Ep 65: Why Does My Dog Growl? | Dog Growling Explained & What It Really Means

🚨 Does your dog growl? Should you stop it — or is it actually a good thing? If you’ve ever panicked when your Doodle growls, you’re not alone. Many dog parents assume growling = aggression, but the truth is much more surprising.

🐶 In this must-listen episode, I team up with parenting and training expert Michelle Stern of Pooch Parenting to uncover:
❓ Why does my dog growl — and what does it REALLY mean?
❓ Is growling always a warning sign of aggression?
❓ Should you correct your dog when they growl — or thank them?
❓ How to respond if your dog growls at you, kids, or guests
❓ What it means when dogs growl during play
❓ Why punishing growling can backfire (and what to do instead)
❓ How to make your dog feel safe so they don’t need to growl

 📘 Want to prevent stress before it ever builds to growling?
My book, Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint, gives you daily rhythms that help Doodles feel calmer and more secure. Grab your copy → DoodleBlueprint.com

🎁 Freebie Alert:
Grab Michelle’s FREE guide The ABCs of Growling and finally understand what your dog is trying to tell you → poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling

📌 Where to Find Michelle:
🌎 Website: poochparenting.net
📸 Instagram: @poochparenting
📘 Facebook: Pooch Parenting

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Transcript

All About Growling 🎙️🐶

Guest: Michelle Stern – Pooch Parenting

Host: Corinne Gearhart – The Doodle Pro™

📢 Episode Summary:
Is your dog growling? Should you stop it—or actually THANK them? In this must-listen episode, dog trainer & parenting expert Michelle Stern joins Corinne to break down the truth about growling.

🧐 In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ Why growling is not aggression—but valuable communication
✅ How punishing a growl can actually make things worse
✅ The “whispers” dogs give before they growl (and how to spot them!)
✅ What to do if your dog growls at kids, guests, or other dogs
✅ When to intervene & when to step back
✅ How to create a safe environment where growling isn’t necessary

FREE GUIDE! 📩
💡 Download Michelle’s FREE resource, The ABCs of Growling, to understand and respond to your dog’s growls the right way!
🔗 Get it here →

[00:00:00] Introducing Michelle Stern

Corinne Gearhart - The Doodle Pro™: One of our most popular guests, Michelle Stern, is back! You might recognize her from our episode on advocating for your Doodle around children. Because yes, even Doodles can have trouble with kids, and we want to make sure we build happy, healthy, and safe relationships.

Michelle is the founder of Pooch Parenting, a certified dog trainer, former school teacher, and expert at bridging the gap between kids and dogs. Today, we’re tackling a hot topic—growling!

[00:01:00] The Emotional Reaction to Growling

Corinne: I think people have a visceral reaction to the idea of growling. When a dog growls, many feel like it means their dog is bad, broken, or aggressive. Can you talk about that?

Michelle Stern: Yes! It’s almost like people feel their dog is in trouble when they growl. Like, "Oh no, my dog isn’t perfect!"

But here’s the thing—growling is communication. It’s a way for dogs to express their discomfort before things escalate. So instead of feeling bad about it, I actually want people to thank their dog for growling.

[00:02:00] Why Growling Is a Good Thing

🐕‍🦺 Growling is not a sign of aggression—it’s a request for help.

Michelle shares an example from her own home:

• Her senior dog, Barley, often growls at her puppy when the puppy gets too close.
• Instead of scolding Barley for growling, Michelle thanks her senior dog for communicating and adjusts the situation to make both dogs comfortable.

👀 Key Takeaway: A growl is a conversation—not a crime. Instead of punishing it, listen and respond to what your dog is telling you.

[00:05:00] Is Growling a Sign of Aggression?

Corinne: Many dog parents worry that growling means their dog is dangerous. What’s your take on that?

Michelle: I get panicked messages all the time:

• “Is my dog aggressive?”
• “Do I have to rehome them?”
• “Should I be worried for my family’s safety?”

Here’s what I tell them: Slow down. One growl does not mean you have an aggressive dog.

Instead of assuming the worst, get curious. Ask:
✔️ Why is my dog growling?
✔️ What just happened before the growl?
✔️ What can I change to help my dog feel safe?

If we observe instead of overreacting, we can prevent future problems.

[00:10:00] The #1 Mistake Dog Parents Make About Growling

🙅‍♀️ Punishing a growl doesn’t stop the problem—it removes the warning sign.

Corinne: Some people think they need to immediately correct a growl—maybe by rolling their dog, yelling, or scolding. Why is that dangerous?

Michelle: Science shows that dogs learn best when they feel safe. If you punish growling, your dog learns:
🚫 “I’m not allowed to communicate.”
🚫 “If I growl, I get in trouble.”

And guess what happens next? They stop growling—but they don’t stop feeling scared. Instead of warning you, they might go straight to snapping or biting.

[00:13:00] How to Read a Dog’s “Whispers” Before They Growl

🔍 Before dogs growl, they often give subtle warning signs.

🐾 Common "Whispers" Before Growling:
✔️ Body tension (stiff posture)
✔️ Ears pinned back
✔️ Turning away or avoiding eye contact
✔️ Yawning (stress signal, not sleepiness!)
✔️ Lifting one paw (hesitation or uncertainty)

👀 Why This Matters: If we notice these whispers early, we can step in before a growl—or a bite—ever happens.

[00:22:00] The Difference Between Barking and Growling

🐕 Barking: Excitement, alerting, frustration, demand (e.g., "Feed me!")
🐕‍🦺 Growling: Communication about discomfort, warning, or play

🚨 Misconception: Some dogs growl during play (especially Terriers and Doodles). That’s okay! If play is balanced and mutual, a growl is just part of the fun.

✅ How to Tell if It’s Safe Play:

• Watch the body language (loose, bouncy, and relaxed = good).
• Use the consent test—does the other dog want to keep playing?

[00:37:00] What to Do If a Dog Growls at a Child

⚠️ Example Scenario: A child walks up to pet a sleeping dog—the dog growls. What should a parent do?

🚫 Wrong Response: Get mad at the dog or punish the growl.
✅ Right Response: Teach the child never to approach a sleeping dog.

Dogs need safe zones where they won’t be disturbed. Use baby gates, clear rules, and teach kids to wait for the dog to come to them.

Corinne: “We have a family rule: We only pet dogs when they come to us. No chasing, no forcing.”

[00:55:00] Where to Find Michelle & Free Gift

🎁 Get Michelle’s FREE Guide: The ABCs of Growling
🔗 Download here →

📌 Follow Michelle:
🌎 Website: poochparenting.net
📸 Instagram: @poochparenting
📘 Facebook: Pooch Parenting

🔔 Don’t Miss Future Episodes!
🐾 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it helps fellow Doodle parents find us! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐