Growling at humans

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Growling at humans

bluesmumanddad · Master

Blue hasn't growled at people but he has on occasions hid behind us with his tail between his legs if a stranger has come to pet him.

Do you know much of Max's history. Could it be that the people or their smell remind him of something unpleasant. We presume this is why Blue acts strange around some folks and not others although it very rarely happens now.

max · Enlightened One

Cas does it sometimes, but it seems to me that she thinks they are a threat to me so she just lets them know that she is there.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Lita

You could well be right - Max might think he has to protect you from some strangers.

Our last dog, a collie X called Rags was like this - but only when I walked him by myself. If Billy was there, he didn't get roused at all when we passed other people. Apart from being embarrassing on more than one occasion, he made me smile quite a few times too. A group of about 20 or so teenagers would hang around drinking at the end of the path where we regularly walked. They would part like the Red Sea when they saw us coming and keep their distance from Rags, the feisty beasty!

All I can suggest, Lita, is what I did - and reassert your authority over Max. Make sure he sees you eat something before you give him his dinner and always go out of the door first when you walk him. He might not think he has to take charge of you then. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Christine

FAJ · Enlightened One

One wee though - I'd be wary of teaching him not to growl. Growling is a dog's way of warning that they're unhappy about something. Concentrating on training that out of them (rather than addressing the cause of the growling) could well teach him to snap first and ask questions later. Not that I'm saying that Max would take a chunk out of anyone - far from it, I've met him and he's a poppet! - but it's just general advice.

UndercoverElephant · Master

Strikes me as it's definately a protective instinct. When I was a lad, we had a big softy of a Labrador, who genuinely never said boo to a goose. One time when we were on Holiday in the Highlands, my Mum was painting by a loch with the dog nearby, whilst my Dad and I went fishing round the corner.

Apparently a bloke came up to my Mum (to look at the painting), and suddenly, docile, daft Pat was growling, snarling, baring teeth at this poor Bloke, who naturally made his excuses and fled. In a way, my Mum was embarrassed at having a slightly porky hell-hound, but mainly she was very impressed - and who can blame her. She was never in any doubt that Pat would protect her from anyone after that.

max · Enlightened One

When Cas has done it I tell she is a good ,but try not to make to much fuss as I still want her to believe I am in control. I had to retrain Cas when we first got her to trust us and I read the book by Jan Fennel ,The Dog Whisperer.and it was from this that the training began ,I am the alpha dog (or so I like to think) I go out the door first ,in the gate first, eat first etc etc and it worked with Cas so in situations like we spoke of I want her to believe I am taking care of her and there is nothing for her to worry about.Though I do believe if any one tried to hurt me she would have a go.

Lucretia · Old Hand

Hi Lita, just to answer your questions from the Introductions section, I'm from a small town just South of Aberdeen called Portlethen (it's halfway between Stonehaven and Aberdeen on the A90).

I discovered GAL through a friend a few years ago. She got a job at a local betting shop, and a man there told her that retired racers made great pets, so she called GAL, who told her about their website. She used to always look at the website in class when we were at uni, and I got hooked - especially after she was assigned Casper, a gorgeous big white dog with small grey spots over his body. Over the years, I checked the dogs gallery infrequently, usually mentally checking off which dogs would suit me and which wouldn't. I couldn't have a dog of my own until recently, and once I was able to take on a dog, I naturally gravitated back to GAL, filling in the online application form I had read through about a hundred times before!

Very sad, I know, but I simply can't live without a dog in my life and in my home, and I certainly haven't looked back since taking on Billy!

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Hi Lucretia, yes I know Portlethen. So glad you found GAL & Billy.

I do still visit Aberdeen on occasions but can no longer take the dogs as there's nowhere we can stay that the dogs can stay too. Maybe some time in the future I could meet you & Billy when I'm up on a visit, if you'd be happy to. And of course you are welcome to attend any GAL event down here and meet the others, although I know 2 1/2 hours drive here & back is a bit much for a days driving.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Just thought I'd add a note as I'm in this thread. Thanks everyone for your comments. Since I wrote the initial post Max has gone past men alone outside & never growled at anyone since that last time - must have just been coincidence that he decided to do it 2 days on the trot!!

Lucretia · Old Hand

Lita, that's sad to hear that there is nowhere that takes dogs up here...

... I would offer you a place to stay with me, but I'm in a one bedroom flat, and between me, Billy and the three birds and their respective beds/feeding stations/cages, there isn't much room for anyone else!!! But next time you are up I would be more than happy to meet up with you to go for a walk somewhere. You are also welcome to come over for tea, as long as you can tolerate being scrutinised by a nosy parrot!

On the subject of me travelling down to meet you guys, I haven't totally ruled the idea out. I am hoping to book a week in a dog-friendly cottage just outside the Welsh border late summer 2005, and was thinking about joining one of your walks on my way back North. It's the first Sunday of every month in Strathclyde Park, yes? My holiday would be Saturday-Saturday, if I can get myself a night in a dog-friendly hotel the night before, I would love to join you all, especially after seeing how excited Billy got last weekend when he met Feather, a fellow skinny dog. I would love to see him have a run with dogs that could keep up with him, and not just stare at him in awe like my mum's Cocker Spaniel and my sister's Lab cross do!!!

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Lucretia, many thanks for your invitation - sounds great. I will be in touch when I see a suitable weekend for coming up. I have sent you a PM. Of course you will be made welcome at one of our monthly walks or any other walks. Just let us know.