The Cause, Not the Symptom

Growling, snarling, and barking are warning signals

Many of us have experienced the chill at the sound of a dog’s rumbling growl or vicious bark.  Some of us might have even been the owner of the dog that was doing the barking and growling and felt embarrassed by our dogs’ behavior.  We feel like our dogs are being rude and unsocial and the temptation is to reprimand them for being that way.  But it’s important to remember why dogs growl and bark and to examine the causes rather than addressing the symptom.

Dogs do most of their communication without vocalization.  Slight gestures like the turn of the head, lip licking, or sniffing the ground are all signs of discomfort.  Given the option, most dogs will give a variety of signals, including leaving a situation, rather than get involved in a physical conflict.  It’s only after the silent communication is ignored that verbal communication is utilized.  Growling/barking are the final warnings before physical action is taken, and depending on the dog, physical action can be anything from an air snap to an inhibited bite to a full-fledged attack.

However, experience can modify how dogs communicate their warnings.  A dog whose silent warning signs are consistently ignored will then cease to use those signals and go directly to vocalization, especially if vocalization gets the desired results.  A dog who is punished for vocalizing will stop vocalizing and go immediately into a physical response.  A dog that attacks without any warning at all is highly dangerous.  For safety’s sake, it makes sense to keep the growl and the bark, but address what is making the dog uncomfortable so it won’t feel the need to warn people or animals away.

Growling usually happens when a dog still has a considerable amount of control over its behavior.  It’s the human equivalent of a firm “Stop.”   The dog is willing to wait for the situation to change, although it’s already considering the next step in the process, if the situation remains the same.  There is room for negotiation when the mental pressure is released.

Barking, on the other hand, is done in the state of high arousal and suggests a dog out of control of its behavior.  Not all barking is a warning, dogs can bark out of extreme joy.  Barking is the equivalent of human yelling.  Humans yell when they’re excited as well, whether in celebration of a victorious sporting event or if a loved one is in danger.  Because a barking dog is already beyond its control threshold, there is no time for negotiation, and the dog can go immediately into its preferred defense mode of fight or flight.

Address the cause, not the signal.

Because growling and barking are warnings to “stay away/leave me alone,” to stop the vocalization, we need to find out why the dog wants space.  Usually, it is because the dog is afraid, afraid that it’s going to be harmed or that something important (to the dog) is going to be taken away.  If a dog is worried about being harmed, is it because it is currently in discomfort/pain?  Has it been hurt before by something/someone similar?  Is it encountering an unknown person/animal/object that might hurt it?  If the dog is worried something is going to be taken away, it’s called “resource guarding.”  The resource can be a toy, a treat, food, or even a person.  There is also guarding territory, trying to keep people and animals away from an area to protect the resources there.  The dog is afraid it’s going to lose something valuable.

Sometimes it’s obvious what’s making our dogs growl and bark.  Other times it takes some detective work, which is where a professional trainer can become useful.  Once we find the cause, we can train our dogs to be less fearful or possessive which will eliminate their need to growl/bark, while allowing them to keep that warning signal, should they need it at a later date.  It’s a crucial component for safety.

Dogs give warnings to tell us they’re feeling threatened, that their personal space is being invaded and that they are worried that something “bad” is going to happen.  We owe it to them to respect and address their concerns. Just like with human friends and family members, when we keep all the lines of communication open, we can better  understand each other.             

Fostering Hope

Some dogs need fostering because they're ill. Some people
foster dogs to find a good match for their dog.

“I really want a/another dog, but I’m not sure I’m ready, yet.”

Music to my ears.  Not because it’s an opportunity to get a dog a home, but because the statement implies that there’s been some thought put  into what a dog needs and how that fits into the person’s life.  As eager as I am to sing the praises of having a dog, I also don’t want dogs and owners to be miserable because it wasn’t the right time, nor do I want to see a dog being sent to a shelter for the same reason.  But how does one know if he or she is ready for canine companionship?  Or, if there are already dogs in the household, if adding another dog is the right thing to do?

One way to “test drive” if you’re ready to be a dog owner or not is to foster a dog from a rescue.  Generally, fostering requires a person to bring a dog into their home, care for it according to the organization’s requirements, and then to either return the dog to the organization after certain criteria are met or to care for the dog until it is adopted.  What it comes down to, is that the dog is only in the home temporarily.  For potential dog owners, this gives an opportunity for the foster to decide if having a dog works for their lifestyle. 

Sometimes the screening process to become a dog foster can make the dog owning decision simple (if there is no screening, do not foster with that organization. Help finding organizations can be found here.) Depending on the type of fostering, different organizations will have different requirements.  They will ask a variety of questions about the kind of housing in which the person is living, family members, work hours, and experience with dogs among other things.  These are usually the same kinds of questions that are important to dog ownership.  Don’t be afraid to ask why the organization is asking a question.  The answer can offer a different perspective of what having a dog requires.  It might also be a question specific to fostering.  Don’t be offended if fostering isn’t a good match.  Again, ask questions to gain insight into why, and perhaps apply again when the situation changes. 

That doesn’t mean that someone who’s never owned a dog can’t foster, but again, it depends on the needs of the organization.  An organization that needs fosters for dogs with behavior issues will need a foster who is experienced with training dogs, and usually within the organizations approved methods.  Some organizations don’t have actual facilities, so they might need someone who is willing and able to house a perfectly delightful dog until it finds its forever home.  Some organizations need someone to care for a sick dog until it is healthy enough to go up for adoption.

Fostering can give dogs an opportunity to blossom and
then find their forever home.

Fostering isn’t just for first time dog owners or people looking to add a new dog.  Fostering can also be an option for people of limited financial means.  Most of the time, the rescue organization will provide food and medical care for the foster.  Because dogs can live to be 15 years old or longer, some people feel that they’re too old to get a dog because the animal might outlive them.  So again, fostering could get a dog into the home, but the foster “parent” can rest assured that the dog’s future is secure.  Fostering can also offer options for people who travel frequently, but can house a dog for a week or two at a time.

One of the best things about fostering is being able to help out an animal that otherwise might not have an opportunity for adoption.  There’s a pleasure in knowing you’ve made a difference in a life Even if the foster dog isn’t a good match for your home, the information taken from the experience can help the foster dog find its perfect match.  It’s also a step towards learning a little more about ourselves and when it’s time to look for the perfect canine match for us.