Why has my dog started to growl at me recently?

Question

Sometimes when my dog is lying down and I go to pet him, he gives me this bad look and growls at me, and I think he would snip at me. He's a 1 year old beagle and this has just recently started. I don't know if it's just because he simply does not want to be bothered, or if it could be something more. He does not bite, but when he growls like this, I think he would bite. He's very lovealbe to everyone that comes over, so I can't figure out what would cause this behavior. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

He's adolescent and feeling his oats. Time to nip this in the bud.

Sign him and yourself up for a session of obedience classes. And at home start Nothing In Life is Free (NILIF)

Answer 2

Two possibilities at play here:

1 - Sleep aggression.

Ever heard the expression, let sleeping dog's lie? You should never touch a dog who is sleeping, unless you are sure he is fully awake. Some dogs sleep with their eyes open. Always speak to the dog and get his attention before you make contact, or they may startle awake, barking, growling, even snapping.

2 - Space Aggression.

In a dog's world, one dog rules the pack. The leader of the pack gets first choice of sleeping/resting area. If your dog fancies himself the leader, this can turn into a serious problem which can end in you or someone else being seriously hurt by your dog. You must implement alpha training right away, you need to become the pack leader. With space aggression, the best way to combat this, is to keep the dog off the furniture (for now). This sends a very clear message to the dog about the heirchy of the family. Obedience training is another great way to let your dog know who is in charge.

Answer 3

My dog does this too on occasion and it seems to me this is his way of letting you know to give him space and leave him alone. Some dogs don't like to be disturbed while sleeping or relaxing and they express it by growling or showing their teeth. My dog will first raise her lips a little if you bother her, and then she'll growl if that doesn't work. Just be careful when small children are around because that could get ugly real quick. Some dogs express their emotions in different ways and you need to make sure you understand your dogs "moods" in order to avoid any problems. Some dogs will supress their anger and some won't. . . they are just like people and you need to work with it and act accordingly.

Answer 4

if you think he will bite you, he will sense it and someday he will. They can sense when your are afraid of them. You have to be the Pack Leader and let him know that YOU and not him are in charge. Watch the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic TV. He is awesome. That kind of behavior is not acceptable and the sooner he learns that the better you and he will be. If he is not neutered, get him neutered asap. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise (walks) boundaries and limitations (what is allowed and what isn't) Cesar has some DVDs and a book that were very helpful to me. His website is below:
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 5

1. He feels dominant over you.
2. Don't pet him on the head...this is intimidating to a dog.
3. Don't stare him in the eyes...you may be and not know it.
4. Teach him basic obedience.
5. Get him nueterd. Intact males are 3x more likely to bite.

Go to http://www.friendsofanimals.org to purchase an affordable neuter certificate to use at your local vet. This can help with dominance aggression.

http://www.libertydogtraining.com

Answer 6

We have a Papillon/Beagle Mix and he does the same thing. Although, he was rescued by us from an abusive situation, so I think he does it because he was treated poorly in the past...I have known a lot of people with Beagles that have had this same problem, so it may just be a genetic behavior in the breed.

Answer 7

It very well could be he doesn't want to be bothered but you have to stop this behavior before it gets worse. Tell him no when he growls at you. Also be sure he doesn't have something bothering him health wise. Sometimes dogs get snottier when they have something hurting them. He is only a year he could simply be becoming himself. Starting to mature. If his health is good be sure to correct him when he behaves like this. You set the standard not him.

Answer 8

Yeah, my dog does it too!
99% of the time she is my absolute best mate, but when she's sleepy she gets all her teeth out and grumbles at me if I pat her, she'll also give me that look too - it's horrible!
It's down to it being a dog's job to be alert all the time, if pooch is dozing - even if they are looking right at you - and they are touched, their instinct is to protect themselves so they 'attack' first.
Have you ever heard of the expression "Let sleeping dogs lie"? It's because of that reason!! The way to get round it is - when pooch starts to growl, mention their favourite word to snap them out of it. As soon as I say 'biscuit' to my dog, she's normal again..... and looking for a biscuit!!

Answer 9

YES, he will eventually bite you unless you take steps to correct this misbehavior, or unless you choose to obey his orders for the rest of his life.

Somewhere between 8 and 18 months, dogs hit their maturity. At this age, their behavior changes and they start to test their owners. Sometimes the testing is mild; sometimes, as in your case, the testing can lead to potential disaster.

You need to re-evaluate your relationship with your dog. You need to fully assume the role of a boss in your situation, become the alpha in your 'pack'. Until and unless you do, the dog will try to take over the position himself more and more.

There are numerous, non-physical, ways of becoming your dog's alpha:

* Feed him after you have had a meal. If time doesn't allow this, pretend to eat out of his dish before giving it to him. (alpha eats first, always)

* Make sure he walks behind you going up and down stairs, down narrow hallways, and especially going in and out of doors. Attach a short lead to him and hold him back if necessary. (alpha leads the way)

* Make him move out of the way if he is laying in the path you are walking on. Don't walk around him or step over him. If he is in the way, give a firm "MOVE" command, and either gently nudge him with your toe or take him by the collar and have him move. (alpha has a clear path at all times)

* Make him earn treats, food, petting, anything good, by obeying a command. Have him sit, at the least, before granting him the good things in life. (alpha owns everything, all others have to earn them)

* Enroll in an obedience course, read a book, ask a friend with a well-trained dog for advice, but get him trained to obey you in some manner. (alpha speaks, underlings obey)

* He doesn't sleep in your bed, not even in your bedroom during this challenging period. (alpha gets the best sleeping spot)

* He isn't allowed on furniture, especially on the high backs of couches/chairs, at his own whim. If you choose, you can invite him up, but he only goes up upon invitation and gets down when ordered. (alpha gets the best resting spots)

Truly, you need to change your attitude towards this dog. He will only escalate if not checked asap. Do it for his sake, if not your own. If he bites, you will receive some pain, but he will likely be killed for this action.

Above all, remember he is a dog, you are a human. He is reliant upon you for all things in life. He is your underling. A beloved underling, yes, but your attitude has to reflect the true places the two of you hold for the most harmonious relationship.

Good luck.

Answer 10

You may have some kind of Oder that the dog is not a custom too or it could be that your dog does not won't anyone to bother him while hes sleeping.