Why is my dog suddenly growling at other dogs? Is it serious?

Before assuming this is a behavior issue, I would want to rule out a possible medical issue first. When I hear about sudden changes resulting in aggressiveness, the possibility of pain or discomfort in one of the dogs could be the root of the problem. When a dog is not feeling well, it is only natural for it to react in a negative way if one of its buddies is trying to get it to act normally. A thorough physical exam should be performed by a veterinarian in order to rule out any sort of orthopedic or neurologic pain. Thyroid conditions can also be responsible for behavior changes as well. If it turns out that no medical issue can be be identified, you will have to start considering what may have started this sudden change of heart by Mill. You will have to think back to when it started, when the problem occurs most, where it occurs most, who is around when it is occurring, who ISN'T around when it is occurring, so on and so forth. These types of issues can be long and complicated to resolve, but usually as soon as the issue is identified the road forward becomes much easier.

Hitting your dog will likely cause the opposite effect and cause the behavior to escalate from growling to biting or snapping. If he is growling at you over objects or just in general, I highly recommend seeking out a professional trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person ASAP as aggression toward people is a very complex issue that should be addressed immediately. I would NOT continue to hit or punish your dog for growling as this will only worsen the behavior. You can find out more about veterinary behaviorists and find one in your area here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

Sudden behavior changes can sometimes indicate illness or pain, so if this change happened abruptly, I would first schedule a vet visit to rule out any health issues that could be causing it. If Daisy checks out healthy, it may be that she is experiencing some separation anxiety of sorts. Perhaps she's bonded with you because you take care of her, or she was fearful of something and trusts you. Having your grandma care for her more if possible, such as brushing her, offering treats, etc may help them to bond again. Checking out the articles below may also help give you some ideas for combating separating anxiety. https://www.petcoach.co/article/separation-anxiety/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/treatment-options-for-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-ways-to-reduce-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-of-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/ As for the growling at your family, if Daisy seems uncomfortable around them, having them give her space, and then just tossing a treat when they walk past may help her get more used to them and relax a bit better. If the growling continues or she tries to bite, seeking out a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person is best to address the issue.

I hate to hear this is happening. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Best of luck.

It sounds like Dune may simply have been startled and reacted fearfully - growling and barking are common signs of fear in dogs. If he settled down quickly and has been acting normal again since then, I wouldn't necessarily worry. If this behavior continues to occur over the next few days or weeks, then I would recommend consulting with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can evaluate him in person and help determine why this is happening, so that you can put together a training plan to work on it. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here (www.dacvb.org) or a qualified trainer here (www.ccpdt.org)

Not always, dogs can growl when playing, when frustrated, when experiencing pleasure. Of course these are all different (pitch, tone, situation). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Gus is definitely stimulated when he sees other dogs and exhibits these behaviors, but I'd have to see him to know if this is because he is aggressive or fearful. Your best bet is to find a great veterinary behaviorist for a one-on-one consult. If this is not an option for you, then you need to focus on getting him socialized as soon as possible so he can safely interact with other dogs. If you keep him away from other dogs, his behavior will get worse and worse as his nervousness escalates. Go to www.dogstardaily.com for great help with socialization and safe dog-introduction.