My Dog Grumbles When He is Scolded

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If your dog grumbles when he is scolded, most likely you are concerned about the behavior and may be wondering what you can do about it. Many dogs grumble when they are scolded and this may often be first seen when dogs reach doggy adolescence and testing behaviors start. Paying attention to the grumble is important because it may deteriorate and turn into something worse such as biting. Following are some potential reasons why dogs may grumble when scolded and how you can deal with the situation.

A Testing Phase 

Many dogs once they reach dog adolescence may turn into testing machines. They no longer may respect boundaries and follow your commands as they did before. Gone are the days of your puppy following you around as a shadow and wanting to interact with you.

The testing phase may bring new challenges, but if you make sure to be consistent, you will see the dark at the end of the tunnel.

Dog adolescence typically starts when dogs are 6 months old and may last even up to when the dog reaches 3-years old in the larger breeds.

This phase is not coincidentally the timeframe when most dog owners surrender their dogs to shelters. The cute ball of fluff has grown into a large dog who is difficult to control and who is overly active and boisterous. On top of that, he may start posing a deaf ear to requests to stop behavior, or worse, may emit a growl or grumble when requested to do so.

A Word of Caution 

It is important to use caution with the behavior of grumbling when your dog is told not to do something. This may be due to defensiveness if your dog perceives you as a threat when you correct him. Many dogs may  look tough, but many are very sensitive.
 I had a German shepherd pup see me once who was biting because he was often tapped on the nose for biting. He associated hands with the tap so would bite anytime you would try to pet him or touch him in any way. “The best offense is the best defense” seemed his motto.
The grumbling may also escalate because of an extinction burst and morph into biting which is a considerably worse behavior that may be difficult to eradicate if not tackled fast. The more your dog is involved in situations that trigger the behavior, the more it establishes. Practice makes perfect and this applies as well to unwanted behaviors.
If your dog grumbles or acts aggressive when you reprimand him, it’s time to change training methods and enlist the help of a professional, force-free trainer.