What should I do with our temperamental princess?
 

Lucky loves to sit on laps or snuggle in beds with people, but lately, if someone attempts to move her slightly so that he/she can get more comfortable, she growls nastily. She doesn't snap. How do we address this behavior? Do we yell at her for growling? Someone told me that it is bad to yell at a dog just for growling, because growling is their warning signal that they might snap. No growl, no warning. Is this true?

This sounds like a dominance issue. Their are lots of previous threads on this issue. You can also check under training. Seems like its been discussed there too.

Jewels doe this too sometimes when you move her when she is sleeping. She is very non agressive and wouldnt bite. I just think it is a way for them to voice their displeasure without biting. I dont think its necessarily a warning that they will bite next. My daughter sometimes teases Jewels and she will really growl but she still never bites.

I had to smile when I read this post. My Jack Russell growls at what she considers any irritation to her. She doesn't bite, just growls. She growls when you bump her in bed, she growls when you sit down next to her, she growls when you pick her up, etc. In 10 years she has never bitten anyone, I think it's a way she expresses herself. I think to a point it is a dominance thing, but I have never let her intimidate me either. I don't act afraid or back off when she does growl and she knows that if it goes any farther that there will definitely be consequences. The growling doesn't bother me too much, but if there was biting I would definitely address it. Just my opinion.

We have a cat that sleeps at the foot of our bed. If your feet touch him or push him....he growls. We take it to mean....I ain't moving, you're disturbing me, and last but not least....could ya leave me alone, puleaze! :D

Millie does the same thing. It's not a dominance issue. It's and "attitude" issue. You are bothering them and they don't like it. However, if they want the priviledge of sitting on your lap or next to you, the growling should be dealt with. Next time it happens, pick her up nicely and place her on the floor. Ignore her for several minutes. Long enough for her to begin to do something else, other than stare at you or jump at you trying to get back on the couch/chair/bed. Then allow her back on your lap and tell her good girl. A few times of this and she will learn that if she wants to sit on your lap or on the bed, she needs to behave.

My pom does this.. and its not pretty. She acts like a great big great dane in her tiny body. She has never bit, but has growled and barked mean.. we just take it like she don't want to move and leave her alone. lol

One of my dogs - a little Walt Disney mutt - was the same way.

She was actually the sweetest, most loveable little thing in the world. But if she was ever on a bed or had found a comfortable place to lie down on the sofa -- your life was in danger if you tried to move her. She definitely loved where she was at and wanted to stay there.

Many times, I waited hours to make my bed because she was sleeping on it. And, you didn't dare try to move her. (Actually - I could just grab her and move her if I really wanted to, but I usually didn't.)

She especially loved to sleep with my granddaughter and this was certainly one time you let her stay where she was - curled up and happy. I think she thought she had died and gone to heaven.

We never worried about this behavior. We respected it and let her be. She wasn't doing anything wrong - just wanted to be left where she was. She didn't have a mean bone in her body, and as I said she was the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever owned. This was the only time - ever - she stood up for something she wanted.

PS: I have a brother who acted the same way. His wife used to take a broom and poke him to wake him up - because he'd wake up swinging....obviously didn't want to get out of bed. I remember when he was in high school, my mother used to knock on his door to get him up and then run.

I'd just let your dog be. It's just telling you to "Leave me alone - I like it here!!!"

Carol Jean

This is one aspect of resource guarding. There is an excellent book on the subject by Jean Donaldson that you might want to read called MINE!

Gucci also growls. I do have a problem thou, she can be protective with her food. She wont growl or snap at me when she eats but she has done it to my kids. I always tell my kids not to bother her while she eats. If anyone has any advise in how to fix this I appreciate it.

MINE! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding by Jean Donaldson