Why do some dogs growl when you kiss them? A Step-by-Step Guide

Dog is afraid of being approached

Dogs have different personalities just like us. Some dogs may be more apprehensive than others. They may not like being approached or need more time before they feel a strong bond with their family members. Rescue dogs, in general, may need more time to settle down. They may growl back because they are recalling a previous incident that led to some sort of harm.

It’s important to give your dog some time if it hasn’t been long since you brought him home. Dogs also have boundaries and some may not be ready yet to get all the kisses and affections.

Why does my dog growl when I kiss him?

Below are likely reasons why your dog has been growling when you kiss her and what would make them more likely.

The reason why your dog growls when you kiss them is likely to be that your dog is intimidated. Dogs will usually get intimidated when you get into their faces because it can seem like you are threatening them and because they are not used to it. It would be more likely that your dog does it due to intimidation if your dog also does things such as try to back away from you or push you away from it.

It might also be the case that your dog growls when you kiss them due to being confused. This would be more likely if your dog also shows other signs of being confused such as tilting its head and not knowing what to do.

Dogs often do not like it when you get in their faces. It could also be the case that your dog simply does not like it when you kiss your dog. This would be more likely if your dog seems to growl aggressively and if it tries to move away from you.

Sometimes dogs will do a low growl which shows pleasure. It might be the case that your dog growls, when you kiss it, because your dog is showing pleasure. This would be more likely if your dog also does things such as lick you and wag its tail at the same time.

Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your dog has been growling when you kiss him.

If your dog did not always growl when you used to kiss him, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started growling. If your dog has not always done it, it might be the case that there was an event that caused it to start such as if you started holding your dog differently when you tried to kiss it.

If your dog does not always growl when you kiss them, it would also help to consider what is different when your dog does growl. For example, if your dog growls when you hold them in a certain way or talk in a certain way, it might be the case that your dog gets intimidated when you interact with them in a certain manner.

Why does my dog back up when I try to pet him?

Possible reasons why your dog has been backing away, when you pet it, are that it is fearful, you pet it too hard, it has an injury or that it thinks you’re going to do something such as pick it up. Since there are a number of possible causes, it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely.

Do dogs like KISSES? – Understanding Canine Affection

Naturally, many of us may have kept a certain distance on occasions when we hear a growling dog. This begs the question — does it automatically signal aggression when you hear your dog growling? Why do dogs growl?

It’s easy to associate dog growling with aggression. Still, when you put things into context and observe your dog carefully, you’ll be able to understand that there are actually different types of dog growls, each with their own meaning.

For dogs, growling is a way of communication. From expressing their pleasure as you rub their belly to snarling at another dog, there are several possible reasons why your dog growls.

As stated in a study, dog growls express various contextual and affective content for humans. One way of understanding the meaning of their behavior is by being observant of your dog’s situation whenever they growl.

While the sounds might be similar, it helps to take notice of the nuances. At the same time, being mindful of your dog’s body language when they growl is equally important.