When your German Shepherd begins growling at you, it can be confusing and scary. But if your dog is growling at you, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for a bad reason. Understanding why your dog is growling at you is key in figuring out how to make it stop.
A German Shepherd might start growling at its owner for good and bad reasons. They could be in pain or perhaps they don’t agree with what you’re doing, or what you’re trying to get them to do, and it’s their way of showing aggressive behavior. Conversely, they could be playfully trying to show they’re happy or really enjoying something.
German Shepherds are natural guardians and fighters, so it’s important to train a dog not to growl when they are young. Either way, a dog generally growls for a reason. If they begin to growl, you need to be able to figure out why and if you need to change something to stop this behavior.
Good Reasons Why Your German Shepherd Growls At You
There are some really simple ways to see if your German Shepherd is growling at you for positive reasons.
They’re just playing –Growling can be perceived as aggressive, but sometimes your dog isn’t angry at all. They just want to play! If the growling seems to be a bit higher and doesn’t last long, you could be hearing a playful growl.
They are happy—Your German Shepherd may just be really happy or really enjoying their treat or toy. Or maybe you are petting them in that perfect spot on their belly.
They’re eager—Have you been gone all day and when you’re trying to get your keys in the lock you can hear your dog growling on the other side? It could be that they are just eager to see you because you’ve been gone all day.
They just want attention—They could be growling because they need a little attention. If you notice that the growling stops when you begin to pet them or say their name, they just needed some love!
They’re trying to warn you –It could be that they are scared, or they sense something they do not like, and they are trying to warn you.
Bad Reasons Your German Shepherd Growls At You
There are several different reasons why your German Shepherd is growling at you in a negative way, and depending on that reason, how you get them to stop is going to look very different.
Pain—One of the first things to check for if your German Shepherd starts growling at you is that you need to make sure they are not in pain. Try touching different areas of their body and see if they react when you touch certain spots.
Dogs that experience pain are more vocal and they’re trying to tell you something isn’t right. (Source)
Uncertainty –They could begin growling because they are in an unfamiliar environment or situation. Or perhaps there is something new about you as their owner. Perhaps it’s a new piece of clothing, a hat, glasses, or even a haircut. It could also be that you’re acting differently.
Bad memories –They are remembering something bad or something reminded them of a bad incident. Or perhaps the incident itself wasn’t anything bad, they just associated bad feelings with whatever happened.
Guarding what is theirs –Like many breeds, German Shepherds are very protective, so if they see someone or something approaching or touching what is theirs they would likely start growling. This is also called “resource guarding.” (Source)
This could also include you and your family, so if a stranger approaches you, that could also trigger the growling.
They don’t know how to socialize—It is important that at an early age your dog learns how to socialize with other dogs and people. When they don’t know how to socialize, they don’t know how to act around others.
Needing Exercise—Yes, just like humans, German Shepherds need to get some standard physical activity each day. Since they are natural herders, they need to spend time running around outside.
Being dominant or aggressive –These dogs are naturally dominant, so if you are trying to be dominant with them and they don’t recognize you as their leader, they are not going to like it. (Source) You know you triggered their aggression button if they show their teeth while growling at you, as well as point their ears straight up. Some other indicators include:
- Lunging
- Barking
- Snarling
- Biting
If any of these aggressive behaviors are happening, you need to seek immediate help as the situation could get out of hand.
How To Get Your German Shepherd To Stop Growling
Figuring out the reason your dog growls at you will determine which path you need to take to get them to stop. If you are proactive, you can prevent most growling situations down the road.
Start Early With Training
Many issues can be avoided if you train your dog while it’s a pup. If your dog is still young enough, you can avoid a growling situation by starting some training.
According to the American Kennel Club, owners should follow this kind of training schedule:
8 weeks to 16 weeks old
- Training goal 1 is socialization—It is critical to begin when they are young because the window for socialization closes at around 16 weeks of age.
- Training goal 2 is crate training—this also begins around 8 weeks old. It’s important to start early so the puppy can get to use to being placed in a crate.
- Training goal 3 is housetraining—Most German Shepherds have no issues with housetraining, as long as you are consistent in the training.
3-9 months old
- Training goal 1 is beginning obedience training—German Shepherds can be very obedient dogs. Teaching them simple commands is important at an early age. This is also a good time to enroll them in any obedience classes.
- Training goal 2 is teaching recall—This is when a German Shepherd learns when to come when it is called. It’s also important for them to learn this at a young age.
- Training goal 3 is learning impulse control—This is one of the most important things for a dog to learn that will have a huge influence in controlling their growling. German Shepherds need to learn how to wait for food, their favorite toy, or anything else they enjoy.
9-24 months old
- You should continue to work on their skills, such as obedience training, impulse control, and even more advanced skills such as tracking scents and herding.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Even if your dog is past the training ages, there is still hope. The saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” does not apply!
- Don’t give your dog attention when they’re growling, and then reward them when they stop growling.
- It can be tempting to give your dog whatever it wants so they stop growling, but don’t give in! You are just reinforcing the behavior. Only give the dog what it wants when they stop growling.
- Perhaps they are growling at you when you try to take away their favorite treat or toy. Again, this would be a sign of resource guarding, which is when a dog shows aggressive behavior when they are trying to guard something.
General Information About Training A German Shepherd
Either way, if you start training a German Shepherd when they are a pup or if they are a little bit older, knowing some simple facts about this breed of dog will help put everything in perspective. (Source)
- Your German Shepherd was bred to be a herder and guardian—A German Shepherd wants to be busy because they are bred to work.
- They mirror you—Dogs can sense our emotions, so they will reflect whatever emotion you show towards them.
- They need to know you are the leader—German Shepherds are bred to be in packs, and someone needs to be the leader. Obviously, they know you are not a dog, but they need to know they can look to you for direction. They need to trust you.
- Use simple commands—This relates back to your emotions. You need to use calm, simple commands along with calm body language. This will make it easier for your dog to understand your commands.
- Everything is black and white –Gray areas don’t exist for dogs, so you need to remain consistent. If you don’t want your dog on the couch, then never let the rule slide. Not even one time.
If you’re interested in learning more unique traits and tips on training your German Shepherd, there are several books that are available in both print and digital versions.
Ask Yourself Key Questions
If you have trained your dog or have tried to train your dog and you still can’t seem to get them to stop growling, the next step is to ask yourself a few questions:
- Did you move homes?
- Did someone show any aggressive behavior toward your dog?
- Did anything else change within your home?
- Does your dog growl at certain times of the day?
- Did you act differently toward your dog?
- Was your dog in any incident or accident?
The answer to these questions may give you a clearer path to a solution.
Adjusting To A New Home
There are several tips and tricks to making a move with a dog a seamless one. If possible, before the move try to get your dog familiar with the moving boxes and have them around while you’re packing. This will let them know that there is change coming. Again, dogs pick up on emotions, so it’s important to try to stay as calm as possible on moving day so the dog doesn’t associate stress with the move. (Source)
If you have already moved to the new home, hope is not lost! As previously shared, German Shepherds love consistency. Keep normal routines, such as walks and playtime on schedule. Moving to a new home is a big change, so if you change up the routines it can cause confusion.
And when it’s time to leave your dog alone for the first time in a new home, try not to stay away for very long.
Also try to leave the home when it’s time for your dog to sleep or rest.
Again, it’s important to stay calm. If you’re nervous, your dog will then begin associating your departure with feelings of stress.
Remove Anything Your Dog Doesn’t Like
This could be in your current home or in your new home. This may not always be possible, but perhaps for whatever reason your dog doesn’t like a certain decoration, or they have issues with a new toy you thought they would like. If you’re able, remove whatever is causing them to growl.
If it’s not possible for you to move whatever is causing the growling, you can try to keep your German Shepherd from the area. For example, if your dog doesn’t like something it sees while walking, try to take a different route to avoid the trigger.
Consistent, Calm Behavior
Again, German Shepherds like other dogs need consistency. Many stressful things happen in life and if you start to act differently, it will affect your dog. They could sense something is different and it may confuse or perhaps even scare them.
Aggressive behavior will get you nowhere with a German Shepherd.
It’s important that you remain calm and if you need to stop a certain behavior, you use a firm “no”, but say the command without yelling.
You also need to keep the same routine with your dog. Suddenly changing their routine will also cause stress.
Make Sure They Get Enough Exercise
This is especially important if you live in an apartment. Make sure your dog goes for a daily walk or run.
If daily walks don’t work for you, at least try to take your dog out once every two days. Just like us, they can get aggressive and moody if they stay cooped up all the time.
Take Them To The Vet
There are different ways to check if your dog is in pain. You might notice some physical changes, such as mobility issues, as well as behavioral changes. (Source)
If you’re able to determine that your dog is in pain you need to take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Seek Out Professional Help
There is no problem seeking out a professional trainer to help with your dog’s growling issue. The most important thing to do first is to take your dog to the vet just to make sure there aren’t any underlying medical conditions related to the growling.
Once you have the thumbs up, you can begin looking for a certified animal behaviorist (CAB) or a trainer.
Certified Animal Behaviorist (CAB)
A CAB is someone who tries to understand why a dog acts a certain way. This person is a veterinarian who completed residency specifically in applied animal behavior. This field studies the behavior of companion animals, such as dogs, as well as other animals such as lab, farm, and zoo animals.
A CAB will have published articles in scientific journals, and have had supervised, hands-on experience with animals while studying psychology biology, zoology, or animal science.
CABs are people who are full time professionals and are usually referred by other veterinarians. CABs need to have one of the following certifications:
- Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB): This requires at least a master’s degree, a research-based thesis, and two years of professional experience.
- Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB): One needs to have at least a doctorate degree in biological or behavior science with an emphasis on animal behavior, five years of professional experience, or a combination of two years of residency and three years of professional experience.
Both ACAABs and CAABs need to present at an Animal Behavior Society (ABS) meeting within 5 years of applying for certification, pay annual dues, and need to show proof of professional liability insurance.
You can expect to pay around $50/hour when working with a CAB.
Professional Dog Trainer
A professional trainer focuses on teaching a dog a behavior or action at the request of the owner. So instead of trying to figure out why a dog is growling, a trainer’s job is to figure out how to make it stop.
To be a professional dog trainer does not require any mandatory education or certification. Usually people who become trainers are those who are passionate about dogs and gained experience training dogs on their own.
Trainers are also typically specialized in certain areas, such as household trainings or workplace trainings. You can expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 for each session with a trainer, while training schools can be anywhere from $500-$2,000.
With the power of the internet, there are some free online training academies you can consider.
One popular academy is the Dunbar Academy Training Program, where you can access free videos and books, as well as premium content.
Doing the hard work of training your dog and understanding the unique traits of a German Shepherd will definitely pay off in the long run. But there is still hope if you missed the training window.
Just remember, it is not wise or productive to be aggressive with a German Shepherd. You will just cause more issues and your dog will end up trusting you less. Once you are able to pinpoint what is causing your German Shepherd to growl, you can begin working on a resolution.