucial to visit your vet to rule out any health problems. You should also seek help from an animal behaviorist or qualified dog trainer in addition to seeing a vet as well.
Your Lab Does Not Like How You Are Petting Or Touching Them
Dogs sometimes growl if they do not like how they are being petted or handled by people. Often, dogs do not like being pet around the face, head, tail, and paws.
This especially true if they are not used to this type of petting. If your dog growls when being pet inappropriately, you can explain to others how they should pet your dog.
This is especially important to explain to children as their pets can be especially rough. Instead of petting the head, face, tail, and other sensitive areas, you can instruct others to pet a dog’s back, chest, and even belly if your dog allows it.
Your Lab Is Sick Or In Pain
Sometimes dogs growl as a response to being in pain or not feeling well. Dogs often even develop a sudden onset of aggressive behavior when sick or in pain.
If you suspect that this may be the cause of your dog’s growling, it is essential to go to the vet as soon as possible.
This way, they can treat your dog’s condition quickly and effectively. The growling and any other kind of aggressive behaviors caused by pain or illness will likely subside as they start to feel better.
Your Lab Is Pleasure Growling
Some dogs growl when they are happy. This could happen at any time, but it usually manifests during petting or playtime.
You can tell if a dog is pleasure growling by looking at his body language. If the dog appears relaxed with a loose moth, tail wag, and overall body posture, he will likely growl because of his happiness.
Why Does My Labrador Growl At Me
Although dogs usually growl out of fear or anxiety, the only true way to uncover the cause of your labrador’s growling is to look at their body language.
If their stance is rigid and appears defensive, they will likely give you a warning before they react aggressively. Similarly, a dog who cowers when she growls is likely doing so because she is anxious or fearful. An accompaniment of relaxed body posture characterizes happy growling.
Why Do Labradors Get Aggressive
There are five leading causes of aggression in dogs. These are being afraid of something, being frustrated by something, guardian resources like toys and food, showing dominance, and responding to pain or illness.
The only way to determine which of these causes is causing your labrador’s aggression is to recognize the situations in which they become aggressive and whether this aggression was built up over time or suddenly appeared.
What Does It Mean When A Dog Has A Low Growl
A low growl from a dog could mean many things. Pleasure growling is typically characterized as a low growl, but a warning growl could be low as well. The only way to determine which kind of growl your dog is doing is to pay attention to their body language.
How Do You Deal With An Aggressive Labrador
The first thing that every dog owner should do if their dog shows signs of aggression is to go to the vet. Often aggression is caused by a simple medical issue, and this behavior improves dramatically after this health problem is treated.
If your vet has ruled out all medical problems, you should seek help from an animal behaviorist or qualified dog trainer.
They can help you with any necessary training. In addition to this, you should minimize your dog’s chances of becoming aggressive by reducing his exposure to aggression-causing agents whenever possible.
What Should I Do If My Dog Growls
Pleasure growling and other kinds of manageable growling are typically nothing to worry about. However, if you think your dog’s growling is aggressive, you should follow the guidelines that we have given on handling aggression in dogs.
Other Considerations
When it comes to growling in dogs, there are some other things that you should consider. These are why punishing growling can be dangerous and why you should always pay attention to your dog’s body language.
Why Punishing Growling Can Be Dangerous
When growling is presented as a warning sign to others, punishing it can be extremely dangerous.
This can cause your dog to become aggressive without showing prominent warning signs because he has learned that exhibiting these warning signs gets him punished. Not only can this be extremely dangerous in general, but it can make aggression worse overall as well.
Always Pay Attention To Your Dog’s Body Language
Paying attention to your dog’s body language can be highly beneficial. Not only does it let you know how your dog is feeling, but it also enables you to prevent your dog from becoming aggressive before he has the chance.
Since fear aggression is among the most common, recognizing a fearful dog is particularly beneficial. Some signs that a dog is afraid to include:
● Cowering
● Attempting escape
● Showing the whites of their eyes
● Ears pulled back
● Hair standing on end
● Lowered head
● Trembling
● Drooling
● Excessive panting
● Whining or whimpering
● Excessive sniffing at the ground
● Tail tucked between legs
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