How to Stop a Doberman Pinscher Growling Aggressively

If the sight of a Doberman pinscher is sufficient to encourage thoughts of a fierce aggressor, then you can just imagine if it starts to growl in your direction.  Yes, even owners will be justified in feeling a sense of dread when their Dobermans exhibit such an aggressive behavior.  After all, Dobermans are more known as guard dogs than as family pets although that image is slowly but surely reversing nowadays.

Before you succumb to your anxieties about your Doberman and his growling, it will serve you well to know the reasons behind his behavior.  In this way, you will not give in to impulsive actions like punishments that can backfire in the future.  Keep in mind that, when it comes to dog training, aggression breeds aggression.

Your Doberman may be growling because he feels threatened by a person or object, either known or unknown.  For example, your pet may be eating but your child is approaching him with no intention but to pat its head.  Your dog may see the approach as a threat to his food supply and, hence, will growl as a warning to the child.

Or it may be that your Doberman, being the guard dog that he is, will growl once he gets a whiff of the scent of an incoming intruder.  Unlike your child approaching the feed bowl, this is a valid situation when your Doberman is allowed to exhibit signs of aggression.  Now, if you have found the reasons for his aggressive behavior, you can then take the necessary steps to curb or control it.

Find the Solutions

Expectedly, the solutions depend on the situation when your Doberman growled his displeasure.  We can provide these situations with their solutions:

* Physical Illness – Since your dog cannot express himself in any of the human language, he may manifest his physical pains through growling as well as via barking and whining.  Thus, you should have the veterinarian perform a complete medical check-up to rule out the presence of illnesses.

* Threats to Power – Dogs are pack animals that need leaders to assert the latter’s dominance over the rest of the pack, thus, the term alpha dog.  When your Doberman is growling, he may see an object or the person or another dog as a threat to his power.

In this case, you should respect the animal and keep a safe distance but continue to be the alpha dog in the pack.  Or you can always slowly squat down to his level, talk to him in a firm but soothing voice and gently offer your hand, palm facing upwards.  You are still the alpha dog but you are reassuring your Doberman that you represent no threat to him.

* Food and Affection – Children being affectionate towards pets, Dobermans may not take too kindly towards rough playing amongst kids.  You should teach your kids to be gentle with the Doberman and to avoid rough plays.  It also helps to let the dog be when he is feeding on his feed bowl.

With patience, your Doberman will learn to express his displeasure in some other way.  But it is also up to you to ensure that you are not the cause of such displeasure.