Zeke is 15 months old and is a very sweet guy. Since he was little he would growl very quietly in certain situations. I interpreted it as a whine and it has never progressed further. When petting a cat. When petting the other dog. When touched when he is very tired. Usually he is sleeping at the end of the couch and my foot touches him. He doesn't do it often or every time. It always seemed like a request for attention and we just included him in the petting session. When on the couch we ask him to go to his bed. Recently he did it in front of a friend and the friend expressed worry. So should I be worried and make some changes?
No one else has a pup that does this? Well since there has been no snapping and no teeth baring and he joins in with whoever is getting the petting when we welcome him in I am going with this is a whine and I am not going to worry about it.
Sometimes Snowie grunts. Not a whine. And not a growl - he has never growled at us. He’ll grunt if he’s saying something like, “I’m not comfortable on my pillows” (I think) - then he moves around and gets comfy and lets out a big sigh and goes to sleep. My thoughts are that you know your dog better than your friend. If you think it’s fine, why worry? Dogs have so many ways of communicating. Snowie barks at me if he’s frustrated (like when I stop to chat on a walk and he wants to keep moving). Someone who doesn’t know him might think he’s aggressively barking. If you have doubts, you could always consult a trained behaviorist.
Thanks for setting my mind at ease. None of our other dogs acted like this, it's interesting how different each dogs personality is, isn't it?
Now tonight.... Gizmo Cat on lap. Nala cat on shoulder. Rex the black lab is snoring on the couch. Simba cat on chair with friend. Zeke the choco on floor with bone.... Looks up at me and growls. Called him up to me and gave him some love. He licked the cats and licked me. His growls are just a talking to his momma and telling us he loves us ALL but wants some private attention. Life is good!
Cooper has more different vocalizations than any dog I have owned. Maybe 5 or 6 different barks and a number of different whines. I wish she would also howl like our first Lab did.
Joy has a very sweet, almost apologetic little noise that she makes if she wants something, It's quite quiet and it sounds sort of like 'Mmff'. If our previous lab, Solstice wanted something, she would make eye contact, paw us, then whilst maintaining eye contact, walk backwards to what she wanted. She soon had us trained to follow her and we obeyed every time. I love how they all find their own ways of communicating. For me it's one of the great things about building a relationship with a dog.
