When to correct a growling (but good) dog?

I have never and will never advise anyone to try to stop their dog growling. It is a form of communication - the dog is expressing they are unhappy, scared, agitated etc and if you remove the growl by punishing it, you break down the communication between you and that animal. If your dog growls because (for example) you touch a part of him that hurts, he is telling you he is in pain. Punish that and he won't growl to let you know next time but when he can't tolerate it any longer, he may bite or nip you.

When my dog growls, which is very rarely but all dogs do, I look at the situation to see what is bothering him. There is always a reason and it usually a good one.

It's the equivalent of us saying, 'please don't do that' or 'leave me alone' and surely they are entitled to do that like we are. Growling is always made to look like a sign of dominance and all that rubbish but it is just a way a dog can communicate with it's owner and other animals in a civilised way. Nothing wrong with occasional growling and if your dog growls a lot, then there is a problem with your relationship.

No...there is no reason to tolerate it.

Growling ( or snapping) at a human is unacceptable.

If you tolerate growling, THEN the next step is snapping, so you want to address the issue before it gets to that point.

I have a foster dog who is a growler (used to be a biter, too... not any more).

When she growls, I give her a sharp poke in the neck or shoulder with my finger (she is a small dog), and tell her KNOCK IT OFF!!

She has gotten to the point where all I have to do is say her name, look her in the eye, and point my finger at her :o)

Keep in mind that a dog who will growl at you has decided that you are lower in the pecking order than he is. So long before the dog growls, you need to make sure you are the one in charge.

Think about areas where the dog has taken over, like getting up on the furniture without permission, or pulling ahead of you when you walk. Those areas need to be addressed.

If you fix the dogs attitude, then it should never get to the point where the dog growls at you, much less snaps.

That depends largely on what the dog is growling at? At a dog, a quick correction, verbal or prong collar, depending on the dog's temperament, case over if the dog stops.

At the owner...God Himself will reach out of the Heavens and smite that dog...

Please provide further info so we can be more helpful.

I do not allow my dogs to growl- It is a show of aggression, and I am the head dog in my house! I am the only one to allowed growl! If you are in a situation and your dog growls, give a sharp tug of the leash(always use a chain collar, nylon gives too much) and tell the dog no. If the dog continues to growl, give another tug, and tell him to sit. Never let the dog close enough to the other animal or to the person to cause a bite. Always be in control. If the dog is still focused and wanting to be aggressive, move the dog in the opposite direction, and break his concentration.

Tell him "no" or "stop" and put your hand on his snout - not hard, but enough to show you are in charge. Often growling is just the dog's way of communication - you need to learn the difference between "talking" and threatening behavior in dogs.

Get some books on dog behavior and learn how to deal with your dog.

Sharply say "No" or "Hush" when the dog growls. Praise if they stop; repeat the "No" or "Hush" if they do not stop... repeat. Dogs need consistency and repetition. That's the only way to train.

i have 4 dogs and when they start barking/growling at something i tell them 'thats enough' and if they dont stop i squirt them withwater and it works really good especially cause my one dog really hates being squrited.

stick with one sound make it strict but calm and poke him/her sharly in the neck with two fingers when you say ur sound