Puppy growling

[chrisandty]

My 9 week old puppy growls somewhat aggresively every time he is engaged in rough housing.

Whether its simply chasing my feet when I run around him or playfully push and shove with my hands he starts to growl rather loudly.

I'm pretty sure this is just normal puppy behavior, but I'm afraid its too often and may turn into aggressive behavior later on. Mind you he has not had any formal training classes (which will be starting shortly) and is always reprimanded when he gets too frisky and starts to nip.

Any advise?!

 

[kayboxer]

That's normal in pups. All of mine growl during play. Sometimes I think if someone heard them they would think they were really hurting somebody! Some boxers are just more vocal than others.

 

[chrisandty]

Haha awesome, I've been thinking the exact same thing!

When he starts getting like that I always tell him "Reeeeeelax, if people saw this they would think you hated me!"

 

[esabbott]

Our Maggie has always played like this with my husband during rough play! If someone didn't know our dog and they heard her, they would think she a really mean dog. But she mouths my husband no teeth used. She is a lover not a fighter. She has been doing this since she was 7 weeks old and is now almost 1yr old. She is in my lap giving me hugs because I am on the computer and not playing with her!

 

[Kilby'sMum]

When our girls play they sound like they are killing eachother!!! I actually get a bit embarrased by it when we're at the beach, people look at me like I've trained them as fighters or something but they are so far from it!

 

[Cami]

The first day I was alone with my girl when she was a pup she growled at me.
I freaked out and called my hubby at work nearly in tears. I thought she was an aggressive dog!
I had not had a dog in 20+ years and closer to 30 since I had a pup.
Being a "newbie" I had no clue.
6 and a half years later my girl STILLS growls during play and it is the sweetest sound!
I love all of her sounds. lovicon

 

[SweetCody]

My Cody is the mouthiest little thing I have ever met. He growled at me when I picked him out a 3 weeks old. I was a little worried then but as I got to know him better I realized he was just sassing me . He has always sounded horrible when he and DH play. Now that we have Aniah she is just as loud and vocal as him. Lord when they are playing it really sounds like they are out for blood and are killing each other. But they are just noisy dogs.

 

[Mesquite]

That sounds very typical. Jake (our 12 week old) loves to play rough, growling, nipping, etc.. I call it his "pit bull wanna be game" When he gets too rough, we stop the "game" or try to distract him into some other play. Once he just would not quit and I put him in time out (his crate). He calmed down in about 5 seconds and was all kisses after that.