If your Rottweiler has been grumbling a lot you might be wondering why and what you can do about it.
This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do to get it to stop.
So, why does my Rottweiler grumble? Possible causes are that it is excited, bored, wanting your attention, protecting food or possessions, fearful or that it is ill or injured.
There are many different reasons why your Rottweiler might be doing it and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider when trying to figure out the exact reason. There are also a number of things you can do about it.
Why your Rottweiler grumbles
Below, I will show you a number of reasons why it might grumble and what would make them more likely to be the actual reason why yours does it.
Boredom
The reason why your Rottweiler grumbles could be that it is bored. Rottweilers are a breed that is meant to get a lot of exercise on a daily basis. When they do not get enough exercise it can cause them to behave abnormally.
Not getting enough exercise would be more likely to be the reason if your Rottweiler tends to grumble when it has not gotten exercise and if it does it at the same time that you normally exercise it.
Generally, it is recommended for Rottweilers to get at least an hour of exercise per day as healthy adults.
Excitement
Sometimes, dogs will grumble when they are excited and this could also be the reason why yours grumbles. This would be more likely if it does it more in situations such as when you come home, when you’re about to walk it or when playing tug of war with it.
It wants your attention
The cause could be that it is trying to get your attention. This would be more likely if it does it more when you have not been giving it much attention and if you tend to give it extra attention when it does it.
It could also be the case that it is trying to get your attention because it wants something such as a walk or food. This would be more likely if it does it more at the same time that you would normally walk it or feed it.
It’s protecting food or possessions
It might be the case that the grumbling is due to it being possessive. This is where it tries to protect something that it thinks belongs to it. This would be more likely to be the reason if it does it more in situations such as when it is eating or when you’re trying to sit in its spot.
Dogs can become aggressive when they are being possessive so it would be recommended to seek help from a dog trainer or behaviorist to get it to stop safely.
Fear
The cause could also be that something is causing it to be fearful. This would be more likely if it does it more in situations such as when there are noises outside.
In this case, it would help to try and reduce its exposure to the thing that makes it fearful or you could try desensitization training.
Illness or injury
The cause could also be that it is ill or injured. This would be more likely if it has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill or injured such as vomiting, being fatigued or limping. If it seems like it might be ill or injured, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Aggression
The cause could be that it is being aggressive and it is warning you not to approach it.
This would be more likely if it shows its teeth when it grumbles, it has its ears erect and it moves stiffly from side to side.
If it is the case that your Rottweiler seems to grumble in an aggressive way then the best option for you would be to get the help of a dog behaviorist in your area.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider about your Rottweiler’s grumbling.
The way that it grumbles
It is important to consider the way that it has been grumbling and the body language that it shows when it does it.
If it shows its teeth, lunges towards you, stands more erect and moves stiffly then it would be a strong sign of aggression. In this case, it would be best to keep your distance from it and to get the help of a professional dog behaviorist.
Whereas, if your Rottweiler does not show many signs of aggression when it grumbles, it might still be the case that it is doing it as a warning since dogs can still be aggressive when they are not showing signs of aggression. So, it would still be important to be cautious when dealing with its grumbling.
When it first started to grumble
If it did not always grumble, it would also help to consider what else happened at around the same time that it started doing it since an event might have occurred that caused it to start.
If it did start doing it suddenly, it would be more likely to be due to things such as a sudden change in its daily schedule, becoming ill or injured or something causing it to be fearful. In this case, it would help to get advice from a vet if you can’t figure out the cause.
When it grumbles
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that it tends to do it more since the timing could also have something to do with it.
For example, if it tends to do it more at around the same time that you would normally feed it then it would be more likely that it is trying to remind you to feed it.
How to stop your Rottweiler from grumbling
Below are some options you have when getting it to stop.
Positive reinforcement training
Positive reinforcement training is where you train your Rottweiler by rewarding it when it shows signs of behaving the way you want it to and avoid rewarding it when it does not.
To use it to get it to stop grumbling you would do something such as:
- Stop giving it attention when it starts to grumble
- Give it attention when it stops grumbling
- Stop giving it attention again if it starts to grumble
- Repeat the above and reward it with treats when it does not grumble when it normally would
Avoid negative reinforcement training
Negative reinforcement training is where you inadvertently reinforce bad behaviors by rewarding your Rottweiler with things it wants when it misbehaves. Instead of rewarding it, when it grumbles, it would help to reward it when it is being well behaved and to wait for it to calm down before rewarding it.
Make sure it isn’t ill or injured
If it seems like it could be ill or injured or it has started grumbling suddenly and you can’t figure out why, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Rottweiler and to rule out medical causes.
Give it attention throughout the day
It would also help to give it attention throughout the day so that it does not feel the need to get it from you as much. Ways to give it attention would be to exercise it, play with it and to train it.
Get the help of a dog behaviorist
If it seems to be doing it aggressively, it would also help to seek the guidance of a dog behaviorist or trainer. By doing so, you should be able to see why it is doing it and how to get it to stop safely.