Dog should go to a different environment.

I would be upset too OP. But the dog is communicating. The dog didn't bite him.

Our dog is a very gentle easy going dog - and when one of our kids (who has high-functioning Autism) tries to pick her up, she growls a little low growl. I also think this is a good thing. She never bitten her.

Our older one (14) also occasionally picks her up, and so does my DH, and she doesn’t object. I never pick her up, but they won’t listen to me. She’s 5, and she’s never bit anyone.

Anonymous wrote:How is the dog supposed to let your son know that he doesn't want to be picked up? As much as we try to "humanize" them, dogs are animals that don't always want to play just because we want them to.

This. A growl is a dogs way of saying he doesn’t like what you are doing. It’s a warning. Respect the dogs communication. Teach your kid the same.

I wonder how often are adult dogs picked up in the wild?

Never pick up a dog. Any dog. How hard us this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rehome, sheesh autocorrect.

This. I’d rehome. Too much stress to keep the dog.

Sheesh, what kind of stuffed animals you have at your house? Older dogs or dogs in pain don't want to be picked up. I've seen clueless adults and kids pick up dogs in weird ways.

If the OP cannot teach her son to handle the dog correctly then the next time the growl could turn into a nip. That usually means a permanent bye-bye for the dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rehome, sheesh autocorrect.

This. I’d rehome. Too much stress to keep the dog.

Sheesh, what kind of stuffed animals you have at your house? Older dogs or dogs in pain don't want to be picked up. I've seen clueless adults and kids pick up dogs in weird ways.

Don't reprimand a growl. It is the dog saying "no thanks" and means the dog's instinct isn't to go straight to BITE. it is a good thing.

my beagle let off the world's tiniest growl this AM when I got up and she didn't want to yet. it often means "darn it, mom, I was sleeping....." doesn't mean anything like a bite. but it is a warning, so respect it.

My kids are NOT allowed to pick up the dogs. Cats yes, dogs no. Most really don't like it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rehome, sheesh autocorrect.

This. I’d rehome. Too much stress to keep the dog.

Over a growl?

Growling is good. It's a warning side. It's the dog communicating in a safe way that he or she doesn't like what you're doing. You want your kid to be safe with animals, right? Teach them to learn what dogs are telling them. A growl means "stop doing that." Tell your kid not to pick up the dog anymore. If you think the dog is in pain, bring him or her to the vet for a checkup.

Tell your son he isn’t ever to try and pick the dog up. My extremely sweet and docile beagle will groan (not growl, but I can see how it would sound like one) if you touch her when she is sleeping and wants to be left alone. Therefore, we teach not to do that. Dogs have literally no other way of expressing “leave me alone” so it’s sad you reprimanded for that.

Anonymous wrote:This is the dog saying “I don’t like this game” which he has every right to do. Reprimand your son.

Agree with the first part, but don't reprimand your son. Use it as an opportunity for him to learn that the dog does not like to be picked up. The dog growling probably scared him. Tell him it's normal to be scared and that it's a signal not to do it again. Explain that animals (and people!) don't always want to be touched or played with and that he has to learn to ask first or read nonverbal cues to understand when it's okay to touch an animal or a person.

Anonymous wrote:Rehome, sheesh autocorrect.

This. I’d rehome. Too much stress to keep the dog.

This is the dog saying “I don’t like this game” which he has every right to do. Reprimand your son.

Your son might have hit a sore spot when he picked up the dog.