my 15 month old weim pup loves playing with other dogs but makes a growling noise when she is doing it. she can be a bit boistrous when she plays, but not aggressive. she has played with a couple of boxers since she was young who also play a bit rough, but they dont do the noises!! the problem is she sounds like she is being really aggressive and people look at her like she is. how can we teach her to stop making the noises and play a little more gently? she tends to be more rough with little dogs, i guess she tends to get away with it more. if a dog has a little growl at her first we have no problem!

True growling shows plenty of teeth and looks evil - so long as the dog she's playing with understands - what is the problem?

yeah the dogs understand but not always the owners!! we havent had any problems as such, its just the owners sometimes look a little concerned, and it would be much nicer if she didnt do the noises!!

It'd be much nicer at school breaktime if the children didn't shout and squeal when they're playing, but that's all part of the fun!
:)

u must be a teacher too!! yeah i see what you are saying! i dont have a problem with it, i just dont want us getting into trouble!!!

Hi Louise

You can tell with Cleo that its just a play growl and as long as you know that its not a serious threat and the opposing dog knows that its playful then I wouldnt worry too much about it.
If the other owner knows anything about dogs they should realise thats its just in play as well.
You've heard my lot growling away but its all noise! :)

thanks lisa!! i guess you know her pretty well, and she is worst with rosie!! its just a lady looked really p!£$ed off with her in the woods the other day, and she wasnt being half as bad as she is with rose!!

Oh she isnt bad at all, she just puts Rose in her place thats all!

Did she try it on with anoher dog or just growl and jump around her?

the dog ran up to cleo to play, which always makes her act a bit odd!  cleo was just playing, but the dog was a little jack russell and cleo being a big lump was just being a bit OTT!! cleo did growl at simon tho when he pulled her away, which she has never done before.

My friends Spanish is the same and his son who I own has just started doing this.  They sound awful and they actually grumble a deep throaty voice when you are stroking them and they are excited.  People around think that they are nasty and that they are going to attack but they're both big softies, but they do sound awful :d

I think I'd make light of it to the other owners - with a comment like 'Don't they make some awful noises when they're playing - good job WE known they're only playing' ;)

my dog also makes a lot of noise when playing but as he is playing with dogs he knows and i know they are not scared of him i am ok with it, and so are the other dog owners. i suppose people that have only had quiet calm dogs cant be expected to understand. A guy let his dog approach mine the other day and when mine started up his noise the guy kicked my dog once because he thought he was attacking his dog. i know he wasnt, sometimes you just have to avoid people. I dont think you can stop their natural vocalisation.