Growling is good!

As a follow up to this post, The Gift of the Growl, here is a link to another article that explains why we should not punish a dog for growling.  Too often, people think that a dog is doing something wrong by growling;  on the contrary, the dog is trying to communicate discomfort or fear with a situation.  It's not wrong to be afraid.  Leah Roberts does a great job of explaining what growling is about, and why we should be grateful that dogs growl.  She also talks briefly about some ways to help dogs become more comfortable with the situations that make them worried or frightened.

The Gift of the Growl

Here is a wonderful article by Pat Miller that explains why we should never punish a dog for growling.  The growl is a gift;  it is information for us on what the dog is feeling.  She also talks about what to do if your dog growls at something.  This information is so important!  If a dog is punished for growling, you will eventually have a dog that bites without any warning whatsoever, and that is much more dangerous than a growling dog.

Punishment: A Cultural Phenomenon

I may be opening a can of worms here...   Here is an interesting article about punishment and our society.  "Punishment is a completely ineffective way to change anyone’s behavior", whether human or canine.