Play Growls

[wolfgirl]

Yep another one here with play growling dogs

Most people can tell the difference between play growls and aggressive growls, maybe this woman doesn't have much dog experience and that's why she is feeling nervous which then her pup picks up on.

[Allerzeit]

my dog never growls unless we are playing tug and i growl first!!! then she growls and i growl and she thinks its great fun.

I've got one of those too Enya and I often end up nose to nose growling at each other while playing with toys!

[claireybell]

You should hear my two when they play! Sounds like there are a pack of hugely vicious dogs in the hosue going hell for leather! In reality its my cocker and beagle playing like idiots and doing zoomies. My cocker has no idea how to be nasty but when her and her sister start playing every night at 7:30pm all hell breaks loose!!!

[Teebs]

I think it's very normal. When my mums staffy and my rottie used to play the sounds than emanated from the room were hilarious. It sounded as though they were killing each other, crossed with someone strangling a whipper snipper (that would be the staffy of course ).

Atlas doesnt make any noise, but god kaos goes nuts!

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

my dog never growls unless we are playing tug and i growl first!!! then she growls and i growl and she thinks its great fun.

I've got one of those too Enya and I often end up nose to nose growling at each other while playing with toys!

yep same here nose to nose over the tug

[W Sibs]

my dog never growls unless we are playing tug and i growl first!!! then she growls and i growl and she thinks its great fun.

I've got one of those too Enya and I often end up nose to nose growling at each other while playing with toys!

yep same here nose to nose over the tug

That's Charlie and me too

[Abigail]

My OH and myself have recently acquired a cavalier pup along with a westie. The cavalier play growls sometimes when I am playing with her but that is about all; it is her way of éxpressing herself and is not meant to be aggression. When she plays with the westie there is no growling going on whatsoever. I have never had a more affectionate pet, she is just so smoochy.

Edited May 10, 2010 by Abigail

[Kavik]

My dogs are also very noisy and rough when they play together. But they don't play as roughly or loudly with strange dogs, only each other. Maybe the other pup was a bit intimidated by yours, which is fair enough. Not all dogs want to run in there and roughhouse and play growl.

[corvus]

Most dogs can tell the difference between a play growl and an aggressive growl. On the weekend Kivi meandered over to a GSD to greet her, but before he got there she started growling deep in her chest and he smartly thought better of it and came sidling back to me, shooting submissive signals back at the GSD. However I do think it's a bit intense for dogs that don't know each other to play growl. Sometimes they get right into it, but some dogs are a bit intimidated by bouncy, excited strangers that want to play with them. I would be too if I wasn't into being buffeted and wrestled with by complete strangers.

I think Emmy will learn to regulate herself as she gets older. Erik still kinda gets in dogs' faces bouncing around barking and growling sometimes, as you would have seen. He went through a small dog loving phase and would do that to just about every small dog he met. Thankfully he learnt that it doesn't often result in play. He is improving.

[W Sibs]

Abigail... what a cutie!!!!!

My dogs are also very noisy and rough when they play together. But they don't play as roughly or loudly with strange dogs, only each other. Maybe the other pup was a bit intimidated by yours, which is fair enough. Not all dogs want to run in there and roughhouse and play growl.

This is what I'm worried about. Not all dogs play like that.

I really need a well balance dog to teach Emmy manners because she can potentially turn into a bully. Charlie lets her get away with it and so does my brother's beagle. The only animal that can keep her in line is Evil Ninja (my dad's black cat).

[W Sibs]

Most dogs can tell the difference between a play growl and an aggressive growl. On the weekend Kivi meandered over to a GSD to greet her, but before he got there she started growling deep in her chest and he smartly thought better of it and came sidling back to me, shooting submissive signals back at the GSD. However I do think it's a bit intense for dogs that don't know each other to play growl. Sometimes they get right into it, but some dogs are a bit intimidated by bouncy, excited strangers that want to play with them. I would be too if I wasn't into being buffeted and wrestled with by complete strangers.

I think Emmy will learn to regulate herself as she gets older. Erik still kinda gets in dogs' faces bouncing around barking and growling sometimes, as you would have seen. He went through a small dog loving phase and would do that to just about every small dog he met. Thankfully he learnt that it doesn't often result in play. He is improving.

ohhh... I love Erik (although, i'm always going to have a soft spot for Kivi). Sometimes, Emmy reminds me of Erik!! The non stop energy!!!

[persephone]

Dogs do vocalise- they have to!

[ILK]

If that woman heard my two GSD's playing, she'd have a heart attact.

Same here. My boy is extremely growly when he plays and when you stop playing with him he lets out a bark to let you know he wants to play more

[CareyJ]

Leila's (GSP) first playmate was a very vocal staffy so when she plays, particularly with Simba they sound like they are going to kill each other. In reality there are big smiles on both of their faces and both know when enough is enough. Usually Simba has had enough of Leila and pins her down!

When Leila plays with her other friend - a lab x dalmation they play a game similar to kids playing mercy - they hold each other down until they yap, jump up and run around the garden and the other one is pinned down until they yap. In no way are they fighting.

[Kavik]

Abigail... what a cutie!!!!!

My dogs are also very noisy and rough when they play together. But they don't play as roughly or loudly with strange dogs, only each other. Maybe the other pup was a bit intimidated by yours, which is fair enough. Not all dogs want to run in there and roughhouse and play growl.

This is what I'm worried about. Not all dogs play like that.

I really need a well balance dog to teach Emmy manners because she can potentially turn into a bully. Charlie lets her get away with it and so does my brother's beagle. The only animal that can keep her in line is Evil Ninja (my dad's black cat).

I know someone with Jap Spitzes and yep they can be quite vocal when they play and quite 'sparky' if things go pearshaped in play as well.

[corvus]

You know, CW, I was worried Erik would be a brat because Kivi never 'disciplines' him as well. We considered sending him to daycare on his own to learn that you can't just beat up any old dog that thwarts you. But he's only super obnoxious to Kivi. Short of the "PLAY WITH ME!" play bows and barks he does sometimes he is quite good with other dogs. He has started one fight, which he obviously decided was a bad idea once he'd lost it as he's never done it again. And he once fought back after being attacked by a resource guarding dog (who was guarding Kivi). But that's it. For a dog that literally throws himself at Kivi's side, climbs onto his back, wrestles him to the ground, bites his muzzle, legs, ears, and anything else he can get his teeth into, and routinely uses Kivi as his stress-relieving punching bag, not to mention getting whatever he wants by throwing himself at Kivi's face and biting his ruff and feet with much growly noises, he is remarkably nice to strange dogs! He doesn't even try. If they grumble he backs off. Kivi is the only one he'll drive off if I'm playing or training with him.

I think you just keep up her socialisation and she'll be all right. Just watch she isn't smarter than Erik and decides to pick all her fights with dogs she can beat. Can't wait to meet her! She sounds like she'll give Erik a run for his money.

[W Sibs]

Abigail... what a cutie!!!!!

My dogs are also very noisy and rough when they play together. But they don't play as roughly or loudly with strange dogs, only each other. Maybe the other pup was a bit intimidated by yours, which is fair enough. Not all dogs want to run in there and roughhouse and play growl.

This is what I'm worried about. Not all dogs play like that.

I really need a well balance dog to teach Emmy manners because she can potentially turn into a bully. Charlie lets her get away with it and so does my brother's beagle. The only animal that can keep her in line is Evil Ninja (my dad's black cat).

I know someone with Jap Spitzes and yep they can be quite vocal when they play and quite 'sparky' if things go pearshaped in play as well.

My little girl play dirtys... if ALWAY must get her own way.

You know, CW, I was worried Erik would be a brat because Kivi never 'disciplines' him as well. We considered sending him to daycare on his own to learn that you can't just beat up any old dog that thwarts you. But he's only super obnoxious to Kivi. Short of the "PLAY WITH ME!" play bows and barks he does sometimes he is quite good with other dogs. He has started one fight, which he obviously decided was a bad idea once he'd lost it as he's never done it again. And he once fought back after being attacked by a resource guarding dog (who was guarding Kivi). But that's it. For a dog that literally throws himself at Kivi's side, climbs onto his back, wrestles him to the ground, bites his muzzle, legs, ears, and anything else he can get his teeth into, and routinely uses Kivi as his stress-relieving punching bag, not to mention getting whatever he wants by throwing himself at Kivi's face and biting his ruff and feet with much growly noises, he is remarkably nice to strange dogs! He doesn't even try. If they grumble he backs off. Kivi is the only one he'll drive off if I'm playing or training with him.

I think you just keep up her socialisation and she'll be all right. Just watch she isn't smarter than Erik and decides to pick all her fights with dogs she can beat. Can't wait to meet her! She sounds like she'll give Erik a run for his money.

That's Emmy with Charlie.. only we don't allow the climbing on the back. She knows if Charlie is laying on the ground... all is fair and war. She will launch on him, bite him, sit on his head. She is always trying to steal something off Charlie, they will have fight over it, and Charlie will win. Then she will be all bitchy about it and bite his ear hard, he squeals in surprise, then steals the pig ear and run off into the bedroom and under the bed... 5 minutes later, she will come out with it and tease Charlie with it. then they start bitey face again..

I think she will be unsure with Erik and Kivi at first, but once she warms up.. she will play with them. She loves to run!

[NotSureWhich]

One of mine growls when he's rolling on his back, sounds so funny.

[OMD²]

My two growl all the time when they are playing. Sometimes I have to turn the tv up so I can hear it lol. Oscar plays at the dog park with other dog's and does his usual growling and it doesn't get him into trouble.

[Red Fox]

Hmmm... my dog is not very vocal at all and rarely growls, he also doesn't get a lot of play with other dogs. But on the weekend I got to watch his reaction around 15 or 20 other dogs at the workshop we attended. It was very interesting When another dog would play growl, bark or make excited noises he would pick up on it and become bouncy and excited. But when he was growled at and told to 'back off' lol, he understood completely.

I dont think you have a problem with Emmy CW, I think the other lady just doesn't understand dogs