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Posted by mommacude on February 17, 2003 at 09:38:05:

In Reply to: big dogs growl, little dogs growl posted by muttz on February 16, 2003 at 23:24:48:

:It doesn't matter what the size of the dog, growling in play is common! There are lots of different growls and sounds - so without hearing your dog and knowing your dog - I can't say whether its aggressive or not. My dog makes a growling noise in play - it probably sounds aggressive to some - but I've heard his real growl - and its very very very different!

:but that said, you don't find it appropriate. What i think you, as a family, need to do, is sit down together and work out what you are going to do. Getting a trainer in would be helpful. I think you should be the one to handle the dog. This will enforce you as leader to the dog - and also help you bond. I think training is the best bonding excercise between human and dog. Get the trainer to help you with appropriate games and GAME RULES. However, its important that ALL of the family stick to those rules. If you have a rule such as As soon as growl is made, play stops. EVERYONE must stick to this rule 100% of the time. If your husband lets the dog growl and play rough when you are out - this will just ruin everyone elses hard work.

:Work out, as a family, what is and what isn't acceptable (but please remember, he might be little, but he's still a dog - and dogs will be dogs - they aren't furry little people!!). Then, get a trainer in to help you work out how to achieve your target behaviour. I think training will really help here. But getting the family to agree is also very very important

Thanks very much. Maybe I am just reading him wrong. I just didn't have the growling with my previous dog. I have read on the www.bichon.org site that you shouldn't play tug of war at all with small dogs, do you agree with that? It says that creates aggressive behavor and can throw off their bite. So I think based on that I was concerned we started bad habits. I wouldn't mind the growling so much if it wasn't that his peronality for play just gets on my nerves. I feel terrible saying that as I want to be "friends" but most of the time I just don't feel like I've bonded with him. And a few of my friends that are dog lovers tell me he is a very irritating dog. We just got some bad habits established I guess.

I'm glad to hear you think that some in-home training would help. I don't want to have to find him another home as my husband and daughter are very attached to him. I like him a lot better when he's sleepy and I can pet him. :)

Thanks again,
Christine

Follow Ups:

• He's still young isn't he... muttz 02/17/03 (3)
  • Re: He's still young isn't he... mommacude 02/18/03 (2)
    • Re: He's still young isn't he... Arianwen 02/25/03 (1)
      • Re: He's still young isn't he... muttz 02/26/03 (0)