Grumbling dog

[Butcanyoujusttellme]

My dog grumbles at every sound

It’s not a growl as such, there’s no teeth, he will do it even from under a blanket whilst half asleep so I don’t think he feels threatened at all. Or if he does its not much because I can tell when he’s actually nervous. He also stops after a while even if the noise continues.

We have a stop command that we use for barking
But it doesn’t work on the grumbling at all, it’s like he can’t stop himself. I’ve obviously used the same technique but seen zero improvement and he’s quite quick with everything else.

It’s just such a grating and relentless noise, and it’s happening more frequently - I imagine because his world is quite small right now!

He’s exercised, goes to day care, has chews, kongs, games, toys but is definitely not over stimulated either as there’s lots of down time as we wfh.

He’s 1.5 lurcher - part terrier.
He’s been to the vet and no pain or issues that they can see.

Any one with a grumbly dog got any advice?

No but I have one too. Recently developed, but he is 9. No pain or discomfort apparent. No growling or bad temper. Just posting to see if someone who knows comes along.

What kind of thing is happening when he grumbles? Is he being disturbed?

Mine grumbles when he's tired and something disturbs him and makes him jump or annoys him.

Yeah but it could be anything
So he’s sleeping and someone across the road slams their front door

He’s playing and the windows open, and he can hear someone talking across the street

He’s chewing his yak and there’s a noise he doesn’t like on tv

Cant you ignore it ? Does it need corrected?

My terrier grumbles too - it's so funny

Some dogs are just more vocal than others and do a 'for gods sake!' Grumble at mild irritations

It's not a problem unless it's a problem for you?

Intermittent grumbling isn't aggression - we're just conditioned to classify it as such. It's perfectly normal dog communication - it can fallen when they're happy/excited/stimulated/whatever

Omg no! I can forgive a bit but when it’s sooooo much, and for soooo long it’s grating!!
He’s always done it and it didn’t bother me
But in the last couple of months it just seems to be happening too much!

I have a grumbler, we leave him be but if it is an annoying lasting forever grumble we distract him by calling him over for a cuddle or opening the fridge. I think its pretty subconscious as he doesnt seem to realise he's doing it and thats why the telling him to stop command doesn't work.

@Bunnybigears

I have a grumbler, we leave him be but if it is an annoying lasting forever grumble we distract him by calling him over for a cuddle or opening the fridge. I think its pretty subconscious as he doesnt seem to realise he's doing it and thats why the telling him to stop command doesn't work.

Yep exactly this. Distract him.

Are you sure it's an active grumble and not a snore?

It sounds pretty normal to me.

Maybe you've just noticed it more because you're home with him a lot more due to lockdown?

Some dogs are just more vocal than others - if you don't like it I would go down the route of just ignoring it. Reacting to things can inadvertently reinforce the behaviour, even if it's a negative reaction.

Just change his name to Victor Meldrew!!

my dog grumbles. But it is really like he has learnt it from the cat purring.

he watched the cat purr, and then when he came up on the sofa for a cuddle, he started to do this happy grumble when he was being stroked. I assumed at first it was a growl, but if I stop stroking he head utts my hand to do it again, and purrs at me.

It is very funny.

He is a rescue, and didn't do it at all for the first 2 years, but he and the cat have got closer and closer, and now he is close enough to hear the purring!

Definitely not just a snore, he moves his head in the direction of the sound, and also it often happens when he’s awake.

He is very vocal anyway, not just barking but lots of ‘growls’ and grumbles when playing.
And also makes noises when he’s unhappy with instructions (eg ‘go to bed’ is always done whilst making a shouty/crying/protesting type of noise)

I think the grumbling is definitely increasing, I accepted the grumbling before, but now I’d say it’s a couple of times an hour, for a minute or so each time on average but often goes on for much longer . Sometimes broken up with little awoos
Again I accepted and thought it was funny at first (though didn’t praise or reward, just ignored) then it increased so tried the stop command, but after weeks there’s been zero improvement. So I think it is subconscious.

I didn’t think it was aggressive, I’m not concerned at all when he does it, just that if it’s increasing and he’s ‘unhappy’ about more and more things I don’t want to leave it to a point where he’s unhappy all the time.

It is also frankly, annoying when I’m on a zoom, or trying to hit a deadline and concentrating with this grumbling and awooing happening every 20 minutes. He likes to sit practically on me whilst I’m working and so it can often be right in my face.

I have started just placing him away from me when he does it, but I don’t think he understands so it’s a waste of time.
I don’t want to have to shut him away from me all day either (though he does spend some time away from me each day, as I want to prevent too much separation anxiety if the world goes back to normal)

Maybe ibu, I’ve just never had a dog - even terriers! - that protests quite so much!!