Charlie growling is getting me into trouble, any ideas??

I posted a few months back to say that Charlie was always growling, not aggressively, just when we called him over, I think to say hello.

Well he still does this, and it's a really loud, low rumble now, literally every time someone calls him, he'll trot over, growling/rumbling. There's absolutely nothing aggressive in it, he's done it since he was eight weeks and I genuinely believe he's doing it to say hi as he comes over. The problem is, he's doing outside to strangers and as you can imagine, people are not impressed by it.

While on a bus a while ago, Charlie rumbled at a man who sat on the seat opposite. I got a FILTHY look and the man got up and sat farther at the back. Now this man hadn't even looked at Charlie, but he still wanted to say hi. He does it when people are walking past in the street and the worse one was when we were waiting outside the shop for my hubby the yesterday, a little girl came over with her mum and asked if she could stroke Charlie. Naturally, I told her of course she could, he was very friendly. She came closer and reached out and said hello doggy, Charlie stood up, tail wagging leaned toward her to sniff and rumbled. The woman went NUTS!! She grabbed the little girl and pulled her back and shouted at me saying I was out of order having an aggressive dog unmuzzled and allowing children to get close. I tried to explain that it's just something he's always done and it's simply his way of saying hello and he would NEVER hurt anyone, but she was having none of it and stormed off, still shouting and threatening to call someone about him.

Now I COMPLETELY understand the womans reaction, and although I wish she had let me explain, she was just protecting her child and I have absolutely no issue with that.

The thing is, I don't want this to continue, and have people think he is an aggressive dog, and obviously I'd be devastated if someone took it further and reported him.

This is just a natural behaviour to Charlie, but does anyone have any idea how I can train him out of it? I'm really worried where it might lead. I've tried just telling him no firmly and ignoring him when he rumbles, but he still does it. It's the only thing that ignoring him hasn't worked on.

I don't think he will understand that you are telling him no because of the rumbling, because he has been doing it for so long, he won't think it's wrong - he'll think he's done something else!

I think what you need to do is teach him the 'quiet' command. Every time he barks (forget the rumbling for the time being), distract him with a treat and say "Quiet" at the same time. When he looks at you for the treat he will almost certainly stop barking so you can give him the treat & tell him "Good boy, quiet". Emphasise the word.

Once he will be quiet on command then try it when he rumbles - he should look to you for the treat & he'll stop any noise he's making!

I can sympathise to an extent. But can certainly understand why you want him to stop. Moo has become into a habit of bareing her teeth when she see's people, when she gets excited. Now, when she started I found it quite cute, I knew she wasn't agressive, just her way of saying hi, play with me! It was never a problem until she is the size she is now! I still find it funny, when I get home and she wonders up to me tail wagging, teeth showing, not good when she does it to others, who don't know her. I know I have to be more firm now and when I can see her ecitiment, cause thats what triggers it I have to be ultra firm with her, it hasn't stopped her though. It just seems to be her way of saying hi. I hope there is a simple way, I have just put it down to her. Sorry for the ramble, hope it makes sense lol x

Thanks ladies. Charlie knows the quiet command, I can get him to stop barking on command (I had terrible trouble with him barking the house down when someone passed the door or window so had to get that one sorted!) If I tell him quiet when he rumbles, sometimes he stops and then carries straight on but most time he doesn't pay any attention. But when he's barking, the second I say Quiet, he stops. It's very frustrating!

The only other thing you can do, I think, is distract with obedience commands. 'Sit', or 'watch', or 'down' something like that. I don't know what else you can do other than quickly explaining to people what he's going to do before he does it!

Funny you should say that Caryll, I know when Moo's gonna do the teeth thing, its only when she is off lead and someone takes an interest in her. The first thing I say is she will do a teeth thing! There is nothing menacing about it but rather scary if you don't know her x

I think I'll just give that a go, forewarn people before Charlie scares the crap out of them! Bloody dog, it's lucky I love him so much the amount of grief he's given me lately!!!

What Charlie the lol x

Hi shontelle duke does exactly the same thing but only with us in the family when we come home so I ve never needed to change him I can understand your dilema though hope you get it sorted for his sake some people can be horrid

Chloe does this all the time, just forewarn people he likes to say hello... Chloes body language tells people it's a friendly growl, she wriggles her butt, wags her tail, stamps her front legs and growls. Must say most people love it, and fuss her more lol

stamps her front legs! That is exactly what Moo does thought people would think I'm mad if I put that, but I know exactly what you mean!

If you can not curve the behaviour you could make it more cute? like other have said so when he does it he gets excited and playful and people can see it is not aggression. When he does it, laugh and explain your laugh that its a friendly growl or greeting, Dogs growl for so many different things and it is only the body language with the growl that you can actually tell.
Taz grumbles/coughs/wobbles his back side and stamps his feet, people who matter know the truth and if someone does report him and someone comes out to investigate if they know anything then they will know the truth.

Wow im so glad i just saw this Kaos also does that low roar/rumble. He only does it 2 my hubby though who happens to be his most fav person ever. I think kaos does it 2 encourge play time he also does this when he has been told off by hubby sometimes to answer back lol. He never does it 2 anyone else though lol x

janey wrote:What Charlie the lol x

Have you NOT been reading my posts the last couple weeks Janey?? Lol

Thanks everyone. It's nice to know it's not just Charlie that does this. I'll warn people when they approach what he'll do then laugh it off when he does it.

His body language shows that he's being friendly, but most people hear the growl, ignore the body language, and assume he's gonna rip their heads off!!

poor Charlie, he only wants to play, and chew the odd thing, ruin a few photos! Don't be mad or you'll cry!