Making unfriendly noises while playing!

[The Governor]

Hey everyone!

My gorgeous mini golden doodle, The Governor, has just turned one (today actually!) and is an absolute sweet heart and the most sociable dog you'll ever meet. Everyone he passes in the street (dog or human) he greets happily and loves to get any attention.

He's never been aggressive and never would be but when he plays with other dogs he makes aggressive sounding noises! He growls a lot but is never angry - you can see in his movements that he's being playful and all of the dogs that he plays with always go back for more and are happy so I think he's just a vocal dog and that is the way he is! However I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this with their pup and if you had any training advice (if at all possible) to try and stop this?

I have no issue as I know he is playing but it can sometimes be frustrating at the dog park as the other dog owners get worried thinking they are fighting and I have to tell them that he's just very vocal and wouldn't hurt a fly!

Your advice would be seriously appreciated!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dogs growl when they play. It's normal and natural. If you watch some videos of dogs who live together playing, you often hear growling sounds. You even hear it when you watch videos of very young puppies playing with their littermates. Sometimes they even growl when they are playing by themselves with a toy. And they shake it, throw it around, bite it, pounce on it, etc. We all know the dog is not being "aggressive" when he does this, he's playing. 

As you mentioned, you can tell by body language and the responses of the other dogs whether or not a dog is being playful or aggressive. Those two things do look very different. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My two Doodles growl at each other all the time when they're playing....it's just how they communicate.  I'll see if I can get a quick video of it in the next few days.  There is no aggression in their "growl"....it's just how they are communicating.

[Lisa Jensen-Albino]

I hear your frustration, I have a 2 year old standard size  goldendoodle Sonny who is also very vocal when he plays with other dogs, mostly when it is one on one. He is so vocal, sounds like a attack dog, and of course people in the dog run thinks he is going in for a kill. I don't have any advice for you unfortunately, just wanted to let you know The Governor is not alone!

[The Governor]

Thank you Lisa!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

My two sound like they are killing each other when they play. If the other dog is coming back for more and your dog seems like he is just having fun, I wouldn't worry at all. I don't take them to the dog park anymore, because Fudge is not that good with other dogs, but I guess I would just keep explaining that The Governor is a talker :) I hope Joanne (and Spud) chimes in...I know Spud is very vocal in all that he does and she has mentioned it often. 

[Jenny and Cooper]

My Cooper does that too, not often but he does.  I notice he only does it when he is playing with his BFF and my hubby.  With other dogs, he doesn't.  It almost sounds like he is frustrated when he does that.  It has a high pitch to it too. lol.  

[Kaitee and Orwell]

Orwell is also vocal when he plays. I don't think you can train them to not growl. Instead, if I feel that the dogs are getting too winded, I call Orwell back for a break. 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

My girls sound as if murder is on their mind and they even bare their teeth, tail wagging like crazy on the other end.  Fifteen minutes later they are passed out on top of each other.

[DonMarie and Picco]

Picco growls in his sleep, always had since a pup.  He's fairly quiet when he plays with me but with my husband, he barks and snarls and sometimes downright scary!

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

My dogs "play fight" all the time- compete with growing, snarling, baring their teeth, etc.- it's all in great fun! 

There is no need to "try to stop it" at the dog park- just do what you are doing now in telling the other owners that it is just normal dog play.