Don't punish the growl. All Dogs growl and it isn't necessarily always a warning that they are about to bite. Dogs also growl in play, Dogs can only communicate via barking, whining and growling. A growl doesn't always mean "im warning you before I bite!" Some dogs I have worked with even growl in greeting. As humans we have to decipher for ourselves what a Dog is saying. It's more than a growl it's also the body language. When we know our Dogs we know what we are saying. Many people have said to me over the years "are you not scared that Dogs growling" and I'm not. I treat all Dogs like chip pans with water until I know them and we have bonded. I listen to them and observe their body language. I know when to approach a Dog and not to. Don't punish the growl and don't be so quick to correct them when they do growl. If it is a warning growl you will know it is if you know your Dog well and that growl when it is a warning growl stops the Dog progressing to a bite when they are scared or if they truly are aggressive or fear reactive. So respect the growl and don't punish it 🐶
