Growls signal discomfort while grooming
Our Old English Sheepdog puppy growls when being brushed. Her thick coat necessitates regular grooming. We cannot have her growling. To combat the problem, we say, “No” in a stern voice. Then we continue to brush her. The growls seem to be escalating. How we can teach her that growling is unacceptable?
Dogs should absolutely learn to enjoy being groomed. However, growls are a blessing in disguise. They should not be eliminated.
Growls are a means of communicating discomfort. Their purpose is to reduce conflict. In the wild, when one dog growls at another, the other dog can heed the warning, preventing fights and injuries.
Meek dogs might cave and get used to things they dislike. Most will not, and instead they escalate to snapping and biting. Eliminating the warning growl leads to a dog that bites without warning.
Recognize that this is not just about grooming. In the future, pets often develop injuries or medical conditions.
A growl may be the first warning sign of pain and discomfort. Even the most tolerant dogs may need to say that something is wrong without escalating to a bite. Although not pleasant to hear, this non-violent communication can offer important information.
Growls are similar to a person saying, “That bothers me — stop.” Snapping is the equivalent of cursing and yelling. Biting is akin to punching and hitting.
Living with a person who yelled and hit would be difficult and dangerous. So is living with a dog that bites straightaway.
When it comes to grooming, there are several options. Evaluate the tools being used. Switch to more comfortable brushes to minimize discomfort.
Learn how to execute grooming in a gentler manner. Detangling sprays can help ease out knots with less pain.
Owners of pets that are sensitive to handling should seek out training help. Simple exercises can change the dog’s feelings about being brushed. Dogs can learn to enjoy it.
Heed growls immediately. They offer important information. Take them as a sign that something needs to change. Just don’t eliminate them. Our Wheaton terrier has been attacked twice during walks by the same German shepherd. He is now starting to show signs of anxiety during walks, especially at night.
At the dog park, he still loves to play with the other dogs. We are wondering if the attacks may be related to the anxiety in some way and what we should do about it.
It is impossible to say with absolute certainty if the attacks caused the anxiety. However, it is plausible and likely. Dog attacks often lead to fear-based behaviour problems.
Well-socialized dogs may demonstrate that anxiety in unusual ways. They may learn that attacks happen in some places and not others. For example, they can continue to feel safe at the dog park. A long, untarnished history of fun interaction in that location makes it a safe spot. Nothing bad happens at the park and other pets are potential playmates.
However, danger lurks on walks. Unpredictable and random attacks happen at those times. Rather than develop a fear of dogs, victims learn that bad things happen during walks. Anxiety starts to set in.
Fear can spread, generalizing and infecting other areas of a pet’s life. Do damage control immediately with professional guidance. Create many positive experiences during short and easy walks. Bring back the dog’s confidence.
A third attack cannot be allowed to happen. It’s not fair that victims should need to be hyper vigilant. It’s an unfortunate reality. Avoid walking in areas where the aggressive dog frequents. Keep your dog protected at all costs. Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant. Write her at advice@awesomedogs.ca