my lab's got an attitude... please help!

[HighCountryHunter88]

my 2 1/2 year old male lab is a teddy bear but in the last 2 months he's started this low growl when people reach to pet him. he'll stand right next to someone or laydown at thier feet but starts to growl if they start to pet him. he doesnt show his teeth or move away or show any other signs of agression just this really low growl, sometimes his hair stands up but not always and he'll let you keep petting him. no matter what kind of scolding i do he just keeps growling. does anyone have any tips on how to best deal with this or how to break it? i dont think he'll ever bite but it makes me nervous. plllease help!!

[chester]

im not an expert in anyway. but short answer is if he does it again whip his a$$ 

[Curly]

Does it matter where someone pets him?  Maybe he has a sore spot or something that he doesn't want touched?

Does he still have his balls?  If so maybe he you could try getting him fixed and see if that helps his disposition?

[GWP]

Our boy started doing the same thing. Well trained, but started getting this weirdness. I tried getting a bit harder on him and it seemed it got worse. Had him fixed on advice of a trainer, and within a very short time he was back to himself. Did not want to have to put him down for biting someone.

[YellowDog]

My first thought is that maybe he has an injury that he is trying to protect himself from further pain and warning people not to touch 'cuz it hurts.  Sometimes injuries are present when no obvious signs (limping, whimpering, etc.) are shown. 

Other than that, he may need his nuts clipped to tone it down. 

[BIGINNER]

do you have cats?  maybe he learned how to purrr?  lol     i have no idea what it could be,  my chiwawa does that too,  but a stomp with my foot fixes it right away,  lol   

[Happy Gilmore]

Take him to a vet and get him a check up including blood work. Won't cost you much compared to a possible bite if he has a physical/medical issue.

[Houndhunter]

hitting them doesnt always work, infact sometimes i think it makes it worse. next time he does that grab him and flip him on his back and hold him there, dont hurt him but be firm and continue to do that every time he growls. im no expert but this has helped with me with growly dogs, when it comes to food though i think thats just in the dog and you cant break them of that

[BIGINNER]

hitting them doesnt always work, infact sometimes i think it makes it worse. next time he does that grab him and flip him on his back and hold him there, dont hurt him but be firm and continue to do that every time he growls. im no expert but this has helped with me with growly dogs, when it comes to food though i think thats just in the dog and you cant break them of that

I AGREE WITH NO HITTING,  HITTING A DOG COULD VERY EASILY MAKE IT WORSE.  MY GSP THAT I RESCUED FROM A COUPLE OF GUYS FLINCHES WHENEVER I RAISE MY VOICE A LITTLE,  AND I CAN'T RASIE MY ARMS AROUND HIM OR ELSE HE'LL HUCKER DOWN AND WIMPER,I'M GUESSING THE GOG WAS ABUSED BEFORE.  I DUNNO IF ITS EVEN FIXABLE NOW,      SO THE BEST THING IS WHAT HOUNDHUNTER IS SAYING,  LET THE DOG KNOW THAT IT SHOULDN'T GROWL,  BUT IN A NON VIOLENT WAY. 

[BallisticsNut]

Have to add cause I do have some experience here. 

If you punish him by yelling or hitting when he does this you risk creating even a bigger issue!  Your telling him its not ok to growl.  So whats going to happen is some innocent little 5 year old is going to see your dog and walk up to him and starting petting him and without warning, will get bit.  Dont ever take away a dogs growl!  it his way of warning you he is not happy about something. 

Yes, take him to a vet.  Have him snipped and if he has already been snipped then have him checked for lymphnode ailments.  We had a Rottie that developed this behavior at about 4 years.  No matter what we did, we coulnt break her of the habit.  It turned out she had cancer of the lymphnode.  If we had caught it earlier, we may have been able to save her, instead we took her growls as a sign of independance and let it go.  The cancer spread to her shoulder and we lost her within a year.  By the time it was diagnosed, it was too late. 

Lastly, your dog wants your attention and wants it his own way and is trying to be the alpha.  Not a good sign and it needs to be corrected early.  If he checks out physically fine and he still behaves this way after being snipped.  Start off by getting up and walking away when he starts to growl.  Just move to another chair or another room.  If this does not work, move the dog to another room or put him in a crate or kennel for a few minutes.  When you/he returns repeat the process over and over.  It will take patience on your end and cooperation by the whole family.  He will soon learn that he is not in control and you control the situation and the behavior will stop.  As well, make sure you are not rewarding this behavior as well.  When he growls, dont pet him at all!  Dont give him any attention at all!  As soon as he begins to growl, leave the room or kennel him!  This is known as correcting the behavior, not punishing the bahavior.  If you punish him for the behavior, he will never growl and someday he will just turn on someone and bite.  If you correct his behavior, he will still warn before he bites. 
Hope this helps

[HighCountryHunter88]

thanks guys, great info! i dont think its because he hurts because a small group of people he knows can pet him with no growling. he is intact though, and with his bloodlines, looks, size, drive, and hunting ability i was not wanting to get him snipped but i will try some of those other ideas with attention and crating first. i do agree that if it continues/gets worse he'll need to be fixed.

[Rick]

thanks guys, great info! i dont think its because he hurts because a small group of people he knows can pet him with no growling. he is intact though, and with his bloodlines, looks, size, drive, and hunting ability i was not wanting to get him snipped but i will try some of those other ideas with attention and crating first. i do agree that if it continues/gets worse he'll need to be fixed.

Having a set of nuts,has NOTHING to do with drive or hunting ability.

[HighCountryHunter88]

sorry, i forgot to say because we wanted to get some pups out of him

[BIGINNER]

thanks guys, great info! i dont think its because he hurts because a small group of people he knows can pet him with no growling. he is intact though, and with his bloodlines, looks, size, drive, and hunting ability i was not wanting to get him snipped but i will try some of those other ideas with attention and crating first. i do agree that if it continues/gets worse he'll need to be fixed.

Having a set of nuts,has NOTHING to do with drive or hunting ability.

BUT DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH AWESOME PUPS

[Austrian Hunter]

thanks guys, great info! i dont think its because he hurts because a small group of people he knows can pet him with no growling. he is intact though, and with his bloodlines, looks, size, drive, and hunting ability i was not wanting to get him snipped but i will try some of those other ideas with attention and crating first. i do agree that if it continues/gets worse he'll need to be fixed.

Having a set of nuts,has NOTHING to do with drive or hunting ability.

But it has with breeding!