This is a quote from an article I just read. What do you all think about what it says
about scolding a dog when it growls? I'm not sure that I agree with it. But then I
understand his point that he's making.
I'm curious to see if anyone agrees that what the author of this article says is true.
"So what happens when we reprimand a dog for growling? We are essentially training them to not growl. Consequently, we're training them not to give imperative warnings. By doing this, we are potentially creating a walking time bomb - a dog that no longer gives warning signs, whose frustration will build until it can't take anymore, then jump directly to a bite. We all have different levels of tolerance and, likewise, we all have a breaking point. Often, after a person has been bitten by a dog, the owner will say things like, "There was no warning - my dog just bit – he has never done that before."
Here's the link to the full article: http://www.dogsx3.com/articles/articles39.html
What'd ya think?
Jodie
Full Version: Demystifying The Growl
I do agree to a point with the author, The growling is a way of communication.
But because Sadie has had so little socialization she needs to learn acceptible behavior in a family. And that is were the obedience training comes in, and the socialization must take place if she is to remain in your family. As I told you privately with my example of brandi dobes tend to be talkers.. Whining and Growling for all kinds of reason..
What she needs to learn is being touched is acceptible behavior and you and your family will never hurt her.. She needs to learn that you and your family are Alpha in the pack and except her position in the pack..
Even though Sadie is very lovable and beautiful, she missed out on Socialization and training to be in a family. The obedience training is very important because it will build confidence in her and also in your family.
Until she gets this she needs her crate as her safe place where she wont be bothered, she needs to be on a leash so you have control of her actions.
But because Sadie has had so little socialization she needs to learn acceptible behavior in a family. And that is were the obedience training comes in, and the socialization must take place if she is to remain in your family. As I told you privately with my example of brandi dobes tend to be talkers.. Whining and Growling for all kinds of reason..
What she needs to learn is being touched is acceptible behavior and you and your family will never hurt her.. She needs to learn that you and your family are Alpha in the pack and except her position in the pack..
Even though Sadie is very lovable and beautiful, she missed out on Socialization and training to be in a family. The obedience training is very important because it will build confidence in her and also in your family.
Until she gets this she needs her crate as her safe place where she wont be bothered, she needs to be on a leash so you have control of her actions.
| QUOTE (Jodie @ Oct 25 2004, 11:45 AM) |
| "So what happens when we reprimand a dog for growling? We are essentially training them to not growl. Consequently, we're training them not to give imperative warnings. By doing this, we are potentially creating a walking time bomb - a dog that no longer gives warning signs, whose frustration will build until it can't take anymore, then jump directly to a bite. |
I think it's not really reflective of reality.
While 99.95 of people think that a growl is a dog's primary way of showing aggression, it really isn't. It can be indicative of fear, aggression, or various other bad situations- but the real, PRIMARY warning signs are non-verbal in nature. I suggest you read "The other end of the leash", which is written by a dog behaviorist who specializes in aggressive dogs. As a short summary (read the book, really!), the primary cues are rised lips (bared teeth), comissures (corners of mouth) going forward, lean of the body, and looking directly at the target.
In fact, if you take two dogs, one growling, and the other leaning slightly forward, lips drawn forward, and looking right at you, I really, honestly wouldn't be afraid of the growling dog if I didn't provoke it. However, with the dog that was silently leaning forward, staring straight at me, lips forward, I would IMMEDIATELY look away - and I mean IMMEDIATELY.
As a classic example, not long ago I saw two dogs standing around looking very relaxed, one was just sniffing the ground. All of the sudden, BAM: the two were going at each other like they were mortal enemies. I took some good bruises and cuts helping get the two apart, it was a serious fight. The others who saw it immediately said "That was so weird - one minute they were fine, the next they were fighting!" What I'd seen was that the dog sniffing the ground got a little too close to the second dog, so the second dog shot it a stern warning glance (VERY easy for the other dog to percieve), the first dog shot back a stern lip-purse (a CLEAR sign of aggressive intention to the to the other dog), and the fight was on. While that all took place in less than two seconds (maybe less than one second), it revealed that it wasn't really "out of the blue", and one dogs wasn't being picked on - both dogs had ample opportunity (from the dog's perspective) to back down, but neither wanted to. There wasn't any growling, just clean signs from both dogs that they wanted a fight, and so it happened. But, to the people who didn't know what to watch for, it was just "an instant fight".
I've seen this in every dog interaction I've watched - once you get used to reading the dogs' PRIMARY methods of communicating aggression, not only can you tell when something's really going to happen, it opens up an entirely new depth and richness in watching your dogs interract with other dogs and humans. It really does let you understand many times more what they're thinking and trying to get through to us thick-skulled primates that just don't seem to get what the dogs are trying to tell us!
As to whether it's right or wrong to teach your dog not to growl, that's up to you. In packs, puppies are taught by their mother, siblings, and other members that some behaviors are not acceptable. That's true of any social species, and there's nothing wrong with it. The right-vs-wrong aspect comes in to how you do the communicating. If you do the communicating in a manner which the dog readily understands and is benevolant in nature, there's nothing wrong. If you do things which YOU think the dog should understand (but he doesn't), or you're not benevolant in nature, then you're certainly not in the right.
steve
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