If your dog growls when you kiss him/her this post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog growl when I kiss him? Likely reasons why your dog growls when you kiss him are that they are intimidated or that your dog is showing affection back to you.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog growls when you kiss him and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
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.
Intimidation
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.
Confusion
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.
Your dog simply does not like it
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.
Your dog is showing affection back to 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.
Things to consider
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 has always growled when you kissed 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.
The timing of when your dog growls
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.
What to do about my dog growling when I kiss her?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Don’t kiss your dog
If your dog has been pushing you away, moving away or growling aggressively when you kiss them, it would be likely that your dog does not like it. In this case, it would help to avoid kissing your dog.
Show your dog affection in different ways
It would also help to try to show your dog affection in different ways such as by petting them, playing with them or giving them belly rubs.
Why does my dog growl when I cuddle him?
If your dog has been growling when you cuddle them, it would be likely that your dog is either growling because they are intimidated or because they are showing affection back to you. In this case, it would help to consider your dog’s body language. If your dog pushes itself away from you, it is likely your dog does not like it. Whereas, if your dog wags its tail and licks you, it would be likely that your dog is showing affection back to you.
Why does my dog growl when I show her affection?
If your dog has been growling when you show her affection, it would be likely that your dog is doing it because they are showing affection back to you. This would be especially likely if your dog also wags its tail and licks you. The cause might also be that it is intimidated which would be more likely if your dog pushes itself away from you.
Why does my dog show his teeth when I kiss him?
Sometimes, dogs will show their teeth when they are being submissive. It might be the case that your dog shows its teeth because it is intimidated by you kissing it and it is showing submissive signs as a result. It could also be the case that your dog is warning you to back off which would be more likely if your dog also growls when doing it.
Why does my dog turn her head when I kiss her?
The most likely reason why your dog turns her head when you kiss her is that your dog does not like the way you are kissing her or that she does not like being kissed.