My dog randomly just growled at me?

Bugging a dog while it is eating, and the other way, of taking food away from a dog when it is eating, as methods to prevent food guarding are COMPLETELY WRONG. If you want to see how to do it RIGHT, get a copy of the Sirius Puppy Training dvd. But don't do the Sirius puppy training method with the *adult* dog you have now because it will not work with an adult dog and could get you badly bitten.

Your dog is not "randomly" growling, she is communicating quite clearly. She is saying "Stay away! Don't bother me! I'm chewing on my bone! Back off! Give me some space and time to myself." You would be WISE to pay attention to the dog's warning! Keep all others away from her, too.

Growling doesn't necessarily mean the dog is ANGRY, it is just one of the many ways dogs communicate.

A lot of groomers learn that a dog will sometimes lick you just before it bites you. You are fortunate that you have a rather submissive dog but don't press your luck here. Stay away from the dog when it is eating or has a bone or other good chewable item. This sort of behavior is the result of the incorrect early training that was done of taking things away from the dog, and maturity.

When dogs are young they don't get to hyped about bones but as they grow older they learn to appreciate the taste and so when you approach they think you want to take it away from them and they are enjoying it so there way of asking you to back off is by growling. It is dog instinct my dog does it sometimes to. Just try leaving her alone when she's with her bone and give her some space and time to enjoy it. When she's done and ready to play then she will leave it and you can take it. Be careful as much as your dog may love you they do over react at times and may bite you.

Definitely behavioral and not any one thing could be cause of it except that she now doesn't want anyone near her bone any more. You shouldn't let it go on, if you know she isn't going to bite, take the bone away from her, if you don't she could possibly start acting that way around her food dish too.

From the way you described it, sounds like she was saying, "don't take this bone" The fact that she let you, means she still submitted.

I would probably scold her for the growl, but only with the same intensity that her growl was.

The bone is the answer, this was a get away growl, and that is totally unacceptable. I would give her treats and repeatedly take it away and give it back, until the dog understands that you and anyone else can do that and that's that.

My dog does the same thing when he has a really good bone or picks up something outside that is not good for him and I have to pull it out of his mouth.

It is not personal, but the dog is being territorial and instinctual.

She was probably on defense mode. I wouldnt worry bcuz she probably thought u were trying to take her bone. I have a American pitbull and I only give him treats.

She is defending her bone, and letting you know that it is hers. Just, leave her be, to enjoy it.

hmm maybe she wanted to eat her bone in peace?