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Usually when we bring a cute little puppy home, we don’t expect to be met with growling hostility. That’s just not the image a cuddly little puppy brings to mind. That’s why so many owners are perplexed and even a bit frightened when cute little Cupcake snarls at them with her baby teeth bared. Suddenly, instead of a cuddly little Cupcake, the fear they have adopted Cujo crosses their minds. Why is Cupcake Growling? Believe it or not, growling does not always mean angry or aggressive. Growling is a natural defense that dogs have in the wild to portray many emotions. It is important to figure out why little Cupcake is growling, and if she really is a young pup, it’s unlikely it’s anger or aggression. One emotion that brings about growling that is the closest to aggression is possessiveness. This is definitely something you want to overcome quickly. Your dog should never be possessive of anything around you. If your cute little Cupcake won’t let you near her food, or water, or sleeping area, it is important to establish a hierarchy that lets her know who the leader in the house is. However, you should use some reason when approaching this type of growling. Is Cupcake able to feel secure about her food, water and sleeping arrangements? Is she is in constant fear of losing out on food to a bigger dog in the house, or even a cat, or child? Does she have a hard time getting to the water, or is she frequently ousted from her sleeping area by another animal or person in the house? All of these can create severe anxiety in a little puppy. It can even create problem with an older dog. After all, food, water and the “den” are basic essentials, and natural instincts insist that they protect those vital needs. The first thing you need to do is make sure your new puppy can feel completely secure about her access to those three elements. If she’s growling at you, however for no good reason other than just being possessive of the three essentials or even toys or chew bones, then you must stop that before it becomes more serious. As that type of protective aggression escalates, it turns into biting, and then spreads to all areas of the house or things in the house. When Cupcake growls at you without cause, just to assert her superiority and possession, take the object of her aggression away, firmly say no, and then walk away and completely ignore her. This is important, and in the case of a small puppy, sometimes the hardest part of this exercise. You should never be violent, or physical about the confrontation. There are two reasons for this: first, it is never okay to physically hurt your dog, and second, physical violence will only escalate the aggression, and you will be fighting with your dog for the rest of her life, and it will turn into a contest of wills. Not good in any case, but especially if Cupcake is going to grow into a 200 pound Great Dane, or Mastiff. Fairness and Consistency Whenever dealing with any form of aggression, it is important to be fair and be consistent. If growling over a bone or the food bowl is unacceptable, and it is, it should never be funny or “cute.” Too often people bring adorable little Cupcake home, and laugh at her growls and standoffs. That won’t be funny when little Cupcake is an adult and very serious about her attitude. It’s not only not fair to suddenly change the rules on Cupcake when she’s an adolescent or a full-grown adult, it will also be very confusing, and can make her very insecure. Insecurity Constantly changing rules, over reaction to minor problems, and downright aggressive handling of training issues, such as housebreaking, can create a lot of insecurity in Cupcake. Growling can be a symptom of that type of insecurity, because she doesn’t feel safe with someone who flies off the handle, or if she’s not sure when something will make her master angry. Set the rules, be consistent in following them, and always be fair and humane in the way you handle her training right from the start. Small Dog and Little Puppy Syndrome This is a little more than a Napoleon complex as many people think it is. Little dogs, and even very small puppies sometimes exhibit bravado when facing down bigger animals, and ‘we’ are bigger animals to them. This often becomes an issue when an adult towers over a small dog or puppy and picks them up, especially if they do it from behind when the dog can’t see what’s happening. Imagine even a benevolent Godzilla coming up behind you and reaching down to hoist you hundreds of feet in the air. It would be intimidating even if you weren’t necessarily afraid of the big green monster doing the hoisting. It is really scary if you’re not 100% sure if Godzilla is going to kiss you or eat you. You should definitely still pick up your puppy, or small dog, but be considerate of their perspective, and try not to “attack from the rear” or surprise them. Call Cupcake, and let her know you’re interested in her, even if she’s not quite at the stage where she comes running to you yet, at least you’ve given her fair warning. When you pick her up, make sure you cradle her by placing one hand under her belly, and the other under her back legs and hips to support her, and keep her from feeling like she’s dangling in mid-air. Even better, get down on her level, and kneel on the ground when you want to pick her up until she gets used to being lifted off the ground. Cupcake Still Growls If Cupcake still insists on growling, gently take her muzzle and hold her so that you can look in her eyes and firmly say “no.” When she stops, and looks away, praise her and let her know you still love her as long as she respects you as her leader. Fun and Games Remember too that dogs growl in play as well. Don’t jump to conclusions when your dog growls during playtime. Cupcake is just playing, and having fun with the person she loves. Puppy City has been around for over 50 years, we pride ourselves in being the home for quality puppies for sale in Brooklyn, New York. We also have all of the supplies you will ever need, from dog food, to wee wee pads, to all the treats you will ever need in a lifetime. Visit us at http://www.PuppyCityNY.com
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