How To Stop A Schnauzer Growling Aggressively

If you are a proud parent of a Schnauzer, and have noticed that they seem to growl for no apparent reason, I assure you there is a reason, and to be able to get a handle on the situation, you need to determine the cause for the behavior. Growling, like other sounds dogs make, is a form of communication, often used when they feel threatened by someone or something.

Schnauzers are a bred of dog that will certainly take up the role of head of household if they are allowed to do so. If you do not assert dominance over them at an early age, they will think they are the pack leader, and growl whenever they feel in the least bit threatened. Some ways to curb your dog’s growling, and have a peaceful household again:

1.       Although it can be tempting to try to punish a dog verbally for growling, this will not only not work, but also create a worse situation, where the dog actually begins to snap and bite at family members. When your dog figures out that he doesn’t have a reason to be threatened, his growling will cease.

2.       If you have children, it is essential that you tell them that they must pay attention to the dog if they begin to growl. If the growling seems to be caused due to an activity they are involved in, they need to stop doing it, and move away from the animal at once. The animal must feel threatened from something, and avoidance is the best way to insure that no one is harmed. Also, tell them to let you know if this ever happens, since you will need to take the proper steps to curb this behavior.

3.       Often, dogs will growl when someone comes near them that they perceive as a threat. Even if the person has the best of intentions, the animal only sees the size of the person, and feels they need to defend themselves. A growling dog should be approached with gentle movements and the person should make himself or herself the same height as the dog, through squatting. This will assure the dog that the person is not a threat, and the growling should cease.

4.       If you have not figured out the reason for the growling, and it doesn’t appear to be that the dog feels threatened, a trip to the vet might be in order to make sure that there are no medical reasons for the behavior. It could be anything from hormonal imbalances to allergies causing this unwanted and sometimes scary behavior.

5.       Often dogs will growl when they are eating, due to the fact that they are afraid someone may take their food from them. This can usually be remedied by making sure that a person the dog is close to stands by them as they are eating, and talks to them calmly, reassuring them that no one will take their food. When the dog seems to be calm, and no longer growls, the person can then try to touch the dog with gentle movements, further assuring the animal that their food will remain safe. When the element of threat is taken away, the dog will no longer feel threatened, thus the growling should stop.

Although growling is something that can be quite scary and an unwanted behavior, with a few simple tips, the growling can usually be stopped, and peace restored once again.