Belle has started to growl at us a little!

4 posters

Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by karkar73 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:06

Belle is now almost 15 months old and is and always has been very placid but just recently she has growled at my husband twice when he was only just smoothing her paws?!
She is funny having her paws cleaned but has never growled before! I really don't want her to be like this.
When she was about 8 months old the vet clipped her claws and she moved and the vet ended up taking it to short and it bleed terribly!! I'm wondering if this is why she is so funny about being touched there? Also the first time she growled was last week and she had just had her booster shot?! So I thought it was because she was a bit grumpy from the shot that she growled?
How can I stop her from growling?
Many Thanks Karen, Belle and Daisy xxx
karkar73
karkar73
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Age : 50
Location : Bristol
Relationship Status : Married
Dogs Name(s) : Belle & Daisy
Dog(s) Ages : Belle is 2 years & Daisy is 22 months
Dog Gender(s) : Females
Join date : 2013-01-16
Support total : 12
Posts : 185

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Rachel33 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:15

Not many dogs like having their paws handled, the growl is her only way of letting you know that she's uncomfortable. What is the rest of her body doing when he growls? Is she stiff or giving direct eye contact? You really don't want to stop her from growling, if it correct a dog for growling it takes away their warning to you, and that results in a dog that bites without warning. Remember, dogs can't communicate like us. Instead of getting mad, try and figure out why she is feeling uncomfortable. Maybe it is due to the vet, maybe her paw is hurt?
Rachel33
Rachel33
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Location : Devon
Relationship Status : In a relationship
Dogs Name(s) : Bug (Biscuit)
Dog(s) Ages : 7 ish
Dog Gender(s) : Female
Join date : 2012-06-17
Support total : 1012
Posts : 5562

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Rachel33 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:16

*if you correct a dog for growling, sorry on my phone!
Rachel33
Rachel33
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Location : Devon
Relationship Status : In a relationship
Dogs Name(s) : Bug (Biscuit)
Dog(s) Ages : 7 ish
Dog Gender(s) : Female
Join date : 2012-06-17
Support total : 1012
Posts : 5562

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Kathy Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:18

I would echo what Rachel has said above, a dog will growl to give a warning, take a look at the link below about body language this may help too:

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dog_body_language
Kathy
Kathy
Staffy-Bull-Terrier VIP Member
Staffy-Bull-Terrier VIP Member

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Age : 52
Location : Bedfordshire
Relationship Status : Married
Dogs Name(s) : Rocky
Dog(s) Ages : 5 Years Old
Dog Gender(s) : Male & a bit of a tart
Join date : 2011-08-02
Support total : 4006
Posts : 42107

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by karkar73 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:22

Thanks for your reply, I didn't think of it like that it was just she'd never done it before and so I was a bit worried.
She just growls a little her body doesn't change or move, although me and my husband have both grown up with dogs including Staffy's we've never owned dogs ourselves so it's all new to us
karkar73
karkar73
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Age : 50
Location : Bristol
Relationship Status : Married
Dogs Name(s) : Belle & Daisy
Dog(s) Ages : Belle is 2 years & Daisy is 22 months
Dog Gender(s) : Females
Join date : 2013-01-16
Support total : 12
Posts : 185

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by karkar73 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:23

Thank you Kathy I will have a look on there now xxx
karkar73
karkar73
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Age : 50
Location : Bristol
Relationship Status : Married
Dogs Name(s) : Belle & Daisy
Dog(s) Ages : Belle is 2 years & Daisy is 22 months
Dog Gender(s) : Females
Join date : 2013-01-16
Support total : 12
Posts : 185

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Rachel33 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:30

Totally understandable for you to be worried, is it all of the paws or just one paw? If it's just one I would be inclined to try and get a good look at the paw in question, with one of you feeding her tasty treats (cheese is always a winner) to distract. If it's all of the paws try and carry out positive desensitisation sessions, starting with a part she doesn't mind you touching and very slowly progressing towards the sensitive part, again with the use of special treats that she wouldn't usually get, and touch her paws gently whilst feeding her. If she starts to growl, stop doing what you're doing, as she's gone too far.
Rachel33
Rachel33
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Location : Devon
Relationship Status : In a relationship
Dogs Name(s) : Bug (Biscuit)
Dog(s) Ages : 7 ish
Dog Gender(s) : Female
Join date : 2012-06-17
Support total : 1012
Posts : 5562

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by karkar73 Mon Feb 24 2014, 19:37

Thank you Rachel I'll definitely give that a go with the treats, she just doesn't like her paws being touched it's not one in particular but I will check over her paws to make sure they're ok.
She was a bit sleepy also when he was smoothing her so it could of been a leave me alone I'm tired growl xxx
karkar73
karkar73
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member
Mega Staffy-bull-terrier Member

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Age : 50
Location : Bristol
Relationship Status : Married
Dogs Name(s) : Belle & Daisy
Dog(s) Ages : Belle is 2 years & Daisy is 22 months
Dog Gender(s) : Females
Join date : 2013-01-16
Support total : 12
Posts : 185

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Rachel33 Mon Feb 24 2014, 20:31

Ah maybe bless her, Biscuits never growled at me but I had dogs in kennels that were a little worried about handling and paws seem to be a particularly sensitive area across the board! Just take it slow really Smile good luck xx
Rachel33
Rachel33
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin
Staffy-Bull-Terrier Admin

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Location : Devon
Relationship Status : In a relationship
Dogs Name(s) : Bug (Biscuit)
Dog(s) Ages : 7 ish
Dog Gender(s) : Female
Join date : 2012-06-17
Support total : 1012
Posts : 5562

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Staffy lover Tue Feb 25 2014, 12:03

Dont worry too much about it, its like said, its their only way to talk to us, you just have to listen to them and ask yourself why. You know its her paws.
Staffy lover
Staffy lover
Staffy-Bull-Terrier VIP Member
Staffy-Bull-Terrier VIP Member

Status Status :
Online
Offline

Female
Location : Worcestershire
Dogs Name(s) : Pixee
Dog(s) Ages : 4 ish
Dog Gender(s) : Bitch
Join date : 2012-01-05
Support total : 214
Posts : 1965

Back to top Go down

Belle has started to growl at us a little! Empty Re: Belle has started to growl at us a little!

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum