Growls to beg for food

[Anonymous]

Sometimes our rescue dog does this. He’s part greyhound so very rarely barks. Instead, he’ll come into the kitchen, watch me eat, then give a low soft growl.

I think it’s a way for him to say “hey give me some too.”

The only other time he’s done this is if/when we have to move him from a spot where he’s comfortable and sleepy.

Is this a bad sign? He’s very sweet and docile most of the time but these two behaviors give me pause. He’s been with us for 3 weeks now.

We’re starting work with a dog trainer this week.

[Anonymous]

Is he baring his teeth to growl? If not it may just be vocalizing not growling . My very sweet golden does this very low purr— barely audible and without moving his lips-if I am eating something like ice cream in front of him. I’m not even sure he realizes he’s doing it. It’s hilarious.
If he’s baring his teeth or curling the lip back, I would be worried.

[Anonymous]

Greyhounds do make a lot of different vocalizations. The longer we have ours, the more different sounds he makes. PP is right, pay attention to your dog’s body language. After we’d had ours for 7 months or so, he started making a low very threatening sound when he’d lay on the sofa next to me in the evenings, especially if I was giving him an ear scratch. His body language was completely relaxed, he looked drowsy, and wasn’t even looking at me, so I think it was sort of a purr-growl of contentment — but it is a very disconcerting sound.

If your dog doesn’t seem aggressive or threatening, he may just be complaining. Our greyhound doesn’t bark at people or other dogs or even at the sound of the doorbell, but he has two different barks: a high pitched one when he’s complaining (“I don’t want to be in my crate” or “Don’t leave me home alone!”) and a really deep, threatening one (used when he’s scared by fireworks or all the neighbors’ dogs are barking at some unknown threat). With one bark he sounds very small and with the other, he sounds like a German Shepherd. Three weeks isn’t very long to get to know your dog. Also, he hasn’t gotten super comfortable yet. You’ll see new behaviors as you both get more comfortable with each other.

[Anonymous]

Is he baring his teeth to growl? If not it may just be vocalizing not growling . My very sweet golden does this very low purr— barely audible and without moving his lips-if I am eating something like ice cream in front of him. I’m not even sure he realizes he’s doing it. It’s hilarious.
If he’s baring his teeth or curling the lip back, I would be worried.

[Anonymous]

Whoops sorry for the double post. My phone glitched.

[Anonymous]

You’ve had him for 3 weeks and you’re feeding him from the table? You need more structure OP or you’re potentially in for a tough road ahead.

You barely know this dog. Give him more rules and boundaries. Stop feeding him from the table and don’t let him sleep on any human furniture until you know him a bit better (at least wait 6 months, preferably 1 yr+)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’ve had him for 3 weeks and you’re feeding him from the table? You need more structure OP or you’re potentially in for a tough road ahead.

You barely know this dog. Give him more rules and boundaries. Stop feeding him from the table and don’t let him sleep on any human furniture until you know him a bit better (at least wait 6 months, preferably 1 yr+)

I don’t think she said she’s feeding him from the table. She just said he watches her eat and wants some. OP, when you’re eating and the dog comes and stares at you, send her to her dog bed. Train her that when you’re eating, she’s not standing near you watching you. If you can afford a trainer, book a session or two. Bonus if you can find someone with experience with rescue dogs. In the meantime, don’t put your face near her face.