When the Warning Vanishes

Some dogs really do bite with almost no warning — but there is a reason. They were punished for warning. A dog that growled and got yelled at learns one lesson: growling brings trouble. So it stops.

This is the rule trainers will not bend on. A growl is your dog saying "I am uncomfortable" out loud — and that honesty is a gift. Punish it and you do not remove the fear; you only mute the alarm. A dog that still growls is a dog you can read. So when you hear one, do not scold.