A behavior complaint that I often hear from clients is that the dog is growling at their children. The pet’s parents are often on the verge of rehoming the dog or surrendering it to the shelter. They have come to me for an immediate solution to the problem. My response to them is “Thank goodness your dog is growling at your children.” They are often dismayed by the response.
The first thing that I address is safety. No child should be left unsupervised with a dog regardless how easy going and trustworthy the dog may be. Children are unpredictable, and their gestures may be interpreted as physical threats to the dog.
The second thing that I address is the growl itself. I tell my pet parents to be grateful for the growl. That growl could save their child’s life or prevent serious injuries. A growl is a form of communication that simply means go away or stop doing what you are doing. Think of it as a clear warning— what comes next may be a bite. When owners punish the growl, the dog will skip the warning and go straight to the bite.