Hello - I'm a bit worried about some strange behaviour from my 18mth old male (neutered at 14mths) Labrador. At about a year he started to growl when scratching after going to the bathroom on a walk. There would be no one around (not a dog or a person) so it didn't seem to be directed at anyone in particular. He does this frequently now when excited (first block of our walk) or when first getting to the dog park and super excited. It is a very deep growl and sounds terrible! He is very good with other dogs never aggressive, never growls in play so this seems very strange. A dog trainer suggested that it may be the testosterone and that after castration it may stop, but now 4 months later it hasn't changed. He doesn't do it every time we are out maybe a few times a week but always does it more when he is in a heightened state of excitement. For example I was just at the dog park and he growled the first couple times he urinated in the bush (no dogs near at that point) scratched like crazy and then was totally fine. I've talked to two different trainers who have both said it's certainly a strange behaviour but not too worry as he's always been very good with other dogs and people. He's your over the top friendly bouncy lab. Has anyone else's lab ever done this? He does get pretty overexcited when first around other dogs but again always friendly and always will back off if another dog warns him at all or growls (I've never heard him growl at another dog). I try to correct him by giving him a firm "no" when he does it, but if off leash he is not always close enough for me to do that. Appreciate any advise or thoughts on this and if I should be concerned. Thank you.
My boy is 6 yo and intact. Also very friendly. But there are a few dogs he doesn’t like - one in particular that bit his tail. When we see this dog (they walk the same trail we do most evenings, thankfully usually at a different time) he goes very stiff, and once that dog is out of sight, he’ll kick up the dirt with his hind legs and growl. Sometimes he growls when the dog is in sight, although his lips are always soft, it’s a very throaty sound. I don’t mind. It’s his way of expressing how he feels. He’s certainly not aggressive. He sometimes on occasion will sniff a spot, no dog in sight, and kick dirt and growl, and I’ll assume one of his nemesises had weed there. I would never stop a dog from growling. It’s a very safe way for him to say: I’m not comfortable, back off. You’ll have others better equipped to explain why - but my understanding is it’s about listening to warnings, otherwise if he’s been told off for warning, he might not warn one day and then the offender won’t back off and he’ll go straight to bite. Not that I’m saying your dog will do this, but that’s the theory.
Thank you for your response. I understand what you are saying about growling and it being a warning and totally understand not correcting when warning for something dog is fearful of or uncomfortable with but in this case I don’t understand what he could be warning for or uncomfortable about. The thing I find strange is he does this when he is super excited / stimulated not at all seeming uncomfortable or in a negative way towards person or dog, and only when scratching post going to the bathroom when very excited 99% of the time there is no one around. I’d just like to understand why he would do it, and start doing it out of no where. He just doesn’t seem uncomfortable more over excited?! One trainer suggested it was his way of releasing tension when he’s super excited / amped up? It just seems like such a strange reaction when he’s super happy to be somewhere like arriving at the dog park or starting out on a walk. I wish I could speak dog!
Hi there, I think your trainer may be right - it's just his way of releasing pent up excitement and tension. I'd just try not to worry about it!
It sounds more like a ooooo I feel good growl. You said it's deep, my dogs if do a deep grainy growl when they stretch or play bow in the mornings. They do a version of it when they are happy and know it's breakfast time it's more like mmmmmggggrrroooowl. Perhaps he is just excited and express in his arousal vocally.they don't just growl for warnings the I will kill with you growl is very different from I going to play with you growl or the look over here growl.
I often tell Snowie he needs to learn to speak English! He’s pretty good at understanding some words, but I’d love it if he could tell me precisely what he wants!! We think we understand him, we’re pretty good at attending to his every want and need, but wouldn’t it be so much easier if he spoke actual words!! A friend has a Rottweiler that growls when you’re petting him. It is so disconcerting! But he’s the friendliest dog ever. His growling is equivalent to a cat purring.
I feel your worry. The growl sounds terrible and its kinda scary. And you have never seen anyone else's dog act like this.... That's how I felt in my case. My Zeke does a growl when he wants some attention and I was a bit worried too. I posted on here and someone said dogs do vocalize in different ways. So if there are no other signs of problems and his body language is good.... maybe you just have a wonderfully uniquely expressive dog.
LOL, my boy growls when playing with other dogs. It is disconcerting to the other owner, only sometimes, but the other dog never acts like it is worried. He doesn't growl when scratching up his poop or pee but once in a while he will let out a couple of really big barks. I used to think those were because I tend to keep walking and he's saying, "Hey, wait up." But if I do stand right with him, he'll do it then too. Silly boy. I do agree with @MF, because I was told myself by accomplished dog people: Please do NOT correct for growling. If it is a warning of some kind you need to find out what about the scratching disturbs him then deal with that THAT. I said "correct' there at first but change it to 'deal with" as it might not be something to correct either. Growls are sort of like lane signal changes in your car, you signal BEFORE you turn or change lanes. Growls are usually a warning, maybe not in your case, or in my boy's case, but I take them as a sign I should look around to see what's prompting them.
Thanks so much for the response everyone! It's nice to know that he isn't the only dog out there with strange vocalisation! I really do think it is some kind of release when he's super amped up, but it still is odd! I'll keep monitoring it and see if things change at all. perhaps as he gets a bit calmer and with age he may stop doing it.
