A Growl is a Warning, Not Defiance
When your chihuahua growls it’s your dog’s way of saying they’re uncomfortable or anxious about what they think is going to happen next. It’s not about dominance or trying to move up ‘in the pack’—it’s communication. Your dog predicting that what is going to happen next will be bad.
Dogs can only respond to situations with the skills they have. Instead of trying to suppress a growl, respect it. It’s a valuable warning that helps prevent escalation. A dog that is growling is feeling pessimistic.
Suppressing a Growl Can Lead to a Bite
If your chihuahua learns that growling gets punished or ignored, they may stop warning altogether and go straight to biting. This is a fast lesson for a dog to learn. If your chihuahua growls it’s information about how they feel, not your dog trying to dominate you.
How you handle things when your chihuahua growls—or even a bites—matters. Punishing a dog for warning you only adds stress to an already anxious state, reinforcing their fears.
Waving your arms, tapping their nose, or shouting doesn’t ‘correct’ behaviour; it increases their anxiety over your movement and can lead to a dog reacting with a bite when you move your hand innocently. This is when people suggest their dog has bitten them out of the blue.
A Real-Life Example: Arlo’s Story
Arlo had dental surgery last week. He’s a worrier and can easily become pessimistic. When he came home, he had a sticky bandage on his front leg that had slipped down over his wrist. I reached to remove it, and he growled at me.
That growl wasn’t defiance—it was a warning: “I’ve already had a bad day, and I don’t know what you touching this will mean for me, so I’d rather you didn’t.” If I’d ignored that warning, he might have escalated to using his teeth. And I don’t want to put my dog in a position where he feels he must defend himself.
What to Do When Your Chihuahua Growls
Instead of reacting negatively, step back and assess:
- What’s happening that’s making my dog uncomfortable?
- Is what I’m doing increasing their anxiety and stress?
- What skills does my dog need to handle this situation better next time?
- What skills do I need to handle the situation better next time?
Let go of the outdated idea that when your chihuahua growls is ‘bad’ or a sign of dominance. Suppressing it only leads to a downward spiral of trust and chips away at your relationship.
Would you like to know more about dog training? Learn positive, science-based training techniques and help your chihuahua grow in confidence. Gain the skills to support your dog in challenging moments and build a stronger, more trusting relationship. Join Chihuahua School today and become a true chihuahua whisperer!
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