Puppy growling

[Excitedannie]

16 week old adorable cocker spaniel puppy. Fairly chilled and good as gold. However, she's started to growl if we try to move her from somewhere she shouldn't be (for example I came in the room and she'd pulled a cushion off the sofa and was curled up on it). As I went to pick her up, she growled. Not the first time but it's freaked my daughter out and she's very wary. I also tried to pick her out of her crate to encourage her to go out for a night time wee bug again she really growled at me

I appreciate puppy's growl as it's their way or warning you, but how should I handle it? Thanks in advance

Do not pick her up! She’s saying she’s not happy. Don’t move her. Use a treat to lure her or a slip lead to encourage her to move if she’s happy with one of those.

Stop picking her up. She's telling you loud and clear she doesn't like it.

Agree. Don't pick her up. Distract you move off (have a box of fun stuff safe for her nearby where you can rummage and try to get her interested). Reward when on the floor and make the floor a better place to be. She is telling you loud and clear she doesn't like being picked up. Some dogs don't. Make going into the garden for a wee a game - recall game where she gets to hunt a few treats outside when she comes?

Growling is your puppy's way of telling you she is uncomfortable. I would be growling if someone did the same to me too.
No need to pick her up. Go to the area you want her to be and call her to you. Once she is there, you can instruct her to stay. 🙂

Same thing others have said :)

I'm petite and my best friend is a tall, big guy. When we're at gigs, he used to have a habit of grabbing my shoulders and moving me to a better spot so that I could see. I hated it! Don't move me around and manhandle me - this is my body, my space, not for someone to grab at and manoeuvre me around.

That's how your puppy feels. :)

I think as humans, we expect puppies to be balls of fluff with no feeling. But they're living beings with their own preferences, likes, dislikes, etc. - and the only way they can communicate is with their mouths.

Next time you need to move her, call her to you. Being a pup, she'll probably come when you call! If she has a mischievous streak and won't budge, you can try the age old look at something that doesn't exist on the floor and say "wowww!!! what's this?!" and she'll probably come running 😂Then you can reward her ;)

Thank you all - she's a stubborn little thing and looks at me as though to say "nah, I'm comfy and I'm staying" but I'll try the distraction technique!

And don't even get me started with trying to get the little madam out last thing for a toilet.....!!!!!

This to me is early signs of resource guarding. Resource guarding doesn’t have to be objects, it can be spaces or people.

have a listen of this ladiesworkingdoggroup.com/understanding-and-preventing-resource-guarding-in-dogs/

There re a lot of threads here particularly from Cockapoo or Cocker owners about this. Some end really badly. You should really nip this in the bud - once the tactic is working she will not change from it. So, get a good behaviourist to work with you. Do not allow on sofa, beds, upstairs and train to go to crate. Be really careful of giving high value items to protect. Train swap or thank you very soon so she will willingly swap easily.

What others have said.
Also, if she's sleeping in her crate, please let her be. I have a rule in my multiple dog household. Dog in their own space/ bed leave them alone!

In other places, as dustofneptune suggested, call her to you, give a treat, and if she's sleepy make.her walk to the bed with the help of a treat. An easy coman "bed" will soon teach her where to go.

I am not for humanising dogs, but nobody likes to be startled while restung or randomly picked up.
If you need to move her, say her name... I also run my hand from my dogs back all the way to their bottms if I need to pick them up. Mine are taught this from tiny puppies so they know what's coming.