doodle growling, really?

[Kristen Juarez]

This is the second time this has happened. My teenage son has friends over and henderson my one year doodle, goes crazy. barking , growling, jumping. I 'm shocked. Just dont know why, and what to do

[Becka]

Can you tell us a little bit more about the circumstances? Were your son's friends roughhousing or anything like that? Were they interacting with Henderson? Was it clear that these were aggressive growls, or could it be that Henderson wanted to play? (My dog makes a noise that sounds like a growl when she sees a dog she wants to play with--it's more of a frustrated/excited sound than an aggressive sound.)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have two doodles...one female and one male. Vern, our male, is much more protective of our house than Fudge. Henderson could just be excited with all the energy in the house, but he could also be wary of all the strangers visiting. When we have new visitors with Vern. I usually crate him initially until the guests are in the house and then we bring him into the room on a leash and have him sit next to us until he feels comfortable. The less fuss made over him, the better.

[Kristen Juarez]

It's happened three times in the last three weeks. These are friends that came back from college. Played with him when he was little. The first two times it happened the boys were leaving. I thought Henderson was startled, cuz he was in a deep sleep, and just ran to see who was leaving, and got kinda of confused, and it was a growl and not a nice growl. but I calmed him it it was okay. Last night my son had a few boys over and hen hasnt seen them for a while, and just went crazy. it wasnt playful, jumping , standing back and growling. He finally calmed down and they were all best buds like they use to be. Hes usually happy and always jumps a few times but... 

[Adina P]

What have you done so far?

How much obedience has he had and how obedient is he?

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

This is just a shot in the dark - is you son also home from college?  Could it be that Henderson is unhappy about having to "share" your son?  The only time we heard Sedona growl was when we were at a party and my husband was paying attention to a young dog who was a guest at the party.  Clearly, Sedona didn't want to share.

[Denis and Rhonda]

Does the friend have a pet, like a dog or a cat?  Perhaps Henderson is reacting to the unknown scent?

[Donna M Lowry]

When my two boys come home from college and all of their friends come over Riley acts exactly like one of them!!! I have worked for 24 months to teach Riley NOT to jump on people, something he has always loved to do.  And in one day while I was at work, my son proudly showed me what he taught Riley!  How to jump up and high-five people when they walk in the front door!  Great!!!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

When my daughter was in college, her boyfriend gave her a puppy.  My daughter hadn't yet moved into her apartment, so couldn't keep Dixie with her in her room at the sorority house.  Instead, her boyfriend (now her husband) kept Dixie with him at his fraternity house.  You can imagine how little training Dixie received those first couple of months - unless you count the "negative training" she undoubted got hanging around all those frat boys.  How Dixie ever became the wonderful dog she turned out to be, I'll never know!

[Rhonda, Marabelle & Jeriki]

Is your dog a nervous nelly? Jeriki is a somewhat nervous dog, as we just got him at 8 months old he is still getting used to us. He growls at strangers,and my sons friends as well. I really don't like it at all. We are focussing on having his attention right now. I am trying to teach him that we are his pack and he can trust us. That I am his alfa. Your dog sounds like he is nervous to me. Rhonda

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

All I do for growling is correct it at once. Murphy is my growler. He is told "no" or "hush". Made to move away from the attraction and given a job; "sit, lay down, stay", anything else but allowed to growl at someone or something in a negative way. He play growls with Bella and DH, but it's different. Or at least I hope he knows the right and wrong types of growl. Not sure. But he does stop when corrected. I don't know if it will ever come to my not needing to correct, as he is protective and anxious by nature. I am sure there are other and better ways to train for this behavior, but this is what works for us. I guess I don't expect to stop it entirely as I like his protective nature for my own sense of security but to allow him to use it only when appropriate. Maybe that's too much to ask? Anyone?