Is growling normal for 7 mo sheepadoodle?

[Dr Karen Hoving]

I am not new to dogs, but new to doodles.

Got my sheepadoodle at 3 months here in Denver. She was a sweetie.She is now 7 months, spayed.

Recently I've noticed that sometimes she will growl and snap (not make contact) there doesn't seem to be anything common about the events accept that my daughter (21) or I will be petting her. No specific area- she'll come over to play, she'll be happy, licking us, wagging tail, then some one is petting her gently and GROWL and a SNAP at our hand.

Initially I thought maybe it's pain-but many many times we rub her body and no reaction.

Obviously this is concerning to me. I have heard from some in our doodle play group that their dogs growl w/other dogs as a way of vocalizing. OK that I understand (didn't happen with my last 2 standard poodles, but maybe it's the sheep dog). But the occasionally "you've just pissed me off" thing is concerning.

We are training her-she will sit, stay, roll over sort of, we can put treats down and tell her to LEAVE and she will not go for them until we let her. I've been told it's an Alpha thing-but my reason for getting her was a year ago my 13 yo standard poodle passed.  I had trained her to work with my patients (I am a shrink). And she was exceptional. I haven't started that type of training w/Bella bc she is still a bouncy puppy.

She is often frightened of new things-like wheels on carts at a store (she'll bark but her tail is wagging) But after the first visit, when we go back the fear behavior is extinguished.So when she saw "small humans" she barked (tail wagging no growling). We moved her back so she could watch them. It scared her when they would scream going down the slide. But again, after 2 trips to the park, keeping her at a safe distance (for her and the kiddoes) she was fine. 

She has NEVER growled /snapped at anyone at a store, friends, etc. It's just me and my daughter -and we aren't rough housing or hurting her. 

Is this "normal" puppy stuff or do I need to go to "the bad place" emotionally. I don't see any other signs of aggressive behavior -and trust me as a shrink I am LOOKING at everything. She does play hard with bigger dogs (not that anyone gets hurt-they usually tackle her and everyone in"play position" there is a lot of tumbling, growling, tail wagging. Every in group said not to worry that was normal.Is it possible  by letting her play roughly with other dogs (most way bigger) that she's getting mean? We have 2 cats (they hate her) she doesn't torture them, wants to play but never ever hurts them. They growl and bat her but she doesn't hurt them. She's never been aggressive to dogs or as I said, strangers at doodle groups- she loves everyone.

Any thoughts on what I'm doing wrong?

[LORRY SWETLAND]

She just might be a vocal pup. My neighbors dog (not a doodle) will grumble at me when I pet him yet lick me and then grumble again. I just hold his head and tell him not to grumble at me. I should mention that I do all his grooming. I cannot clip his toenails unless I put a muzzle on him. He doesn't fight the muzzle. Once muzzled he lays down and goes to sleep while I do his nails. He and like your pup are not being aggressive just grumbling. Have you tried only one of you petting her at a time and she just might be protective that you to are sitting to close to each other.