How can I get my dog or puppy to stop growling at me?

If your dog is growling at you, then you need to do a couple of things. First, decide if this is a problem for you--do you want them to growl or not? If you don't then you need to find out what kind of growl it is. Are you playing tug-o-war and your puppy growls at you? That's a playful growl. Do you try to take away their food dish and they growl? That's possessive and dominant growling. It depends upon the situation, and sometimes upon the person. If your husband can pet your dog, but your dog growls at you, then your husband is the alpha, your dog is the beta, and you are the omega.

You can do a number of things to try and stop the growling. --Have a spray bottle with water, or even water with some vinegar. Whenever they growl, spray it at their chest and say "NO GROWL" very sternly.

--You could try turning them on their back and pinning them down (without hurting them). Wait for them to stop squirming and to lick their lips and turn their head away in submission.

--You could periodically take away the food dish and put it back over and over again. Praise the dog when it doesn't growl.

--Don't give your dog anything for free. Meaning, make them work for their food, their toys, their treats, their walks.

--Do obedience with them. Get them to listen to you!

--Get a pinch collar (a prong collar) and use that as a mother dog would on her pups. Pop it so that it constricts and then releases quickly like a nip whenever they growl.

Remember, hitting and yelling at your dog doesn't work very well. Sometimes it can undo the trust they have placed in you. Be smart and be kind. If it's a puppy, be aware that they will test you over and over again, and that they aren't sure why it would be improper for them to growl. Also, dogs sometimes growl before they bite as a warning saying "hey, I don't want to be held right now, and I really don't want to bite you, but it could happen if you keep this up". So just be smart and good luck!