Many people perceive a Doberman's growling as a sign of aggression. Actually it's quite the opposite. It's his way of telling you that he feels trapped and fearful and wants you to back off so he won't need to become aggressive.

You should never punish your Doberman for growling. Punishment may result in stopping the behavior, but it won't take away your dog's fear. Without being able to warn you to stay away you may find yourself being bitten as a result.

Instead of working to prevent your dog from growling, your goal should be to change the situation that is making him fearful. When your dog feels comfortable, he will have no need to warn you. He will not feel threatened in any way. Knowing what is causing the situation and changing it will help your dog feel more comfortable.

Pain

If your Doberman has never shown any fear or anxiety at being approached and suddenly starts growling for no apparent reason, he may be in pain and worried that any contact with you will cause the pain to increase. A trip to your vet could help relieve the problem. Once the pain goes away, he will once again be the loving member of your family you are familiar with.

Fear When People Approach

Fear of people approaching or new situations can cause a Doberman to growl. This is often the case when you first acquire a new puppy and it's certainly understandable. Your puppy has just been taken from his mother and siblings and everything familiar. He now finds himself in a new situation with new people, and fear is natural in this case. He may growl to warn you to stay away to protect himself from the unknown.

This also happens to older dogs who were not properly socialized when they were young, making them fearful of new people and new situations. Slowly socialize your Doberman by letting him meet a variety of people. Placing him in a variety of situations will give him more confidence and make him less anxious.

Possession Growling

If your Doberman issues warning growls whenever someone approaches his food dish, bed or a part of the room he has staked claim to, you need to enroll him and yourself in alpha dog training.

Asserting yourself as the leader of the pack and establishing his role of low dog in the pack is necessary to the safety of your entire household. A Doberman who believes he is the pack leader poses a threat to everyone in the home. A family member may accidentally challenge his leadership and trigger an attack which could result in a serious injury.

Once your Doberman feels safe and confident with new situations and people and knows his place in the pack, the growling will stop. You will have built his trust in you and confidence in his ability to feel safe.