IS THERE A TIME FOR GOOD GROWLING?

[Sue Z. + Finley]

Finley (9 month neutered male goldendoodle) and I were on our way back from a walk in the park when a homeless man approached our car which was stopped at a red light. The man was talking loudly to himself and stopped directly beside Finley's back window and stared at him.  I expected Finley to wag his tail and get excited because he loves attention from people. However, Finley started with a low growl and suddenly started barking in a ferocious manner. Finely has never barked at people while in the car and I was surprised at his reaction to the man. The light turned green and as we moved forward I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the man give us the finger. I told Finley he was a good boy for protecting us, but was that the correct response?  Was Finley doing the right thing? 

[Camilla and Darwin]

I believe dogs do have a good sense for people's feelings. Perhaps he sensed this man was tense, nervous, etc. Perhaps he didn't like the way he smelled. If this is the first time he has done this kind of thing, perhaps he did have a good reason. Darwin has never reacted this way to anything, but I know a lot of people have had this kind of experience. Most of them trust their dogs instincts. Dogs know things about people that we just can't tell.

[Frannie & Callie]

I think Finley was doing the right thing. Dogs sense stuff that we do not (I think) so for all you know, Finley's barking fit kept that guy from breaking your car window and reaching in to steal your purse or carjack you. As long as a dog isn't aggressive as a rule, I would always praise him for protecting you. Yay Finley!
Callie is not a barker or growler in general, but when something new is going on, she lets me know. A few months ago, my nephew Drew was staying with me (he's 7) and he came creeping into my room at 3am...Callie picked her head up and gave a low growl...not really enough to scare Drew (and certainly not enough to keep him from snuggling up with me and Callie, thank goodness), but enough to tell me that something was happening. Up to that point, I assumed Callie would tell a burgler where the valuables are and where they can find the sharp knives! She also barked like mad when I left the door unlocked for the maids one day and they just walked in. I like that she has protection on her radar (considering she's such a muppet at all other times!)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

When Peri does this, I take notice and never reprimand her. She is friendly to 98% of people, but does the same type of thing when we see someone sketchy looking. Might sound silly, but I totally trust my dogs' instincts.

[shelly]

Good boy, Finley! . I feel dogs really do have a sixth sense about people. f he usually doesn't to that, I believe he felt he had a good reason to. Tori is a barker and can get very ferocious sounding. We are actually trying to correct that, but I don't want her barking to stop completely because I DO want her to bark when strangers approach, but if I tell her to turn if off I want that too. But it sounds like Fnley can already do that. Good for him!!!

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

I would be happy that Finley growled at the scary man! I would want Timbow to do the same thing. Doodles are (usually) so friendly and will lick strangers to death, but I like to think that Timbow would sense when I'm in danger. As long as he doesn't start doing this to normal people I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Good boy Finley and I love your name. See, even good natured happy go luckey doodles know or sense things that are just not right.

[Natasha]

Around 1 year old, Rouser started woofing (he literally goes, "woof") when he would see a loiterer. The first was a little girl waiting outside a gated community. The second was a man begging in the center island as we were stopped at a light. Then an old woman that we pass almost everyday on our walk who was taking a break and leaning against a wall a few feet away from the sidewalk (he never had a problem with her before or since). Then he barked loudly at a bunch of teenagers hanging out in a parking lot in front of Starbucks when we drove by.

He also notices people who are sitting in parked cars. Apparently that's not OK. OH - the one that really baffles me, behind our house is a street and you're not allowed to park there. He can see the street if he goes to our windows upstairs. He will woof and then come and grab my hand and make me go look. It is almost always the power company or the cable guy or whatever, but he DOESN'T LIKE people parking in the no parking zone.

How the heck he recognizes all this, I have no idea. He almost always notices before I do and alerts me with a "woof." Sometimes he will flat out bark (he has a scary bark but we hardly ever hear it). I guess he was a hall monitor in a past life. Whatever, I encourage it with a "good boy" and a big pat on the head because he is telling me that something is awry and, quite frankly, I appreciate it.

[shelly]

Wow! I just LOVE our dogs!!! They truly are something else!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Finley did exactly the right thing! He sensed something was off with this man and was alerting you and protecting you. Good dog, Finley!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'd like to offer a different perspective on this. We have trained Guinness from day one not to bark or growl...ever. This was a very conscious decision on our part. We live in a gated condo community where there are workers around all the time taking care of the grounds. Many of our neighbors have dogs, and most of these dogs bark at the workers or neighbors out walking. It's a very active community, so there are always lots of us outside. There are two dogs next door who bark at us almost continuously when we're sitting on our patio. This is annoying, and often results in significant fines for the owners. When we decided to get a dog, we were clear that we didn't want or need a watch dog. Guinness and I have worked with two different trainers who have helped me with this "barking/growling" behavior. I know that it is almost counter intuitive to try to teach a dog not to bark when they are protecting their territory (different from boredom or fear barking). But, we have been successful for the most part. I have corrected him when he barks, but only with a very firm "No" or "Enough". Now he "gets" that this is not the behavior I am looking for. He will sometimes bark one or two times now if he sees a stranger outside, but will look right at me and stop. Basically I'm teaching him that "warning" the pack leader (me) of danger is not his job. I feel the same way about growling. Although it isn't a "noise" issue, it is a guarding behavior that I don't want. So, I realize this is a completely different point of view, but sometimes life style does influence our expectations of our dogs.

[Jennifer Tramell]

I say - good job Finley! Dogs are pack animals and it is every member's responsibility to alert the leader when there is a possible or perceived threat. We had a german shepherd mix who considered herself the family protector, but once she recognized that we (hubby & myself) had control of the situation, she would just watch quietly. I wouldn't want a dog to bark all the time and ignore my directions, but I like a dog who helps keep an eye out for unusual situations.

[Lori]

I think he was trying to protect his Mommy!
Good Boy Finley : )