Is it normal for puppies to growl while playing

Ideally, you would do so when the first warning signs appear hair standing up, one demonstrating dominant behavior, etc. Your dog wants to make you happy. While it may feel infinitely longer, most dog fights end in a few seconds.

You may even consider keeping a whistle in your pocket whenever your dog might have the opportunity to play with another. If you have a water bottle with you, open it up and throw water on the dogs.

A dog water bottle or hose could also do the trick. Or maybe even splash water from a nearby puddle. Just like us, dogs respond better to calm rather than rash behavior. So keeping your cool in a stressful situation can help you effectively communicate with your dog and, thus, resolve the issue.

Your first instinct might be to grab your dog or his collar. However, this may result in your dog biting you. So, do not get between two fighting dogs. You may not make it out unscathed. Lastly, here are some general tips to keep dogs from questioning the decision of defense vs play.

Distract the bad behavior. Always have a toy on hand that the puppy can transfer its attention to. Speak up and step out. If the puppy is biting hard, yell "Ouch! Interrupt problem behaviors. A shake can, a water gun, or compressed air will startle puppies and stop the behavior. But don't use these techniques if a pet has a sensitive temperament or if the techniques seem to make things worse. Set up a dragline. Both indoors and outdoors, make sure the puppy is on a leash that you can quickly grab to stop the behavior.

Use head halters. These halters provide a more natural sense of control than ordinary collars do and limit the chances of biting. Consider muzzles. In extreme cases, muzzles may be used for short periods to prevent biting. Give the puppy a time out. If the puppy won't stop the bad behavior, put the puppy in a room or in its kennel with toys to keep it busy until it calms down. Do keep an eye on the situation in case it escalates, but usually growling during play indicates that a dog is just having fun.

Aggressive dog growling is all about an expression of power. Always be cautious and take into account the situation your pet is in when dealing with aggressive dog growling. This type of dog growling is distinguished by being quite loud, with long, low, rumbles.

This deep, rumbling type of growl usually occurs when a dog feels threatened or possessive. Why do dogs growl as a warning? In most cases, it is because you are encroaching on their personal space. A pleasure growl sounds very low and rumbling, and may last much longer than other dog growls. In this kind of situation, dogs often start growling. We believe people and pets are 'Better Together'. Dogs of all ages love to play. And even if your dog is meeting new dogs and playing with them for the first time, hearing growls is generally not a reason for alarm.

If you pay attention, you can easily tell the difference between happy, fun-loving growls and threatening, warning growls. Our female dog is a good bit older than our male dog. Their play time is always accompanied by plenty of vocalizations.

There will come a point, however, when she has had enough and let me tell you, he knows she means business. Her growls change from soft, higher-pitched, fluid sounds to deeper, sharp, serious tones, and he stops messing with her immediately. Escalating Communication. When unfamiliar dogs enter into play, they oftentimes growl when they are having fun. Ears up or forward, tails up or wagging, and back hair staying smooth usually means everything is okay.