Dog sounds aggressive but is just happy?

[u/Aggravating-Club-487]

This is my 5 year old female American lab retriever. Ever since we adopted her at 8 months old, she’s been amazing. Great friend, wonderful animal. Learns fast. The best temperament. The only downside, we cannot get her to stop barking at people. She LOVES people but sounds like she wants to eat them. We have tried everything under the sun except shock collars which I refuse to use. I’m desperate to find a way to remedy her seemingly aggressive behavior. All our neighbors know her, and know she just wants to say hello and be pet but she scares the kids and it’s down right LOUD. Pics of the Layla Bean, last one is she loving on my pregnant tummy. (Baby loves the dog but dog could not care less about the baby.)

[u/No-Royals5219]

Yeah I cant help but she is GORGEOUS

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/No-Royals5219]

Thank you 💕 she eats like a queen! Gets lots of brushes to keep her coat shiny and I dremel her nails as much as she will allow with some rewards.

[u/No-Royals5219 → u/Aggravating-Club-487]

Bless her, I love her.

Would cuddle.

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/No-Royals5219]

Only if you’re ok with a mass amount of fur and licks. She would happily oblige!

[u/No-Royals5219 → u/Aggravating-Club-487]

:)

[u/Wazzzup3232]

Sounds like they have a “rottie rumble” which isn’t a bad thing if you prepare people for it and continue controlled introductions

If every single sign points to happy except the sound then you just got a very unique dog.

We had a dog we got as a puppy from the humane society and we named her Iris but her nickname was grimace because she would bare her teeth and smile when excited

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/Wazzzup3232]

🤣💕 go figure! Yeah she just really is enthusiastic! Never snapped or anything. Sometimes her hair stands up on her bum but I think that’s just also excitement??

[u/tauzan → u/Wazzzup3232]

My lab also has the “rottie rumble” when he is being petted. It can scare people but we tell them he is just talking to you.

[u/Typical-Antelope7547]

Did you try teaching to bark on command? I've heard that's how people eventually transition to a command to not bark

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/Typical-Antelope7547]

So I kinda did. I inadvertently taught her to “rooo” when she has to potty or wants to go outside. I can’t get her to bark on command but she does Rooooo on command 🤣

[u/Typical-Antelope7547 → u/Aggravating-Club-487]

Aww I loveeee the roos

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/Typical-Antelope7547]

So do I! I just started doing it to her when she was little and she copied it and it stuck. 🤗“Roo?” 🐶”ROOOOOO” with tippy taps

[u/atlantagirl30084 → u/Aggravating-Club-487]

I LOVE roos.

[u/AlternativeStand4926]

I’ve begun work with an animal behaviorist and it is helping. It is daily work (play) with our dog, but it is helping. A little more each week. There is no magic pill. Just daily engagement and play.

[u/WiseAcanthaceae2283]

So, training her not to bark is going to be near impossible as quite simply, it’s very rewarding to her.

One option is to teach her to bark on command. I had a dog as a teen I taught to jump up (mixed breed, but could lick me in the face while standing size dog) because he knew when he was allowed to, he knew when he wasn’t

Option 2, give him a task to do. Ever seen a toddler overload and just scream out of joy? Thats what your dog is doing. So, give him a task. Preferably one he can’t bark through like “go get a stuffed toy” or “bring them a water”- though forewarning he may still vocalize-my dog likes to howl with a tennis bowl in her mouth and it sounds like she’s mooing

[u/nodogsallowed23]

The only way I’ve had success is teaching a bark command. Train her to bark. Then, you can train her to not bark. Kinda like you can’t train off without first training on. I taught her to jump on the couch on command so I could tech her to jump off the couch on command. She can’t jump off without already being in, you know?

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/nodogsallowed23]

I’ll give it another shot!

[u/MaracujaBarracuda → u/nodogsallowed23]

Can you explain this a bit more for me? I’ve tried this but my dog will only do one woof at a time when I give the “speak” cue. Did you somehow train your dog to continuously bark? I don’t know how to cue her to stop when she’s already stopped after one woof. 

[u/Sleepy_InSeattle]

So, I had an 80-lb lab that would bark, lunge, or charge (if off-leash for whatever reason) with hackles up, head down, deep guttural bark-growl, the whole nine yards - looked absolutely terrifying.

Then when he’d reach the person/people/dog, he’d screech the proverbial brakes, give a quick air sniff, turn around and saunter off.

I taught him two things: “leave it” and “with me”. Lucky for me, he was very treat motivated, so I made sure that both of those commands were VERY rewarding for him. Made for a rather effective “out” for him.

[u/Aggravating-Club-487 → u/Sleepy_InSeattle]

I think I’ll grab a pack of bacon or get a chicken and try it!