Growling but not agressive

When my friend comes round, Nita gets very excited. I have asked my friend to ignore her until she has calmed down so as not to get over excited. However when she has calmed down and gone over to my friend, she gets stroked then starts growling. She doesn't bare teeth or snarl its just a low growl. She still wants stroking too. This time she started biting, again not a proper bite more like a playful one. Just wondered if this is normal in staffies?

I think mouthing at 2+ years should be discouraged. It may well be playing but adult jaws can hurt and if a child should happen to play like this it could be very harmful. Replace the arm, leg, torso with a toy to reinforce that they are for mouthing only

I agree, she got a firm no and stopped. I was just wondering about the growl?

Are you able to record it ?

Agree with Ian, replace with a toy

Yes got it here.



PS, bit blurry, phone camera needs sorting in darkish light

it sounds more like a grumble from excitement than a sign of aggession.

Looks like a proper tart there having tummy rubs, sorry so funny, bless her

Thanks Kathy, thats what I said to my friend but I wasn't 100% sure. Still getting used to her various noises. I am hoping the over excitement lead to the attempted play bite. Of course, as mentioned by Ian, thats a no no. She realised she was in the wrong as as soon as I said it she came and sat with me.

She loves belly rubs, right little tart she is indeed

EDIT - Forgot to mention too, about 10 minutes after this she had stopped growling when being stroked by her so I am happy its not aggression.

mia was mouthing at 3 when i got her its a long process but youll get there. instead of yours visitors going over to the dog let the dog go to them.

Good idea. The ignoring her when she is overly excited is slowly working when my friend comes round (despite my friends reluctance so I am training both Nita, and her lol). At the moment she is following me everywhere and won't let me out of her sight. But, we will get there, its early days and slow steps but each one is a step in the right direction. Thanks for the suggestion.

Oh oh oh... That's not a growl... That's pure Staffy love

Get used to that... She's one happy girl

Hm. I'm not 100% - her body language concerned me a little. Lots of tongue flicks (anxiety) and that whale eye didn't look very positive. Obviously would need to see her in other contexts but I think she looks uncomfortable.

Does she do this at any other time?

The second half of the video she does relax more - that's actually quite hard to figure out. If I was watching that without the noise it looked like she was going to bite at one point? Really not sure!

Hi, no she doesnt do it at any other time. She did it to me today when I was talking to her and stroking her. She hasn't shown any aggressive tendencies at any other times bar the day we got her and she gave a low growl to someone in the pet shop who went to stroke her, no lunge just a warning (although I wouldn't call that aggression) She isnt food aggressive or toy aggressive either.

Rachel33 wrote:Hm. I'm not 100% - her body language concerned me a little. Lots of tongue flicks (anxiety) and that whale eye didn't look very positive. Obviously would need to see her in other contexts but I think she looks uncomfortable.

I agree. I think she wants to like it but at times she's not sure. Maybe try asking your friend to stroke instead of rub, and see if that makes any difference. I know with horses they can sometimes dislike our fussy movements and much prefer slower, soothing ones. I think some dogs - especially sensitive ones - can be like that too.

Thanks, I will mention it to her. I am trying to video her when she gets like it but she has only given a few low growls since but again no aggression. I agree with Ian with regards to it being Staffy love but also with Rachel and Liz in that I am not 100%, if that makes sense?

hopefully all sorts itself out in time with being a rescue dog you just have to take the as you find them . takes a lot for a staffy to trust depends what they have been through good luck

How's it going? Has your friend been round again?

Hi, yes she has. Nita hasn't been too bad with it, it would seem that if she gets over excited she does it. Especially if belly rubbed.