One Growly Puppy + Time Outs

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

My Ludo has been home for a week and really has been a doll.   However, on three occasions now, he's growled and turned his head with his mouth open (he didn't snap) when someone has attempted to pick him up or redirect him from something he isn't allowed to do... namely chewing on rugs (me two of the times).  He, otherwise, seems to actually really enjoy being carried, though not held while sitting, so I'm not sure exactly where the source of frustration or fear is coming from him.  

A firm "No" doesn't seem to really phase him with anything.  He's quite stubborn and just goes back to doing whatever it was he was doing-- usually when he is overly tired and can't seem to calm down. I have been firmly telling him no and redirecting him when he's chewing on inappropriate things and giving him something else to chew on. I am remaining calm and not showing any fear, nor am I letting him call the shots.  I'm definitely going to be doubling down on the Doggy Dan rules, in case this is a pack leader type thing, too.

Anyway, it seems like the best way I've been able to just get him to settle is to put him in a timeout in his crate for a few minutes, so I am thinking that any growling behavior is going to earn him an immediate time out.  

He is otherwise a very quiet dog, laid back dog.  He has barked a total of two times and doesn't really even play growl too much, so I'm not sure that this is an issue of just being vocal. It seems like he's telling us "hey, you're getting in my way and i don't like that." 

I've read some posts here about the 'firm no' and found some good advice on growling, but is there anything else I can/should be doing to correct this behavior now? I do not personally think it is an aggression issue, but I do not want it to somehow turn into an aggression issue.

Thanks a bunch, as always :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

It is. Just know your dog.  What sounds are normal and what they mean. Mine is very, very vocal.  Or was until he lost his voice recently  :)

Here, I think these are puppy noises and he turns his head to see what is happening with this new thing called, " being picked up by the belly"   

If we watch a litter of puppies playing with its siblings and mom, they growl the entire time.  They are  interacting. Even here, I dont want to call it growl but a interaction. A voice 

This is a baby we are talking about here. Not an 8 month old, unruly puppy 

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Thanks as always, Joanne :)

I agree with you in knowing what is normal and what is not.  I'm not afraid of playful puppy growls and I know that he is vocal when playing with other dogs (not with his toys, though).  The only thing that concerned (and concerned is maybe even too strong a word.  I'm not sweating it over here-- just wanting to make sure that I am setting him up to succeed)  is that he actually really likes to be carried and these were really isolated situations.  He's REALLY easy going.

Looking back on each one of these instances, I can see a progression of agitation (me moving him away multiple times from pulling on the bottom of the curtains and him going back when I should have better removed him from the situation and made it less of a game), his perception of being blocked from a big tasty piece of steak that he really wanted, etc... I think his growling was very much telling us that I was cramping his style and he didn't appreciate it-- it's usually when he's getting really sleepy.  I need to be better at looking for those clues of escalation and calming him down before it reaches that point.

But you're totally right.  It's his voice, he's just a baby and he'll be a good dog :)

[Sue]

Kaitlin , you are describing my Lexee who will be 6 months next week....In the first couple of weeks, she would growl, bark at me and act irritated with some things. Each time we got a behavior that was unacceptable, we would place her in a short time out.....9 times out of 10 she would fall asleep....I put it down to her being overtired.....I actually took note of all the "incidents" where I believed she was misbehaving and it was usually a case of her being tired.....I spent so much time trying to tire her out that I actually forgot that puppies need a lot of sleep.....After 3-4 weeks, I got to know her better and would actually say...." in your pen Lexee for a nap.." this avoided the incident and she has been amazing since I was better at noticing the cues......Keep up the good work....It will be so worth it now...I cannot beleive how different Lexee is in just 4 short months...she is awesome and we love her dearly.....also, she does growl - but it is mostly her talking to us....every morning when i let her out of the crate she grabs her toy and growl ( talks) to us.....I equate it to sayin' missed ya mom......:)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think there is really an important distinction in "growls", and I'm really glad this came up.  Puppies growl playfully and older dogs do too.  It's fine and just normal doggie "conversation".  My guys play growl at each other and even at their toys....or if they see someone walking by on the street in front of our house or sometimes in their dreams.  This is all fine.  When they growl out of aggression it looks completely different....I know because with Murphy I've seen both.  Their body language is not playful...it is stiff and tense.  When that is directed at a human is when there is a concern.  So as others are saying I wouldn't be at all concerned with growling as your puppy plays.  Chewing on anything inappropriate is a different story...and I think you have a good plan for dealing with that.

[Lucy , Alex and Madison]

I'm so glad you shared this, because Maddi growls in the morning when she first comes to our room and sometimes she starts howling when she urgently needs to go out. Our friends laugh when she gets very verbal! We get so much joy from her antics, and she is so friendly everyone in our small grove talks to her and can't help smiling.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Personally, I do not like to use the word "no" in training.  The first 8 week training course I took years ago, was touted as positive training only, and we were not allowed to use the word "no"  - if she heard us use it, we were given a time out! LOL.  So from the very beginning with each of my doodles, I used the words "eh eh" and redirect.  And the sound of it seemed to grab their attention very quickly.  One thing to remember, is that the first Fear Imprint Period is generally from 8 weeks - 11 weeks,.  During this time period your puppy needs positive experiences.  They need to be introduced to new things and thus begin the groundwork to be a happy well- adjusted puppy. Tethering is a great idea as they get in less trouble that way, and it also helps control some of the potty training accidents.  Within the first week of my first doodle being home, I always brushed his head, ears and tail every other day just to get him used to be handling him. That puppy coat is just so easy to take care of so it does not take but a couple of minutes.  Puppyhood is so much fun, and I loved the training part.  Yes, it can be frustrating, but I if I got frustrated, puppy went into crate or x-pen for time out and I sat down and had a cup of coffee and check my email.  When Charlie was a puppy, he loved to sleep under my desk when I was working, and at 5 years old, he still loves to sleep under my desk next to my feet.  I think he always felt super safe there.

Good luck with Ludo - he has the sweetest face.

[Lucy , Alex and Madison]

When Maddi is just looking for trouble and not taking corrections, usually in the evening around dinner time, I tether her to me until she calms down. This  seems to help. Good luck.