Skip to content

Recent Growling at Dogs During Walk

Behavioral Issues
  • He's becoming an adult, and attitudes toward other dogs often change at that time. You need to be careful using aversives. It can backfire, or you inhibit the growl and therefore the warning before he escalates and bites. Better to distract him by asking him to do something else, ideally before he growls if you can anticipate the problem, e.g. require him to sit or to watch you so that you can reward him for the good behaviour. Some dogs become "leash aggressive" but are O.K. with others off leash and he may be one of those. However, some Basenjis become dog aggressive and avoidance is the best alternative.

  • Ok I will try rewarding for not growling. SO BUMMED!!! He is so good with other dogs and it could be the leash thing. Good point!

  • Agree with eeeefarm. We have two lovely, laidback sisters, who growl and baroo a lot when meeting other dogs on leash. It takes calmness and practice to teach them to behave themselves. You can dedicate entire walks to addressing this issue. It can be a lot of 'work', but also fun and rewarding to see your B change. And it is wonderful for bonding.

  • OMG found something that worked!!! Our dog was growling once again like crazy over this golden at the park. So we thought it was the leash because he's fine with other dogs off the leash but he was still going crazy over this poor dog. The dog owner was sooo nice! What we did was pick up our dog brought him close as we squatted down as he watched us pet the other dog (we remained completely calm) and said nice doggie as we pet the other dog. Let our dog smell our hands. We did this for about 2 minutes. After that, they played AMAZING and ran around for about 1/2 hour absolutely no problems and having so much fun together. They chased each other back and forth completely calm and playful. We were so happy you have no idea!!! The other pet owner was ecstatic their golden got such a great run in too. Not many dogs that run like that. Hopefully others can try it! Will try this with another dog he was growling at.

  • That's great - I would also still carry treats to distract your dog in case the other dog isn't quite as friendly or your dog doesn't like being so close to the other dog - just in case.

  • Our mix began to do the same thing. Actually lurching at other dogs while on a walk and we would get dirty looks from people. Take her off the leash and her personalty changed immediately. She even plays with the dogs that she earlier lurched at.

  • We learned the same thing! Off the leash he is Mr. Personality! Plays amazing with the ones he growled at.

  • When on leash dogs pick up your emotions (without realizing it you transmit done the leash and the dogs pick up on that) so if you are a tad nervous the dog will pick up on that. Your dog may have become really nervous around other dogs when with you because you have become unconsciously nervous about others.

    Or your dog has developed a bigger personal space and needs to let other dogs know she doesn't like others coming close. There is training protocol to help with this.

  • We figured out the same thing. When off the leash he's 100% good.

  • Unfortunately we have the same problem with our boy (9) and girl (10). Off leash they play well - 95% of the time. The other 5% can be a disaster especially with small frightened dogs. My guys have gone after such animals and even bitten them - once drawing a small amount of blood. This behaviour seems quite instinctive and regrettably I have not been able to curb it. I do hope your pleasant little fellow doesn’t go this far. But we are talking about a very primitive breed.

Suggested Topics

  • Growling at my wife

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    And your wife should be feeding him....not you.....
  • Problems with other dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    djaan, how about removing your spam link… then people might think your posts are serious.
  • Ears and Growling

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    curlytailsC
    Aside from personal aesthetic preference, I think this is also why I tend to like dogs with pricked ears. I like being able to read the range of expressions through their ears. It's especially cute when they fold their ears flat in their extremely-happy-greeting-face, like when I just get back home and open the door.
  • Growling at the dog park

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    7k Views
    torchsongT
    The treat issues haven't been too horrible. Most of the time the people who bring them quickly learn the downside of it and don't do it again. :) She's been doing a lot better, and I've been determining when it's okay to discipline and when not. If she's doing a "give me space" where three or four dogs are sniffing her at once, I hold back, but occasionally she's gone after just one dog and I put her down for that. Next thing you know she's just playing with the dog, chasing or whatever. So it seems to be working. She's gotten a lot better at coming on command as well, even from across the park. It's tough to break that ADD that most 'Senji's have :), but of late she's gotten really good at breaking away from what she's doing if I call her. Who knows…we may make a dog out of this "cat-dog" yet! :)
  • Issues with walks

    Behavioral Issues
    34
    0 Votes
    34 Posts
    9k Views
    Rita JeanR
    Jaycee on Sunday was on the deck sleeping in the hot sun. However when we did class on Sunday my husband took his shoes off and was on the pavement with her to see if it was to hot. Trainer ask him if he had shoes Steve told sure do but if it is to hot for my feet its to hot for Jaycee. Rita Jean
  • There was a little dog…

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    J
    Thanks for your replies. I guess in the spontanaity of the moment I did as I do with my other dogs, a no and then a quick taking the thing away since I'm boss and I'm the owner of everything ultimately. I do believe Rowdy was not being the bad growling type bite – he took his front teeth and nipped at my arm, pinching it, but it hurt! I will try to work on the "leave it" command, since I taught that to my mom's poodle and it worked well. Rowdy is smart and is finally getting some of the house rules down. Though he's sneaky when he isn't resting beside you and you forget to watch him... :)