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My puppy will randomly growl or bark for no reason, is this normal?
My puppy is 4 months old now and will be laying down half asleep on your lap and start growling and barking. He will be laying down on the floor doing nothing and start growling and barking. He will be walking around the house and bark (no growling). I religiously take him out and have a strict feeding schedule so it's not him starting to tell me he has to potty because when I take him out he does nothing. He has water. It's at all times of the day, after he eats before he eats, etc. so its not that he is hungry. We have "playtime" and "training time" at the same time each day. He walks 3 times a day. So I don't think he is bored. It just seems VERY random. It's also a "Bark" not a yip or distress kind. He will sometimes bark once to 5 times in a row or just randomly growl all by itself.
18 Answers
- Yogi and MeLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
Your house is haunted. It's possible.
Ok on a more logical side, you could have a mirror or a window that is reflecting a shadow that your dog is seeing. Those growl and bark might not be random...when he does growl...crouch down to his level and see what he can see. Dog can't see certain color and might think a plastic bag is a dog or cat...therefore he barks/growls to protect you. You can start teaching him commands and to check out what he's barking at...assuring him that you are fine and you, the leader got the situation under control...he will eventually ease off on barking...but if the problem persists, you should definitely talk to a professional.
Never comfort or pet him if he is growling or barking so he doesnt' think it's ok to bark/growl.
When my dog bark, I always check why they do it, my dog doesn't like someone she would bark..I then tell her I got it, turn her face away from the "person" and give her a treat when she stops. I am in charge and she knows it. But she also like to alert the pack and that's why I have to assure her I got the situation under control and that her job is done. Growl/bark will stop when she did her job.
There's lot of training involve to stop the behavior. I am glad that you are not ignoring it.
More reading.
- willodrgnLv 41 decade ago
Your dog definitely has a reason for this behavior, because dogs do not do things for no reason at all.
You should contact his breeder and see what he or she says. If you got the pup from a shelter, then i would stick with your routine. At this age, he should be socializing and in puppy class. You best socializing window is quickly closing, so get that puppy out to experience the world with treats and confidence.
As his confidence grows, you will start to see a difference in him. For now, I would ignore the behviour while you do some research by asking the breeder or your trainer. Even asking him 'what is it?' is a payoff for the behavior. If you ignore it, he will start to ignore the thing that has him excited.
- Anonymous5 years ago
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After I started training my dog, he became very attached to me and loves to stay by side as long as he can. But just going to them won't help. You have to practice what they teach you outside of the class and you need to keep up with it at least every now and then after the class ends otherwise they'll just go back to previous habits. This course is a really good place to go for dog obedience classes. It get's your dog around other people and dogs to socialize while getting the training you need. As for electric collars, I would say to not get one. In my experience, they're only a negative effect on your dog. I mean of course you're going to need to correct your dog, but being positive and encouraging your dog works a lot faster and easier.
Every dog is different, so unless you have a german shepherd or a really smart dog, it might take a while to train her. You might get frustrated with her, but go easy. She's still a puppy and has a lot of energy. A backyard or somewhere to run will help her get rid of a lot of energy that might cause her to misbehave from boredom.
- wishnuwelltooLv 71 decade ago
Lights, coyotes, traffic, newspaper delivery, critters, raccoons, turkeys, trash cans, propane or other delivery drivers, neighbors coming and going, cats, Leprechauns, ghost, it is normal for a puppy to bark, and a human to not understand what they are barking at.
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- 5 years ago
Every dog needs some type of training. The first class I ever took a dog to was https://tr.im/trainanydog
It's a very basic kind of class. They will help you with your dog, and show you how to work with your dog at home.
They'll also answer any questions you have about your dog's particular problems and how to handle them. The most important thing in dog training is to be consistent and work with your dog at home on the lessons. The PetSmart class teaches sit, down, come, and the very basics every dog needs to know. They will also help socialize your dog. You are unhappy with an untrained dog, and believe it or not, the dog is actually unhappy to. You need to take your dog now, as the older he gets, the harder it will be to correct your dog's bad habits. Plus the classes are fun for you and your dog. My dog went from that first PetSmart class on to advanced obedience classes. You might also contact your local humane society. The one in my area offers obedience classes with a very good trainer at a reduced price.
- Roy <Lv 61 decade ago
Dogs do dream - my dog woofs and grrrs in his dreams.
They also have very sensitive hearing - he knows when there is a hedgehog in the back garden - through two brick walls and double glazing or another dog walking by outside.
So, what seems to you as being "random" might not be - he could just be responding to environmental stimulii that you can't hear.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Dog training techniques are as controversial as abortion, Palestine and Bill O'Reilly. But, which dog training techniques can you trust to get you out of the dog house? It will help if you think about dog training techniques as being in one of two categories: balanced and imbalanced.
The discussion about which dog training technique to use when training a dog is one that resembles a discussion between an Israeli and a Palestinian. Each one seems absolutely certain of their position and is more than ready to vilify those who don't share their views on dog training. But, if you look at dog training techniques and methods and evaluate their worth and effectiveness based on whether the approach is balanced, it's a lot easier to weed out the garbage.
For the most part, trainers and their methods fall into two main categories. Those who do not use a physical consequence as a deterrent and those who do. There are many variations in the methods used by different trainers however, almost all trainers fall into one category or the other. Some trainers use food as a reward and never allow the dog to experience a negative consequence for a poor choice. Other trainers afford the dog the opportunity to experience a consequence for making poor choices.
The Use Of Food:
Using food is great in the sense that you will probably have a very happy dog on your hands when he realizes that the training comes with an all-you-can-eat buffet. However, using food to train your dog has some pitfalls we think you should be aware of.
Food is great if you just want to impress your guests with a couple silly pet tricks but, in the real world, your dog will probably be much more interested in chasing the cat than hanging around to get your silly, dry biscuit. So, if you are using food as the primary or sole motivator, you're in for some disappointment when it comes time for your dog to perform in the real world.
Strictly Positive Reinforcement:
It is not difficult to find trainers who will tell you they use a kinder, gentler method than those used by consequence and reward trainers. They will tell you that your dog will be emotionally destroyed by the use of correction as a deterrent. Their goal is to sell you on their loving approach to dog training. They would have you believe that their method is much better than those old, barbaric correction methods.
If you try to train your dog with a method of training that is as imbalanced as this, you will be in for some serious disappointments. Sure, it sounds like a great idea; training your dog and never having to correct him for making a poor choice. Never having to do the very thing you like doing the least. However, no matter how distasteful the concept of physical consequence is to you, it is necessary if you want a really good dog. You cannot consistently praise a dog when he does something right and never give him a consequence for doing something wrong, and expect him to turn out balanced.
Consequence And Reward:
In some cases, dog training methods that involve physical consequence as a deterrent cause additional problems. Not by virtue of the fact that the dog received a physical consequence for his poor choice, but because the training was too harsh, improper, or the balance between consequence and reward was not achieved. A bad trainer can destroy any good training system. It is far from true that methods using consequence as a deterrent will result in a fearful dog. It all depends on the skill of the trainer, the manner in which the dog is corrected and the balance between consequence and reward.
Dog training techniques and methods that use a healthy balance between consequence and reward are without doubt, the most effective, healthy training techniques you can use. It is important to remember that consequence in NEVER connected to emotion while reward is always given with sincerity and love.
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- Anonymous7 years ago
Hi there,
One good way of stopping unwanted dog behaviours is attending a traning course. You'll learn the causes and some techniques to solve all your problems with your furry friend. A good online course you can follow is: http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572
Their method is gentle, simple and most importantly effective. I recommend it.
- Anonymous6 years ago
Learning how to train your dog will improve your life and hers, enhance the bond between you, and ensure her safety and it can be a lot of fun. Dogs are usually eager to learn, and the key to success is good communication. Your dog needs to understand how you’d like her to behave and why it’s in her best interest to comply with your wishes. Check here to learn how to train your dog properly https://tr.im/6cQj9