Low rumbling growl when wanting petting

[GoodMorningMissBliss]

I have a gorgeous 15 month old sprocker/beagle mix and I wondered if anyone else’s dog does the same as mine. When he’s been snoozing, either overnight or if we’ve popped out (so he’s been alone for a bit), and one of us comes in to see him, he will wag his tail, roll on his back and make a low rumbling growling sound. He’s always done it, so nothing new, but is getting more frequent recently. At first we thought it meant he wasn’t happy, so we backed off, but over time it seems that he is actually happy to see us and wants petting (he has relaxed body language and waggy tail), so I’m wondering if it’s like a cat purring and it’s just his way of letting us know he’s happy? I’ve never heard a dog do this before!

Just to add, it’s not that we go and wake him up, he will look at us, and either come over to us or roll on his back for a belly rub and wag his tail when he’s making the rumbling noise. I can’t really describe it well, but not a snarl or play growl, it’s lower and longer.

@Aphidsandhoneybees yes to the sneezes!! He does this too when he’s excited or when we say play is done for now and he has a shake off.

@HereComeTheGrannies @DarkForces yes, a bit disconcerting/nerve wracking is right as we were told at puppy classes that a slow growl means back off. But I think you are all right that it’s not a growl as such, a rumble sounds the right way to describe it. When he was doing it last night he was sat leaning on me, then on my feet, then rolled on his back for scratches, so the opposite body language to what you’d expect for ‘leave me alone’.

@ThreeB He sounds gorgeous!

@oviraptor21 😂 🐱

Ahhh so gorgeous! 😍

Thank you 😊 He is a loveable ball of fluff!

Not working until later, so thought we’d do a nice long walk, but he’s got other ideas… 😂

Yes we have a very vocal terrier cross who sends out what I can only describe as mixed messages about cuddles and scratches due to the growls that go with the wagging tail. We have got used to it

Chipping in with another golden retriever here who does this. He does it when he wants something, usually cuddles to continue. In fact he is doing it now as writing this requires my stroking hand!

Low rumbling growl when wanting petting?

You’ve just described my ex husband 😆

Yes, definitely feels like mixed messages!

So cute! A Goldie is my DS’s dream dog. He’s saving all his bday and Christmas money apparently!

😂

Mine does it too! He's a 10yr old ex-racing greyhound.
He 'grumbles' when he's getting comfy, excited & petted.
Scared the shit out of us when he first started, but like PP said, look at the whole body.

My dog does this! It was a bit disconcerting at first. I think it’s like a cat purring, although many decibels louder - she is not small. She’s our first dog who’s ever done this.

@GoodMorningMissBliss how lovely, bless him. I was the same as a child, but all dogs are fab and yours is adorable.

My cavalier does it too. It's called grumble grumping in our house, and it's when he wants something or is telling you something, or is excited or happy. And often interspersed by sneezes! He also does an odd kind of groan when really ecstatic. I've never had such a vocal dog. Although my previous spaniel used to flat out get operatic when upset.

Our patterdale does this and chats too , people can think it’s growling but it’s 100% a purring equivalent communication

Dogs are all different! I have one who noses you when he wants pets, and the other one groans (sounds like your "rumbling" I think). He doesn't keep it up while you're petting him though, he's just saying "hey, you're not using those hands, pet me!" and then stops when you start stroking him again.

I think it's fairly obvious when it's a proper growl and when it's not!

Ours does that when she wants to play - a low growl. She also chunters away to herself when she's half sleepy.

My old Rottweiler used to do this. It was so cute!

We had a family dog that did this - sounded like a cross between a growl and a purrr - she was saying ‘hello, please cuddle me’😁….and would go on for ages! Absolutely lovely dog - and a brilliant burglar deterrent as she’d start as soon as anyone stopped at the garden gate!!

Not the same breed but my dog never shuts up!!!

He has different sounds for each of the following:

1. low rumble/purr when he's happy
2. scooby doo in response to being asked a question
3. high pitched bark when he wants something
4. loud bark to tell us there's a big mean intruder at the door (aka postman/Amazon guy/anyone else who knocks - also used in the garden when he hears next doors kids or fireworks - I think this one is generally used when something displeases him)
5. low growl/snarl when he's playing
6. chunter as he walks away after being told off - aka "back chat"

There are probably countless others and combinations and he's often told to "give it a bloody rest" 😂

We have a very vocal cockerpoo and he does this. I've never worried, he always sounds and looks relaxed and content. It's definitely a chilled groan of contentment, much like humans do when we get a hug or a back scratch.

Thank you for all the replies, it’s so lovely hearing about all your pups.

I think that as I get so much negativity and raised eyebrows about how much of a handful
he must be when people ask about his mix of breeds, I’m paranoid about his behaviour (not that he’s given me any reason to be, other than the normal spaniel/beagle traits which we already knew about), I didn’t want people to think he was aggressive in any way. Having not heard this sound in other dogs I started to worry that it could be something more than a dog purr. But as you’ve all shown, it does seem to be a happy sound. I nipped out to the shop earlier today and when I came back he was fast asleep on the sofa. When saw me come in and rolled over to show his tummy, wagged his tail and when I stroked him he started the purrs! I’m now loving it and feel so much better having heard about other dogs too. Thanks again everyone.

@DivaDroid What a gorgeous pup! Love it when they lie down with froggy back legs.

@StellaOlivetti Yes, definitely a bit disconcerting at first if you’ve not experienced it before.

@nilsmousehammer loving the operatic spaniel! 😂

@mrsbyers yes that was my worry, that people would think it was a unhappy or aggressive growl.

@PaperDoves Sounds like yours does similar to mine! You’re right it does sound different to an unhappy growl, I should trust myself a bit more to know what he wants and means.

@BarrelOfOtters love the sound of the sleepy chuntering 😂

@mintich I’d love to hear a larger dog doing this. I bet it’s quite loud from him as it’s as loud as my husband’s snores from my mid-sized dog! 😂

@Howamihere mine wouldn’t be so much of a good guard dog as he’s just want to lick them and play ball when they entered the house! 😂

@FrangipaniBlue I love it!! 😂 Sounds like a very chatty little pup. Mine does the huff sound when he’s not allowed to do something. Very much like the two teens in my house…

@CatGrins yes that what my husband said, just like when we get a back scratch!

Our cavapoo does this too - and i think he's copied me as when i cuddle him i often go 'mmmmmmmnnnnnn' and he does the same.

Mine does this and we call it purring it’s quite sweet - get into the habit of talking and listening to him and he’ll learn to take turns