

They’ll often howl together after a successful hunt, for example. In the wild, wolves howl in order to find their pack if they become separated or as a social function to create a sense of belonging within the group. Howling is a behavior that dogs inherited from their wolf ancestors. Related Read: 8 Types of Dog Growls: What Do They Mean? (with Audio).If, however, they start snarling, snapping, freezing up, or staring intently at the other dog, you should have them take a timeout. If their body is relaxed and there are no other signs of aggression, everything is probably fine. You’ll have to rely on your dog’s other behavioral cues for your answer. This is especially common in bully breeds, and it can be quite nerve-wracking, as it’s hard to tell when to let your dogs play versus when to make them stop. Some pups will growl when they’re happy, like when they’re playing tug of war. There is one exception to the “growling is a bad sign” rule. As a result, you shouldn’t punish your dog for growling instead, address whatever behavior is causing them to growl. It’s far worse to have a dog that lashes out with no warning whatsoever. A dog who’s growling is giving you advance notice that they’re not happy, so you can change your behavior before you get attacked.

It’s a dog’s way of warning you that they’re losing their patience with something you’re doing and that their next step will be to lash out.Īs paradoxical as it may sound, though, growling is a good thing - or at least it’s better than the alternative. Unlike barking, growling usually only signifies one thing: Watch out.

