Growling Isn’t Bad Behaviour – It’s Communication
The other day, Lucy let out this huge growl at Penelope—and honestly? I was glad she did.
That might sound surprising. But it was actually the kind of growl I want to hear from a dog in her situation.
Let me explain why.
A Little Backstory
When Penelope came along, Lucy was not impressed. When she was a puppy, there was a cat in the house but Henry went to live with my parents. Things have changed since then.
Cats being cats, Penelope would casually stroll over to Lucy like, “Ooh, whatcha chewing?” or “that spot looks comfy. I think I’ll go check it out.” But any time P came within 10 feet of her, Lucy would freeze, give her a hard stare, and that “give me a reason” look. Especially if food, bones or a spot on the couch was involved.
So I had to manage the situation really carefully. I focused a lot on recall so I could call Penelope away quickly and teach her to “perch” when I needed her out of the way. Over time—with consistency, clear boundaries, and a lot of management—both species had ways to feel safe.
Lucy saw that I was paying attention and learned that I’d step in if Penelope got too close. And Penelope learned to be (mostly) respectful around Lucy’s high-value stuff.
What Happened That Night
I gave Ella and Lucy some chews, and I was on my laptop—not really paying attention.
Penelope had been pestering me for her dinner, but I wasn’t quite ready to feed her. She noticed Lucy chewing something and headed across the room to investigate.
I had my back to them and didn’t see what was happening—but I heard it.
Lucy growled. It started with a little warning growl. It got louder and more serious until I stepped in and called Penelope away.
That growl? It was information. It was and example of trust. And it was exactly what I needed to hear.
🧠 So, Why Do Dogs Growl?
There are loads of reasons a dog might growl. And when they do, it’s to communicate a feeling or a need:
Fear, frustration or discomfort
Insecurity
Pain or stress
Over-stimulation or overwhelm
During play
Growling always serves a function, a purpose.
To create space
Protect resources
Avoid conflict or prevent escalation
Communicate discomfort
Warning to another animal or person
In Lucy’s case, it was resource guarding and a clear distance-increasing signal.
She had a high-value chew. She felt unsafe. And she sent that message—loud and clear.
Before The Growl
Dogs rarely go straight to a growl. They often start with:
Lip licking
Yawning
Looking away
Freezing
Holding their breath
Hard stares
Whale eye
These are known as calming signals or appeasement behaviours. They’re quiet, subtle ways to say “I’m not okay with this.”
When those don’t work, then dogs may escalate to a growl.
And when that doesn’t work—if we ignore or punish them—they may escalate to snapping or biting.
As aggression expert Michael Shikashio says:
“Growling is information. We should thank the dog, not punish them.”
Punishing a growl doesn’t solve anything. It just teaches the dog not to warn us next time. And that’s how bites happen “out of nowhere.”
🧠 In Lucy’s Case…
She did everything right. She didn’t lunge. She didn’t snap. She didn’t take matters into her own paws. She asked me for help.
Because Lucy’s learned that when she growls, I respond. I create space. I redirect Penelope. I help.
That means she doesn’t need to go further.
And that’s a huge win.
