Growling at strangers

Question
Our Leonberger, Tess, is 4 years old.  Over the past few weeks, she has started to growl at friends (children and adults) when they come into our backyard or our house.  What can we do to stop this?  We have all ages of kids visit - many that are under 5.  I worry that this growling could escalate. She does not bare her teeth but makes a growling sound.  Thanks

Answer
Dear Julie,
Thanks for the note. The key is to figure out why Tess is growling.

If the behavior represents a sudden change, then it's best to rule out medical problems. Have her checked by your vet.

Is she intact - in heat? Sometimes hormones associated with a heat cycle play a role in sudden behavior changes.

How did Tess interact with visitors 2 months ago? Was she ever hesitant to approach new people? Does she have any other behavioral problems? Does she patrol the fence and bark at passersby? Without a detailed interview, it's impossible for anyone to diagnose the true cause.

At this point, I would not scold scold her for growling, that will not change her perceptions. In this context, growling is a signal that says- "I am uncomfortable with your presence, please move away".  We need this feedback from her.

I don't need to tell you - these guys are powerful - you'll need some on-site help for this one. Check http://apdt.com and search for a trainer near you.

Thanks.

Alan J Turner
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