Hi

I am a licensed dog boarder (small dogs) and this week I am looking after a miniature poodle who is 8 years old.  She is very well behaved -in fact rather ladylike compared with my dogs!  She spends a lot of time lying on our sofa, not a very active dog, but is eating and sleeping well.  She seemed very docile for the first couple of days but yesterday when I spoke to her and stroked her  head she growled (quietly) and bared her teeth.  She has done this several times since and it is not something I have encountered at all so far with my "boarders".  I have no idea why she is doing this as I am the one who is caring for her, feeding, walking her etc.  She does belong to an older couple and she is the only dog so I suppose she is used to a quiet life but it is reasonably quiet here mostly too.  She seems to get on with my dogs though she mostly ignores them.

Any idea why she is acting this way?  I don't want to get a nip!

Thanks

Snowflake

I would just leave her alone and not try to stroke her. She isn't happy being stroked so wouldn't stress her out by trying to do that :-)

It sounds as though she's feeling very unsettled and insecure in the new environment. Best not to push her but let her join in in her own time if she wants to.

I feel sorry for this dog - poodles are normally very active !!!
Did you try to move her or did she think you were going to move her ? My girl growls if you move her from somewhere comfy. Mine also doesn't like being petted too much and tends to sit on the couch, I feel very honored if she ever sits on my knee !

In addition to what others have said; plenty of dogs really dislike having their heads stroked, as they don't like a hand being so close to their eyes. There could also be poor eyesight in an older dog. They may accept their owner to touch their head but not a stranger.

Thanks for your comments.  She spends most of her time on the sofa and that is when she has growled - maybe not wanting to be moved (not that I was moving her....).  I have just talked to her quietly today and not stroked her - I have only had the odd growl.  Oddly enough my granddaughter came today (7) and the poodle LOVED her and was trying to get on her lap.  Poodle's owner did say she loved children.

She is a lovely elegant dog who is very biddable and a pleasure to look after.

I have a miniature poodle and he does exacrly this. He likes a fuss and a cuddle but it is very much on his terms! I take the growling as a warning and leave him alone.
He has never bitten or even nipped. If I leave my hand on him after he has growled at me he will move away so it stops the cpntact.
Hes a quirky bu**er :-)