15 Tips for Taking Your Dog to the Beach

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15 Tips for Taking Your Dog to the BeachIt’s officially summer! If you’ve got a beach vacation coming up soon, I’ve got some great tips to share with you for taking your dog to the beach.

What could be better, right? Sun, sand, warm breezes, ocean waves and having your dog right beside you to enjoy it all. The beach is one of Haley’s favorite places, but there are a few things about the beach that aren’t quite so dog friendly. We learned a lot through trial and error during our beach vacations with Haley and a few crazy days spent on the remote, Portsmouth Island.

Before you read the beach tips below, be sure to check out my earlier posts, Tips for a Holiday Road Trip with Your Dog for packing lists and general doggie travel advice and 10 Tips for Exercising Your Dog in the Summer for tips on keeping your pup safe in the summer heat and how to prevent and treat heatstroke.
Okay, on to the beach tips!

15 Tips for Taking Your Dog to the Beach

Dog Digging in the Sand
1. Protect those paw pads.
The sand on some beaches can get extremely hot and if you’re wearing flip-flops or beach sandals you might not realize just how uncomfortable it may be for your dog’s feet. Apply a product like Musher’s Secret to those paws before hiking out to the shoreline.
2. Find out if your dog likes to swim.
If it’s your dog’s first time at the beach, start off in a quiet area with calm water to see how your dog reacts. Not all dogs can or like to swim; some just enjoy walking along the surf line, and that’s fine. Even dogs that are good swimmers can become overwhelmed by strong waves and currents, so keep a close eye on your dog at all times. Make sure you’re familiar with how to deal with rip currents and lateral currents. Occasionally we read stories about humans that drown while trying to save a dog caught in a rip current but the dog manages to make it back to shore, so it’s good to be aware of different types of tides.
3. Consider a life vest for your dog.
Whether you’ll be boating or just playing in the surf, a life vest can be a great investment, for both fun and safety reasons. Even dogs that swim well can benefit from wearing a life vest because they can enjoy more time in the water before they get tired. A life vest with a handle on the back is convenient for lifting a dog out of the water.
4. Provide some shade.
Humans and dogs alike need occasional breaks from the sun. A playful, energetic dog can become overheated quickly at the beach. Large shade umbrellas are nice, but if you’re spending hours on the beach you’ll really appreciate some type of shade tent that can provide enough area for a few people and your dog to cool off. Some shade tents even have wind breaks to protect from blowing sand. Trust me, it’s definitely worth the effort to lug it to the beach.
5. Don’t forget your dog’s sunscreen.
You might not associate sunburns with dogs, but it can happen if your dog spends a lot of time in the sun. Sunscreens made for dogs, babies or sensitive skin are normally fine to use as long as they don’t contain zinc oxide, but check with your vet if you have any concerns about using sunscreen on your dog. Apply it to your dog’s nose and ears and also the belly and groin areas if they like to lay on their backs. Dogs with pink noses and skin, shaved dogs and dogs with light-colored coats especially need protection from the sun.
6. Pack plenty of water in the cooler.
Dogs can get dehydrated easily at the beach so plenty of cool, fresh water is essential. It’s also worth packing a lightweight, collapsible bowl in your beach bag instead of having your dog drink from a water bottle. A good supply of fresh, cool water is also the best way to prevent your dog from drinking too much salt water which can be harmful.
7. Take several leashes.
You’ll want to check local ordinances for off-leash and leash length rules, but long leashes can come in handy at the beach. They can give your dog more room to roam when needed and tied to a shorter length when required. I also take extra leashes that can be secured and left in different locations. For example, I always leave one tied to a cottage stilt at ground level for when we’re hosing things off outside or getting things in or out of the vehicles. It’s handy to have it ready to use if I need to secure Haley and keep her safe. On a related note, if you’re able to let your dog off-leash at the beach, always make sure she’s wearing a collar with ID.
8. Handling the beach poop.
Nobody wants to dig up buried dog poop when building a sand castle, yuk! Take several poop bags with you every time you head out to the beach. It can be a long trip back to the cottage or car if you forget one and it can be quite embarrassing too. If you’re alone with your dog and have to leave to retrieve a bag, people will surely assume you’ve decided not to pick up after your dog. Be kind and help out a fellow dog owner if you ever see this happen to someone else, they will surely appreciate it! If you’ll be on the beach for hours, a heavy-duty, galloon-sized ziplock bag is nice to double seal any smelly poop bags if there are no trash cans around. I have seen some dogs that like to poop in the water at the beach. Yep, that’s a tough one to deal with but at least try to clean it up if you can.
Dog with Sand Covered Face
9. Handling the sand-covered face.
If you have a dog like Haley that likes to dive into the surf and dig for crabs in the sand, leave a bottle of water in the shade for rinsing off their face. You don’t want your dog trying to remove sand from their face or eyes with their sand-covered paws. I like to use a thin, microfiber hiking towel moistened with clean water to carefully wipe the sand away from the eyes and muzzle area.
10. Avoid hidden dangers in the water.
You’re probably thinking sharks, right? You’ll want to avoid them too, but it’s not uncommon for dogs to cut their paws on sharp objects like shells under the water. I especially avoid areas around fishing piers where there’s likely to be hooks or cut fishing line in the water. Watch your dog carefully for limping or signs of injury.
11. Light up the night walk on the beach.
What dog doesn’t like to chase crabs on the beach at night? It can get pretty dark out there at night, so I attach an led light to Haley’s collar and I take a laser pointer along with me. I rarely use laser pointers around Haley, but beach walks at night are one place where laser pointers can be useful if your dog likes chasing the light. The sound of the wind and ocean waves can make it tough for your dog to hear your call if they’re running off-leash and the laser pointer can be an easy way to direct them back to you. I’ve never had to actually use it for that purpose, but it’s good to have it if you need it.
12. Give your dog a clean rinse or bath.
All that sand and salt can be really irritating to you dog’s skin. Rinse your dog off with clean water each time you come back from the beach, then follow up with a soothing, natural shampoo if your dog has sensitive skin. If you’re staying at a cottage, most have outdoor showers and hoses with warm water that are ideal for rinsing off your dog. If you can’t give your dog a bath, a soft brush can help remove some of the excess sand from their coat if you have a short-haired dog.
13. Protect those sensitive ears.
If your dog is prone to ear infections, dry their ears thoroughly after swimming or bathing and consult with your vet about an ear rinse solution that can be used after swimming to help remove excess moisture in the ear and prevent infections.
14. Keeping sand out of your car.
Don’t even bother trying, haha! Seriously, the sand will get pretty much everywhere and there’s no use stressing over it. You can keep excess sand and dirt at bay though by using large quilts or cargo covers in your vehicle to catch most of it. Shake them out occasionally and then throw them in the washer when you get home. For more tips, read 10 Tips for Keeping Your Car Clean.
15. Don’t forget the toys!
Frisbees and toys that float are good choices for the beach. A lot of dogs love tennis balls, but they can get pretty sandy when wet and your dog may not like all that sand in her mouth.

Dog Napping on BeachThe best tip of all is to enjoy your vacation with your pup. Most dogs have a blast at the beach and some will run and play until they are completely exhausted. Between the sun, heat, waves and running in deep sand, make sure to take lots of rest breaks to just hang out, relax and maybe even take a nap together.

Are you taking your dog to the beach this summer? Share your beach tricks, tips and hacks with us!

Dog Vision – How Dogs See the World

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How Dogs See the WorldHave you ever thought about how dogs see the world? I’ve often wondered why Haley doesn’t seem to notice our resident chipmunk sitting on the edge of the porch during the day, even when I try to point him out to her. Yet, she’ll let me know that she sees something up ahead while we’re walking through our wooded neighborhood late at night. It always scares me a little bit when she alerts me to something lurking in the dark and I’m unable to see right away that it’s only a meandering cat or deer. Yes, our dogs definitely see the world differently than we do.

People used to think dogs were color-blind, but research has shown that dogs do see some colors, just not as many as we humans see. Here’s a quick refresher from science class to help explain why.

It’s All About the Rods and Cones

Humans and dogs both have photoreceptor cells called rods and cones in the retina of their eyes. Rods are more sensitive to changes in light and in detecting shapes and movement, but rods are not sensitive to color. Rods help us see when it’s dark but we’re basically color-blind in low-light conditions. Cones are better at detecting color and creating fine detail; it’s what we rely on in daylight to view all those amazing shades of color. Hang in there with me, all this scientific talk gets more interesting when you compare the rods and cones of the human eye to that of a dog’s eye.

We humans have three types of cones that are sensitive to the colors red, blue and green whereas dogs have only two types and they mostly see the colors yellow, blue and various shades of gray. The image below helps illustrate the comparison mapping of the color ranges.

Colors Dogs See

Humans have 6 million cone cells compared to the 1.2 million that dogs have. We can see about a million different shades of color and all those colors help distinguish fine details in our surroundings. Dogs can only see about 10,000 different shades of color and far less detail because of their low number of cones. When it comes to comparing the number of rods, it’s a different story. Although it’s not known how many rods dogs have compared to our 120 million, we do know that a dog’s eye is about five times more sensitive to light, so perhaps they have five times more rods than we humans have.

What Colors Can My Dog See?

Researchers are pretty sure this is how dogs see color: Dogs don’t see shades of red or green. Reds appear to be dark gray to black. Orange, yellow and green appear to be different shades of yellow. Blue and violet colors appear as different shades of blue to blue-gray. Click on the picture below to view how your dog would likely see the image. Notice the difference in colors as well as the lack of detail dogs have. The green, red and orange toys tend to blend in with the grass but the blue toys are much easier to see.

Click the image below.

How Humans See Dog Toys

Click on the image to view what your dog sees.

Practical things to consider about how your dog sees color.

  • If dogs see grass as yellow, how well will your dog be able to find a yellow ball in the grass when playing fetch? He might have to rely more on his sense of smell to find the ball, but a blue-colored ball would stand out well against a sea of yellow grass.
  • It’s common to see agility equipment painted in combinations of blue and yellow or red and white to help dogs better recognize the obstacles. If you’re constructing your own backyard agility equipment for training, you might want to consider how color can affect your pup’s success or reluctance to train with a particular piece of equipment.
  • Orange hunting dog bumpers, like the one shown above, would appear as a shade of yellow in grassy areas and might be challenging for young hunting dogs to locate. But perhaps the orange bumper would be appropriate for advanced training.

I’ve never tried agility with Haley and have never owned hunting dogs, so I’m hoping some of you experts will weigh in with your opinions on those last two points.

Your Dog’s Vision Acuity

Another difference in how dogs see the world is they don’t have sharp distance vision. They are nearsighted to varying degrees but on average their vision is about 20/75 which is much worse than a typical human’s vision acuity. This could explain why your dog might not seem to recognize you or other family members at a distance. You appear as an outline of a figure until your dog approaches closer or perhaps he picks up your scent or recognizes your unique body movements. This is something to keep in mind when working on recall at a distance; some trainers even suggest using arm movements along with the recall command.

Check out the two images below to compare how your vision acuity likely compares to that of your dog’s vision acuity.

A Human
A Human

The Good News

If you’re starting to feel sorry for your dog, don’t worry. In some ways, your dog’s vision outperforms your own. Remember those rods? They play a big role in how dogs are able to see and hunt prey at night. Here are three amazing qualities about a dog’s eye.

  • Dogs are 10-20 times better at detecting movement in the distance than humans. That probably explains why Haley sometimes barks at things across the street when she’s looking out the front window. Sometimes I have to really study the landscape before I notice a small animal moving in the distance. That chipmunk she doesn’t notice sitting on the porch is in for quite a surprise once he starts moving. Game on, Mr. Chipmunk! Having so many motion-sensitive rods is probably why dogs also love it when you animate their toys.
  • Dogs see better at night than we do. The extra rods, larger pupils and something called a tapetum (which we humans don’t have) combine to provide for exceptional night vision, especially around the prime hunting hours of dawn and dusk. Their larger pupils let in more light and the tapetum, a membrane that acts as a reflective mirror, bounces light waves back at the retina a second time allowing it to take in more light. Light reflecting off the tapetum is responsible for that glow in an animal’s eyes at night or in photos when a flash is used.
  • Dogs have a wider range of peripheral vision than we humans. Although different breeds have unique head structures and eye placement, most dogs have a peripheral vision range of 250 degrees versus our human range of only 190 degrees. All the better for hunting prey and keeping a watchful eye out for humans approaching from behind carrying nail trimmers or a bottle of ear wash. 🙂

Humans don’t necessarily see better than dogs, we just see differently. Even though we see more colors, details and have better distance vision, a dog’s sense of sight was designed to be efficient for hunting, especially at night.

If you feel bad that your dog doesn’t see as well as you, remember that dogs primarily “see” the world through their sense of smell. I’m sure our dogs would feel sorry for us if they knew how much we’re missing by not having the ability to experience so many varied aromas.

Have you noticed anything unique about your dog’s vision or how he sees the world?

Do You Take Your Dog to Work?

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Do You Take Your Dog to Work?It’s that time of year again. Friday, June 26th is the 17th annual PSI’s Take Your Dog to Work Day®! Yep, it’s a real holiday, well—sort of. It was started in 1999 by Pet Sitters International to highlight how dogs benefit our everyday lives and to promote pet adoption. Sounds like a great idea, right? But what if your company doesn’t participate or has never heard of Take Your Dog to Work Day?

Before I started blogging, I wasn’t able to take Haley into the office where I worked. I often wondered how far I might get if I tried to sneak her into the building before someone might say something. I even imagined throwing her ball down the long, carpeted hallways; she would have loved playing fetch in those hallways after hours! I’m sure she would have received a lot of love from my co-workers and other people in the building, but I’m sure she (and I) would have gotten a few disapproving looks too.

Not everyone loves dogs as much as I do and occasionally someone out there reminds me of that fact. I understand, there are people that simply don’t like dogs, others may be allergic to dogs and some individuals just reject the principle of dogs in the workplace because, well—they just do!

My son and daughter-in-law live in San Francisco where most people don’t give a second thought to seeing a dog in an office or other places of business, but here in the Midwest, it’s rare to see workplace pets other than service dogs or a random cat in a flower shop or bookstore. I had to laugh while watching a recent episode of Silicon Valley when a candidate was interviewing for a job and insisted on a dog friendly workplace including the right for his pup to use the pool. Maybe attitudes are changing.

It’s wonderful that some lucky individuals have the option of taking their dogs to work each day. I wish I could’ve had the freedom to do that with Haley instead of leaving her home alone everyday. She would’ve loved the attention and ability to socialize with different people, but I wonder what she would have done when it was time for me to focus on work. Would she have complained with her “It’s time to go and do something fun” whining routine? I’m sure she would’ve settled down for a nap at times but I’m also sure there would have been plenty of requests to go outside and sniff around just because she was bored.

Office Dog

You don’t expect me to do any real work, right?

I’m hoping the trend of dog-friendly businesses continues to grow and more dogs have a chance to at least occasionally visit their owner’s workplaces. When businesses participate in Take Your Dog to Work Day, they have the perfect opportunity to test the concept of pets in the workplace and to realize the benefits that go along with it, such as boosting morale, reducing on-the-job stress and increasing the fitness levels of their employees.

Obviously, not all businesses are a good fit for pets, but if you think your company may be interested in participating, talk to your supervisor or HR department and have them download the Free Action Pack from Pet Sitters International. It explains everything they need to know about Take Your Dog to Work Day. It also provides tips to make the event a success and other ideas such as how to turn the day into a fundraising event for a local shelter. If you’re a cat owner, don’t worry about being left out. The entire week from June 22-26th is Take Your Pet to Work week.

Are you able to take your dog to work?
Do you think your dog would enjoy going to work with you?

I would love to hear your thoughts and any tips you might have on how best to manage having your dog in the workplace.

12 Simple Ways to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

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12 Simple Ways to Help Your Dog Lose WeightPet obesity continues to be a problem here in the United States. A survey conducted last year by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 52.7% of dogs in the US are either overweight or obese. But what’s more surprising is that 95% of dog owners identified their dogs as being normal weight. Our overweight dogs have an elevated risk of injury, illness and disease so it’s important to take action to help them become healthier by losing those extra pounds. The good news is, the process of helping them doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. If you want to monitor your dog’s calorie intake by using formulas such as [(pet’s weight in lbs/2.2) x 30] +70 that’s great, but most of us don’t even calculate the calories we consume each day. So, we’re going to keep it simple today with some common sense tips to get you started. First, let’s find out if your dog is overweight.

Is Your Dog Overweight?

Different breeds of dogs can have very unique body shapes, but for most breeds, these two helpful graphics from Dr. Sophia Yin’s website illustrate what normal and overweight dogs look like. If your dog looks like this first picture, congratulations. You’re doing a super job of managing your pup’s weight!Normal Weight Dog

If your dog looks more like the picture below, don’t worry. It’s never too late to get started on helping her lose some of that excess weight, just check out the tips below.
Overweight Dog

Haley’s always been a pretty active girl, but as she got older and slowed down a little bit she began putting on a few extra pounds. Here’s what I did (and continue to do) to help her manage her weight.

12 Simple Ways to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

1. Feed a high-quality dog food.
Since we’re keeping it simple here, I’m not going to get into the weeds about whether kibble, canned, home-cooked or raw food diets are best, but you should avoid cheap dog food brands that are high in corn or other grains and choose brands that have a high meat content (with no by-products). The Dog Food Advisor website is a good resource for checking and comparing different brands of dog food or you can check with your veterinarian for suggestions.
2. Understand feeding recommendations.
Don’t assume the feeding instructions on the packaging of your dog’s food apply to every dog. If your dog is gaining weight and you’re not overfeeding with treats or other food, gradually cut back on the amount of dog food your pup receives each day. Also, as dogs get older and slow down, they tend to gain a few pounds so you may have to cut back slightly on the amount you feed to keep them at a normal weight.
3. Measure your dog’s food.
Use a measuring cup to carefully measure each feeding. It’s an easy way to know exactly how much food your dog’s eating at each meal and to make gradual adjustments as needed.
4. Increase exercise.
Small increases in exercise can make a big difference. Make your daily walk just a bit longer or incorporate more play time into each day. Just like with your dog’s diet, you’ll want to make gradual changes so you don’t overwork your dog, especially if she’s very overweight or out of shape.
5. Weigh your dog regularly.
Keep a close eye on your dog’s weight loss as you make changes. The goal should be for your pup to lose about 1% of her body weight per week until she reaches her ideal body weight.
6. Give smaller treats.
Have you ever given your dog a large treat or piece of food and they swallowed it instantly? I really don’t think dogs notice how big a treat is, they’re just happy to get one. Small, low-calorie training treats are perfect for rewards or simply break bigger treats into small pieces. Your dog will be just as satisfied and you’ll be feeding her fewer calories each time. Hey, you’ll be saving money too!
7. Try some healthier treats.
Many dog treats found in pet stores are high in calories and carbohydrates but you probably have healthier options sitting in your refrigerator right now. Skip the hot dogs, cheese and peanut butter and see if your dog likes fresh fruits or vegetables. Celery, baby carrots, green beans, broccoli, cucumber slices and apple slices are all great options. Just make sure you’re familiar with foods you shouldn’t feed your dog before feeding any human foods and remember that treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s total calorie intake.
8. Use different rewards.
Using food to motivate or reward a dog works pretty well but we tend to forget that many dogs would be just as happy with a good belly rub or a play session for a reward. Try mixing it up to see if your dog will respond to other things rather than always relying on a food-based reward.
9. Have your dog work for food.
Food dispensing balls and puzzles are a good way for your dog to burn off excess energy and calories by working for her food or treats. Most dogs learn quickly how the puzzles or balls work and they enjoy the challenge. If your dog isn’t into these types of toys, she can still earn treats by playing games like Find It or by doing other activities or tricks.
10. Watch for saboteurs.
Make sure all family members are cooperating with your goal to make your pup healthier. If some members of the family are sneaking bites of food to the dog, all those little bites can add up to a lot of calories. Also, make sure your dog’s not sabotaging her own diet by sneaking food from other sources, like the cat’s food bowl.
11. Avoid dinnertime dilemmas.
If your dog’s a beggar, it’s hard to resist “the look”, right? Those pleading eyes that make you think your poor pup will surely starve to death if she doesn’t get some of your BBQ chicken. I don’t mind a begging dog if they lie down beside you and are mannerly and polite about it, but if it’s an issue with your dog, have them settle into their bed or stay in another room until you’re finished with dinner. Another dinnertime habit to avoid is giving your dog a lot of leftovers. I remember my grandmother doing that because she didn’t want the food to go to waste. I’m all for adding healthy human food to Haley’s diet, but I would rather throw away those leftover pizza slices than have them add to her waistline.
12. Manage your dog’s hunger.
Your dog might be a little hungry while she’s losing weight. If you normally feed once a day, try breaking the meal into two or three feedings throughout the day. You can also set aside a little of your dog’s daily food portion to use in a treat dispensing toy for later in the evening. Canned pumpkin and green beans are common low-calorie fillers for dieting dogs, but your dog will surely appreciate a variety of veggies.

Healthy Dog Treats

Try these healthy snacks!

If your dog’s looking a little chubby these days, I hope these tips are helpful. I was surprised how much of a difference it made with Haley’s attitude and energy level when she lost just a few pounds. Please note that there are some medical reasons your dog could be gaining weight, so it’s important to talk to your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or nutritional needs.

While working on this post, I kept wondering why so many of our dogs are overweight. Is it mostly driven by the look they give us? Does the look make us feel guilty for not sharing food? What do you think? Share your thoughts and tips on how you help your dog lose weight.

What Should You Do When Your Dog Growls at Someone?

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I admit, that’s a pretty broad question to answer because dogs growl for a lot of different reasons. There are good growls, like when a dog’s having fun playing tug-of-war and there are bad growls like when a dog growls at a young child. Nobody wants their dog to growl at an innocent child and our first instinct is usually to swiftly correct the dog in order to send a message that we don’t like that behavior. I was guilty of doing that with Haley when she was younger because it’s a common human reaction, but when I stopped to think about why Haley was growling and what she was feeling, I realized that she was only trying to communicate her feelings.

A Dog’s Growl Can Mean:

  • I’m having fun trying to wrestle this rope toy away from you.
  • I’m hurting or don’t feel good and would like to be left alone.
  • I heard something outside, but I’m not sure if it’s anything to be worried about.
  • I’m unsure of the person that I see walking up the driveway.
  • I’m defending my yard or my spot on the couch.
  • I’m worried that you might take my food or toy away from me.
  • I’m scared, stressed or uncomfortable in this situation.
The last two reasons, fear and possessiveness, are the ones that usually cause that knee-jerk reaction inside of us to issue a correction. If a dog is fearful or aggressive, you’ll often see other body language signals before you hear a growl. For a lot of dogs, a growl is the last warning sign before they could be provoked to bite or attack, especially if they feel cornered and can’t retreat. It’s a vocal warning, a heads up so to speak, so the last thing you want to do is correct a dog for growling and possibly silence their early warning system. If you know when your dog is fearful or uncomfortable before they resort to a bite, you’ve got the best chance to desensitize them through counterconditioning.

Haley’s Fear of Little Girls

When Haley was young, she had a fear of small children, especially little girls. I think part of her fear came from an encounter we had with some very pushy and aggressive little girls that approached us in the park during her socialization period. Not long after that incident, she would sometimes emit a low, quiet growl when kids would approach her. It’s not a good feeling to have a dog that growls at kids. I wanted Haley to feel comfortable around children and I wanted to be able to take her anywhere without worrying about how she might react to people. Here’s what I did to help her overcome that fear.

My first job was to protect her (and of course, the kids) while we began the counterconditioning process. We first visited parks and watched children play at a distance where Haley was comfortable and relaxed and she got plenty of treats and praise for her cooperation. When we would pass children on our walks, I would create more distance to keep her comfortable and again, she got lots of yummy treats and affection. We slowly decreased the distance to the children and increased the level of interaction but only within Haley’s comfort zone and while ensuring the safety of the kids. It didn’t take long before she started associating good things with the sight and sounds of youngsters and eventually she was even relaxed enough to listen and take commands from them, in exchange for yummy treats of course.

I have to add a disclaimer here. I don’t mean to imply that everything you need to know about fixing an issue with a reactive dog is found in the paragraph above. The concept of counterconditioning is simple to understand in theory, but it’s a slow process that requires you to be able to closely analyze your dog’s behavior and body language. For that reason, it’s best to consult with a professional trainer or canine behaviorist first. I just wanted to give a real example of how Haley’s anxiety issue was treated because she was initially able to communicate her fearfulness to me by growling. Here are some tips if you’re ever in a situation where your dog’s growling at someone.

What To Do When Your Dog Growls at Someone

1. Don’t correct your dog.
Growling is the best way your dog has to communicate with you and others that she’s stressed or uncomfortable. It’s her early warning signal before matters could escalate to a bite.
2. Maintain control of your dog.
To ensure everyone’s safety, make sure your dog is fully under your control and leashed.
3. Stay calm.
Dogs sometimes react to our own emotions, so it’s important to stay relaxed, move slowly and use a calm tone of voice when your dog is growling or showing signs of stress.
4. Create distance.
Diffuse your dog’s reaction by putting distance between her and the person she’s reacting to, even if that means turning around and walking in the opposite direction. If your dog is growling at you, slowly move away and give her more space.
5. Don’t pressure your dog.
Don’t pressure or push your dog to accept or approach the person she’s uncomfortable with. Pressuring a dog that’s already stressed will likely escalate her emotions to a level where she could lash out and bite.
6. Check your attitude.
If your dog is growling at you or is being possessive of food or toys, don’t make the assumption that she’s being dominant or defiant. Confronting her or reacting back with an aggressive attitude will likely escalate her reaction and diminish trust.
7. Put together a game plan.
After analyzing the situation, create a plan to help your dog overcome her issue. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a professional trainer or canine behaviorist that specializes in using positive reinforcement methods. They can best advice you on the appropriate course of action when dealing with fear or aggression related issues.

What If Your Dog’s Growling at Someone Outside Your Home?

It’s normal for dogs to want to protect their territory and alert you to anything unusual outside by growling or barking at the window. Most people like having a dog that will let them know if something looks suspicious. I don’t mind Haley’s growling when this happens, but the barking can get annoying sometimes. I’ve always used the phrase It’s Okay when I want to calm her down, so instead of saying “No!” or “Quiet!” when she alerts me to something, I say “It’s Okay”. This usually works pretty well and her demeanor changes as if she’s thinking “Okay, you can take care of this one if they come busting through the door”.

Sometimes it’s hard to fight the instinct to correct a dog that’s growling at someone, especially if that someone happens to be us or a small child. But when we understand that our dogs are actually trying to communicate their feelings, we should be thankful they’re giving us a heads up warning and the opportunity to help them overcome the stressful issue they’re dealing with.

Have you ever been concerned when your dog growled at someone? What did you do?