Guest Frannie Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I should be a veteran at this - Yurtie is my 7th grey, and I kinda feel like I've seen it all in terms of funky behavior. He is the lovingest little boy in the world... 99% of the time. Last night he was on the couch with me, resting his head on my knee while I read. It was exactly how I wanted to spend my Sunday evening - good book, sweet new dog cuddled up. I must have shifted my weight just a little, making him feel like I was more in his space than he was comfortable with, because out of the blue, he curled his lip at me and let out that low, expressionless, "Don't forget I could eat you" growl. I have heard it many times before. And yet, it always undoes me. I got him off the couch right away. I was firm with my NO GROWL but I didn't yell. He was back up and behaving well within a few minutes. What do you all do with this behavior, which I think is really pretty common and not anything to really flip out about - I just want to discourage it. Thanks Frannie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Sounds like you're right on top of it. He was probably comfortable, maybe dozing a bit and you disturbed him. I just tell mine to get down when they do that. I don't really scold, just remove them and tell them to go lay on their bed. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clawsandpaws Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Sounds like you're right on top of it. He was probably comfortable, maybe dozing a bit and you disturbed him. I just tell mine to get down when they do that. I don't really scold, just remove them and tell them to go lay on their bed. Yup! Just last night I went to cuddle with Dudley on the couch, he growled, I immediately tried to get him off (not scolding) and he wouldn't/couldn't move... why? I had sat right on his poor little footsies!! I have noticed that Dudley will growl if he thinks he's going to be hurt, not a space issue, but he's scared of being crushed, and rightfully so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytpups Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Perhaps you are giving him too many privileges too soon if he's new. I would work on NILF training first and build some trust before letting him up on furniture. Quote Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field. Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreytNut Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Many dogs will growl if disturbed during sleep. If he's knocked out he's forgotten that it's you he's snuggling with. He just feels someone moving him or touching him during sleep. Riley does this a lot with Raven. He'll let her crawl into his bed and snuggle with him, and then when he's deeply asleep he'll snarl at her if he feels her move. She just gets up and scoots away from him. He might not be ready for couch snuggling yet. Quote Kristen with Penguin (L the Penguin) Flying Penske x L Alysana Costarring The Fabulous Felines: Squeak, Merlin, Bailey & Mystic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Firedancer Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 We've had issues with this as well. We decided to restrict her couch privileges and she can only get on the couch at night after we've all gone to bed. She hasn't growled at us since we did this. I'm hoping one day we will be able to let her snuggle with us on the couch, but not yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scullysmum Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 As others have said you seem to be on top of this.....if it makes you feel any better my girl Sadi who has now been with us 8 years still growls at DH every night when he says goodnight to her...if you saw /heard it you would swear she was going to rip his face off, but really it's just a habit that started as her being space aggressive and him laughing at her until it became a game between them, she will never stop doing it and we love her for it... I suppose I'm saying that a growl is not always as bad as it might seem, just a way of communicating. Quote <p>"One day I hope to be the person my dog thinks I am"Sadi's Pet Pages Sadi's Greyhound Data PageMulder1/9/95-21/3/04 Scully1/9/95-16/2/05Sadi 7/4/99 - 23/6/13 CroftviewRGT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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