The Akita breed of dog is a dog breed native to Japan.
These upbeat, loyal, and goofy dogs symbolize long life, health, and happiness in Japan.
But what happens when your Akita suddenly loses its happy-go-lucky personality, gets aggressive, and proceeds to growl at you?
As scary as this moment might seem, the worst thing you can do is get authoritarian and do something drastic like making them sleep outside.
Instead, it would be best if you found the root cause of such aggressive behavior as there might be some underlying reasons why your Akita is growling at you.
Here are some of the possible reasons your Akita might be growling at you:
1. Your Akita might be hurt
Dogs are like tiny people, and they have varying personalities.
While some dogs might cower and go somewhere to hide when they’re hurt, your Akita might get aggressive and start to growl at you.
Probably you were giving it some much-deserved belly rubs, and you accidentally touched the area of injury; this is Reason enough for your Akita to growl.
That’s why when your dog all of a sudden starts to growl at you, it might just be their way of telling you that it’s hurt.
In such a situation, the best cause of action is to check it for injuries and to get it to the vet as soon as possible.
2. He might be trying to warn you of something
Akitas are very loyal and very alert.
They might be able to detect danger long before anyone else in the room.
And when danger seems afoot, your dog’s only way to warn you might be to growl and even get hostile.
That’s why telling your dog to be quiet or shushing your dog isn’t always the best thing to do.
Rather you should investigate what’s putting your Akita under so much distress and ensure the environment is safe.
Most times, it might be nothing. It could be the sound of the vacuum cleaner or a rodent.
In that case, reassure your Akita of their safety and calm them until they feel calm again.
3. Your Akita might be scared
The world can be a big and scary place, and the Akita might find it hard to adapt (especially if you got him from the shelter).
When your Akita growls, it might mean that they are scared of something or someone. If the growl is directed at you, the best thing to do is avoid going close to them or touching them and getting someone else in the house that the Akita favors more.
Reassuring your dog by making soothing noises or using a calming voice can also help in making him less afraid.
4. He might be marking his territory
Dogs can be quite possessive, especially for the Akita dog breed known for its aloofness towards strangers and loyalty to the family.
Sometimes your Akita might need to mark out its territory and set boundaries.
This behavior usually occurs when Akita is new to the family.
Growling is how they inform you that you’re overstepping or going too far, or you’re taking something of theirs like a favorite chew toy.
In this case, for your safety, it’s better to let your dog be and step away from them.
The next step is to call a dog trainer or a dog behaviorist to train your dog and help it understand that such behaviors aren’t acceptable.
5. He might be playing
Not all the reasons behind your Akita growling at you need to be sinister.
They might just be growling.
Playing games like tug of war with your Akita might have them releasing soft growling sounds.
This kind of growling or barking shouldn’t be a cause for alarm as they’re just having fun.
However, you should also take note of your pet’s body language.
Ensure your Akita is not in an aggressive stance, nor does your Akita seem likely to attack.
Conclusion
Like when barking, growling is also one of the many ways dogs communicate to their owners and people around them.
That’s why having your dog growl shouldn’t necessarily make you fear for your safety.
And the worst thing to do when your Akita growls at you is getting aggressive back and doing something harmful to the dog.
Doing this can even make your dog’s growling worse, and it might lead to a full-blown attack.
Instead, keep your distance from your dog and be attentive to it.
Body language plays a major role here, notice your dog’s body language for any indication of aggression, fear or hurt to help you better take control of the situation.
And if possible, call for help when need be.
