If dogs suddenly start to growl when being petted, it can indicate fear, joy or sensitive areas. Sometimes the growl is a cry for help because the dog is suffering from an ear infection or other illness and pain.
Many first-time owners mistakenly classify growling as aggressive per se. Although this may be true in some cases, a general interpretation is not possible.
9 times out of 10, a growl is an expression of, “I feel uncomfortable or threatened.” – And the fact that your dog communicates this is enormously helpful in practice.
Dogs that have been trained to growl tend to be much more dangerous. Because in such situations they can snap shut without any warning.
In total, there are 5 different types of growling, which can be distinguished by the pitch and the dog's body language:
- Threatening growl
- Growling with pleasure
- Aggressive growling
- Playful growling
- Frustrated growl [1]
All of these types can be used when stroking. For this reason, below you will learn about the 10 most common causes and their symptoms.
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#1 Lack of leadership
If the dog growls at you – i.e. at your own owner – while being petted, it usually means one of two things:
- 1) Tolerance threshold has been exceeded: For example, stroking is too rough, too wild or too long.
- 2) Lack of leadership: Your dog doesn't see you as the alpha and therefore tries to give you orders.
The latter is particularly the case with first-time owners who have fulfilled their dog's every wish from an early age. Here you first have to establish yourself as a leader. Best practices include:
- Consistent feedback: Bad behavior is always punished and good behavior is always rewarded.
- Consistent enforcement: Your commands are repeated until the dog carries them out.
- Consistent rules: If your dog is not allowed on the sofa, then this rule should not be broken at any moment. [2]
So being the alpha doesn't have to mean that you react completely callously. However, because dogs are pack animals, they are often confused and unpredictable without a leader.
When dogs growl at their owner when being petted, it is usually a sign that the dog is higher in their hierarchy. Here it is important to establish yourself as a leader through consistent behavior. Alternatively, it can also be a stop signal because the stroking is too rough.
#2 Enjoyment & joy
If your dog growls with pleasure, you can usually tell by the pitch. This growl is comparatively deep and is often accompanied by humming and sighing.
This is most common in Rottweilers and other large breeds such as all Great Dane species. Other typical behaviors include:
- Relaxed posture
- Dog closes his eyes
- Rod hangs low
- Growling when petted
- Relaxed ears
- No baring of teeth
Growling while playing is also relatively common. Especially in puppies and very playful breeds. This is just an expression of joy and nothing to worry about.
It is comparable to a cat that begins to purr when petted. In many cases, the four-legged friends have also copied this from cats.
Because if they observe you or other people petting a cat and it purrs, they associate this sound with a reward. [3]
Growling is not only a warning signal, but is also sometimes used by dogs as an expression of enjoyment. This is particularly common with larger breeds. What is noticeable is that the entire body is relaxed and the dog closes its eyes slightly.
#3 Herniated disc
You can imagine intervertebral discs as a kind of shock absorber for the spine. In the event of an “incident”, this shock absorber slips so that it can no longer work properly.
Nerves in the spinal cord are often pinched, causing severe pain. Other typical signs of this are:
- Sudden symptoms of paralysis
- Stiff running style
- Dog growls while stroking his back
- Constant whining
- Touch sensitivity
- Aversion to jumping
- Dog groans when picked up [4]
In principle, any dog can experience a herniated disc. Because it is particularly common in dachshunds, it is also colloquially called “dachshund paralysis”.
But other breeds with short legs and a long back are also more commonly affected. These include corgis, pugs, Pekingese, and all types of bulldogs.
If you suspect this, I recommend contacting a veterinarian immediately. If left untreated, a herniated disc can cause severe pain. [5]
Dogs with a herniated disc suddenly become very sensitive to contact on their back. Since they often feel pain when petting, they also growl at their own owners. The veterinarian can help with diagnosis and treatment.
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#4 Sensitive areas
Every dog and every person has different preferences when it comes to touching. Unlike dogs, however, we can communicate this with words.
Your four-legged friend, on the other hand, can only show this by growling, baring his teeth and tensing his body. The most common sensitive areas in dogs include:
- On the stomach
- On the chest
- Between the eyes
- On the rod
- On the ears
This is especially true if dogs were not accustomed to this touch at an early age. This also explains why many strays growl when petted.
Here it is important to gradually get your dog used to touching the respective area. This also strengthens the mutual connection at the same time. [6]
Signs of an intense relationship are, for example, if you can easily touch your dog on the inside of the thigh and around the eyes.
If dogs are not used to human touch at a young age, they often become very sensitive. Growling when stroking usually occurs when the belly or tail is touched. The aim here is to socialize the dog gradually.
#5 Ear infection
Is your dog one of those breeds that has long floppy ears? If so, has he had more baths recently? If so, then it could indicate an ear infection.
Such an inflammation is usually triggered by the ears not being completely dried after contact with water.
Because this allows bacteria to multiply quickly. But viruses, parasites, various fungi, allergies and autoimmune diseases are also possible causes.
The most common symptoms here include:
- Redness and swelling in the ear
- Dog holds his head to the side
- Growling when stroking the head
- Dog constantly scratches his ears
- Frequent whining and whining [7]
Here too, the growl is just a cry for help. Because an ear infection can cause massive pain upon contact. Antibiotics are usually used for treatment.
In addition, the ears are usually professionally cleaned by the veterinarian. Creams can also help with fungi and allergies. This should reduce the pain quickly. [8]
Dogs with ear infections are often very sensitive when someone touches their ears while petting them. Here the growl merely serves as a means of communicating the existing pain. However, such an infection can be easily resolved with medication.
#6 Personal displeasure
You've probably met a person who you didn't like for some reason. The same phenomenon also occurs in dogs.
The person's clothing is often responsible for this. Typical examples are here:
- Long black coats
- Masks of all kinds
- Loud high heels
- Carnival costumes
Even with a well-intentioned petting, many dogs start to growl. The same applies to the moments when strangers enter the dog's personal space.
Our dog “Alex” also taught me that alcohol and drugs can be the cause. Because our caretaker is an alcoholic and he always growls at him.
With all other people, however, he behaves in a totally friendly and trusting manner. Here it is important to create a positive atmosphere when contacting the person. [9]
Toys and treats are super helpful here. This means that the dog increasingly associates contact with other people with something positive.
Dogs can simply not like other people for a variety of reasons. If they come too close or even want to pet the dog, the growl is a warning. Clothing is often responsible for this. Here you should proactively create a positive atmosphere.
#7 Pain
Dogs usually always try to hide existing pain. They inherited this instinct from wolves, which to this day are still 99.9% genetically identical to them.
The reason? A dog living in the wild cannot afford to appear weak or injured. Otherwise it will become prey for other predators.
This in turn means that many dogs suffer in silence. What is striking is that their behavior often changes. Typical symptoms are:
- Dog avoids touching
- Retracted tail
- Aggressive behavior
- Dog sleeps a lot
- Physical restlessness
- Growling when petted
- Sudden night activity [10]
A variety of injuries and illnesses can be the cause. For example, abdominal pain, back injuries or open wounds are common.
But insect bites, a pinched nerve or even poisoning can also be behind it. If you suspect this, I recommend consulting your veterinarian immediately. [11]
When dogs struggle with pain, they automatically try to hide it from the outside world. However, if stroking leads to increased pain, dogs usually draw attention to this by growling. This is a cry for help.
#8 Fear
Aggressive behavior in dogs is very often triggered by fear. This is especially true if they were not socialized at an early age.
In this case, they often start growling as soon as they feel threatened by a human. Typical social taboos here are:
- Getting close to the dog while eating
- Lean over dog and then touch it
- Stroking strangers' intimate places
- Getting close too quickly
All of these behaviors appear threatening and make small and sensitive breeds in particular nervous. The whole thing is reinforced when people are there.
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