Odd behaviour

[Luvit73]

Jezebel is almost 2 now . For the past six months or so , she's been doing somthing really strange . Whenever we have company over , she will do this weird combo of snarling like she's going to eat someone , and at the same time , be all wiggley and wagging her tail and licking the persons hand . She has never bitten or tried to bite anyone , and she doesn't bite other animals either . Also - if someone she doesn't know tries to go towards my daughters' room , she will get ahold of their pants cuff or shorts cuff , and try to pull them backwards . She doesn't raise her hackles at all , during any of this .
I've never seen such odd behaviour , and I was hoping someone could shed some light on this , is it maybe somthing I did wrong in her training ? And - is it somthing I should be worried about ?

[erdog3]

The getting hold of your cuffs I wouldn't worry about as bad behaviour, You could try to correct this, I have my male Wally who likes to get hold of the teeniest bit of skin on my backside and keep me from comming back inside. Sophie gets hold of my sleeve cuff and pulls me back. It's as if they are saying NO don't go in there, stay out here with us. Pretty cute really.

The first part of you prob sounds like excitement, if she isn't putting her mouth on anyone, are you sure the noise is snarling, it could be that musical, whining, happy sound they make. Wally almost sounds like he is talking. Is she putting up the hackles at any time at all?

[Luvit73]

No , no hackles at all...I've seen her raise em , if people have approached us outside in a manner she feels is threatening - like , running at us - or , if a dog acts threatening towards us or her . No teeth either , but - you know how two dogs growl and snarl at each other , if they're contemplating fighting ? It's just like that . It sounds vicious enough , that most people are afraid to approach her - until they get licked .
I've considered that it might be her way of saying - hi , nice to meet ya , I'm a good dog but don't hurt my family or I will get you . Could it be somthing like that ?

[Moo]

I think I know the noise you're talking about. Mine does it, it sounds like he's really ticked off, and he's getting ready to bite you, but he does it when I come home and don't play with him. It's his upset play with me voice.

[erdog3]

Yes, normally a vicious intent is concurrent with the hackles up. Any other growl is a sign of language.
Get to know your dogs language Luvit, some dogs you can click with straight away, for example myself and Ellie, but others it can take years to get to understand them example.... myself and Sophie. It took me 4 years to get to know Sophie's idiosyncrasies, but Ellie..... it was from the beginning.
To the example...hubby hates Sophie in a way, he calls her a B. (but he still strokes her) that is just Sophie, she is jealous, spoiled and generally a BRAT, her upbringing, heaps of teasing from my oldest, but at heart, the most loving, kindest, loyal dog you could ever get, you can see it in her eyes, she rolls on her back submissively, she plays with strange dogs, she accepts others puppies. BUT if she doesn't know you or like if you...say.... have a hat on for example....hackles come up on her back.
She has never, ever bitten anyone...but just like Ellie, you just never know. There is a difference...the growl is just...I dunno, even I am not too sure.
Ellie will get the hackles up and bark and growl at strangers. She has never bitten either. Any of them will be happy with the kids, chooks, ducks etc. But a stranger....it is just different. I have been to dog shows, down the river, beach, street, park and nothing, but at home or in the car..different story.
Wally I got as an adult already, he would let someone come in, rob the place and still lick them to death. I guess it is just the upbringing, the love, the protectiveness the dog feels.
What I am trying to say is get the feel of your baby. Normally like with mine when I give the command OK they just stop.

[Luvit73]

Now that I think about it , I do know what you mean , by the difference in growls . I had an incident about 2 months ago , where I was bringing Jezebel up the stairs from going potty . Another lady was coming down , with her dog - about the same size as Jezebel , except her dog wasn't on a leash . The dog stopped in front of us , and bared her teeth at Jezebel - Jezebel growled , and when I heard it , I had just enough time for my heart to drop and think oh god , they're gonna fight - before the other dog attacked her . Since Jezebel was on her leash , I was able to pull her back , and use my leg to keep the other dog back . Her owner picked her up - and told me her dog is aggressive towards any other dog , and it's a good thing I stopped it , before my dog got hurt . I was furious - if she knew her dog was aggressive , why wasn't it on a leash ? Idiots like her shouldn't have a dog , small or not !
Anyhow - that came back to me when I read your post , Ellie , so I understand now what you mean by listening to her language .

[HeartSong]

It's sounds like just excitment or language other than I'm going to attack you, but it still is probably scary for new guests. My brother's dog, Mystic, would growl at randome times for seemingly no reason and it would be as if she didn't even know she was growling. She would even growl in her sleep a lot.

If you want her to stop, you can try to train her to stop. You can either get someone to help by coming over just for the sake of training Jezebel, or you can wait until the next time a stranger comes and just be prepared to work with her a couple of minutes before attending to your guest. Wait until she starts growling, then get down right next to her and in a quiet voice or whisper say something like "Jezebel, do you hear that? Listen" Then look around, act like you are trying to hear something. She should be quiet to hear you and then to try to hear what you are listening for. Give her lots of praise and let her meet the new person. After a few times, you should just be able to say "listen" for her to stop growling.