A question for terrier owners - does your dog growl when requesting something?

Question

I have a five-year-old small terrier mix - we think a cairn terrier crossed with a pomeranian. She growls when playing and instead of whining when she wants something. I've worked with lots of dogs but have never encountered this non-aggressive growling before. Is it common in terriers?

Thank you for the answers! Just to clarify - it's not aggressive growling. Little terrierhead just seems to growl to talk to us. It's interesting that it seems common but I didn't encounter it working at the animal shelter.

Answer 1

I'm not sure about the terrier part, but I have a Pomeranian who is extremely sweet and well tempered who does the same thing. She gets really excited and growls, but never acts upon it (and never has in the 3 years I've had her), so I just don't worry about it. For example, if I'm holding her favorite treat in my hand, she will jump around and growl a little, then sit patiently and wait for me to give it to her. Maybe it's the Pomeranian in her!

Answer 2

I've heard that terriers growl, like a cat purrs. When I first got my Scottie dog, I was talking with an owner of two others and asked to pet them. They growled, but not aggressively. I was reassured by the owner that they were just "talking" to me. My Scottie growls when he's being petted, and makes other mouth noises a lot. I think it is common in terriers.

Answer 3

My sister-in-law has a yorkshire terrier, and he is the sweetest thing. He does growl while playing, but he doesn't vocalize when he's trying to get something, he usually just jumps around alot. Then again, he's purebred yorkie, so it may not be that it's a terrier thing. As long as it's not aggressive growling, I don't think you've got anything to worry about. Good luck! :)

Answer 4

Well, I don't have a terrier, I have an Aussie mix, but he likes to "talk" as we call it. Anyone who doesn't know him would think it was growling, but he does it all the time. Especially when you first come home and he's waiting to eat, he'll follow you around room to room and look at you, and you say "What do you want?" he sort of goes "Rrrrow row row" (hard to do sound effects), and sometimes throws in some high pitched yelps or barks. I think it's cute. But I know exactly what you mean.

Answer 5

Yep, all my dogs have done that with the exception of one, my Lab mix lets out a long deep moan when she wants something. not whining, not growling, but literally moaning.

My JRT mix growls about everything. If you're playing "paws" with him and we stop he gets upset and growls for you to keep playing. It's more of a begging, pleading moaning then a growl, but the low tone is there.

My old dog used to do it all the time only his was a pre-empt to a bark. Kinda like a first warning "Mom, I have to go out". If he got no reaction out of me he would turn it into a full growl/woof sort of thing without opening his mouth. From there he went to an all out bark. Man I miss that dog.

Answer 6

My retriever growls when walking up to us its his way of saying hi if the dog is non aggressive then I wouldn't worry about it I don't think it is common in any breed you just lucky to have a smart vocal dog

Answer 7

i have a little terrier to and no he never growls at anyone he is the sweetest dog ever,but i guess dogs are just like humans you know they have there own personality so i don't think anything is wrong with your dog but if her growling is a problem then i suggest a training school.

Answer 8

I have a Jack Russell Terrier and mine growls when she plays, at people she doesn't know(she's such a chicken) and anything that might scare her or what have you.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

My scottie did. He'd growl and give off a soft bark if we ignored his first request. Same with my fiances rott, though minus the bark.