[pixelpea]

I've noticed this issue ever since she was about 6 months old, she is now 1 1/2. She is very playful, loves other dogs, and goes to doggy daycare a few times a month. Unfortunately she seems to always have dogs growling at her. She has a lot of energy so I figure the other dogs were just saying stop. She seems to have good doggy etiquette with other dogs. I've watched her and she definitely only plays with dogs that show interest. The other day we had 2 times were 2 different dogs growled the most aggressive I've heard. I was worried it was going to be a fight!

Is this common for a young dog? How do I keep this from happening and escalating into something worse. I always immediatly take her out of the situation. Also I should add a few times she has been nipped by other dogs enough to make her yelp. I should also add she has never shown any aggression towards other dogs. Never growled always the submissive one. Please help!

 

[jersey_gray]

Is she jumping all over the dogs when they growl at her?

 

[pixelpea]

Is she jumping all over the dogs when they growl at her?

Yes definitely have seen her jump on dogs and get growled at. Most of the more aggressive growls seem to come when the dogs are chasing each other. The other dog is usually the chaser. I was hoping the other dogs growls would be a self correct but whatever she is doing she still gets growls at least once a week. We are out about everyday of the week. I just want to correct it if it's something I need to do.

 

[Shell]

Is this at doggie daycare? What do other people think of the growls?

What breed of dog is your dog? What breeds (or sizes/types) of dogs are growling at her?

They could be growling aggressively, or they could be noisy growly playing dogs. Some dogs, and some breeds, are just very vocal when they play. I've had the dogs out playing in my yard, closely supervised, and when you look at them it is obvious they are playing happily and without aggression but if you couldn't see them and could only hear them, it would sound like they were tearing each other apart. A lot of it is in body language, they take turns chasing, they take turns rolling the other dog over and tackling, they take turns play biting, if one yelps, the other backs off immediately etc.

If the other dogs are actually being aggressive in their growls and nips (yelping is like "stop that" but if there isn't any blood and the nipper backs off, the other dog probably didn't mean to hurt), then its likely either your dog has too forward and pushy of play style or the other dog has a low tolerance for play. Since it is different dogs doing this, I'd guess the problem lies with your dog's play style or body language. Some dogs just seem to be able to annoy other dogs without even trying. Boxers are a breed like that, their facial shape and play style both are at odds with "typical" dog manners.

 

[pixelpea]

She does great at daycare they just say she loves to play. I can watch her from the webcam all day and she does run around and play but definitely mellows out and does her own thing. She is a 40 lb Australian Shepherd and absolutely loves to play with other dogs. This is the situation from the other night... we were up hiking passed a good amount of people and dogs. My dog sniffs the other and keeps walking, no problem. Then we come across 3 dogs and they sniff maybe with a bit more excitement and then zoom they are off. They ran up the trail a bit and then back to us and then back again. On the second pass I heard one of the dogs with a slight growl and maybe by the 5th growl it was very aggressive sounding to were I was a little concerned. That dogs owner immediately went over and stopped her dog. We then kept walking up the trail (and the 3 dogs and owner continued to walk down the trail). There was no yelping and my dog seemed fine. I do know what you are saying about play growling. Her best dog buddy and her raise some eyebrows as they love to growl and bark and play rough, but I'm pretty good now at hearing the difference in the growls. Usually with the more intense growl my dog will show some sign of submission. I think my dog does have a pushy play style for sure. I'm guessing it comes down to her energy level and her love to play with any and every dog. I've had all sorts of different breeds and dogs that give her the growl. Most dogs enjoy playing with her but I just don't want her to cause harm to herself at some point because she takes it too far with a dog that does not like it.

Am I worrying too much about this? Or does she just have to learn the hard way?

 

[Shell]

Personally, I don't let my dog meet unknown dogs in situations like you described happening on the trail. If she does well at daycare, she's getting lots of good play and dog interaction there, she doesn't need to play with dogs that you don't know in a situation that you can't control.

Work with her to have a very strong recall and "Quit It" command- as in, stop playing, leave the other dog alone and continue walking (or whatever you then want her to do).

I wouldn't want my dog to "learn the hard way" because if she annoys the wrong dog, she could be seriously hurt. If you know the dog she's playing with and know that dog will give proper, controlled corrections then it can be okay to let the dog correct her pushy play style. But never with a strange dog or a dog that doesn't have the manners and control to correct without physical harm.

 

[pixelpea]

Thanks for the response. Like you said I would rather my dog not take off running with a strange dog. I've always done a 'lets go' command which works 80% of the time. Once she is in the play mindset there is no hope in calling her back. I think I may try a short leash and just grab that when I see another dog. Any other ideas to teach her to leave the dog alone?

 

[Shell]

The most fool-proof is not to let her off leash.

The second most fool-proof is to train religiously until you have 99.9% instant response to stop in her tracks. Don't let her off leash until you have that compliance. Working on training a very strong "leave it" and then a "look at me" to get her focused on you. Use a long line as an intermediate step so that you aren't actually holding her right by you but are requiring her to listen to your commands while you retain the ability to enforce the command (reel her in/shorten the line).

 

[xxxxdogdragoness]

dogs growl all the time, it sound like play growling to me, but without being there i cant say for sure. Josefina ddue to her social awkwardness gets growled at alot by other dogs. growlin is a warning, its kimd of like saying 'ow, stop it, that hurts! or i dont like that game.' if she is good socially & reads this & backs off, then i wouldnt worry to much about it.