Questions about my Rottweiler

I have been taking care of my sisters dog for a few months now (My sister moved out to AZ temorarally) the dog is a Rotty, about 8 or 9 years old, for as long as I can remember, even around my sister if you get close to the dog or try to pet her, most of the time she growls...Which sounds almost like a low moan. Does this mean she is angry???

:?: :?: :?:

 

What is the rest of her body doing? Sitting or standing or lying down? Ears forward or back? Tail up or down? Lips curled back to reveal the teeth or the corners of the mouth drawn back? Stiff-legged or relaxed? Does she stare you in the eyes with a hard stare or look away? Does she yawn or lick her nose? Hackles up?

Dogs speak with their whole bodies. You have to take everything in context.

 

I dont think so, someone esle posted here about a funny growl their dog alwasy did, but it was a content sound that went with the type of dog,

honeybear

 

Smokey does the same thing. You really need to read the WHOLe body language. Smokey does it because it feels sooo good to be rubbed...thats his "pleasure" growl.

But when he doesn't want to be messed with. He'll show teeth, and layhis ears back, and hackles go up....

 

Questions about my rotty

She does the growling thing no matter how she's standing or laying, usually she's laying on her stomach on the sofa or something though. She never shows her teeth, she keeps her mouth completely closed, hackles down, her ears kind of stay back, I mean most of the time they are back, unless someone comes over to our house for her to bark at. Her tail, she only has a little nub, her tail seems to be at its standard relaxed state though, normally she looks away when she does the growl/moan thing. Her legs are relaxed as well. She doesn't yawn or lick her nose.

 

Then its proably just her "happy" growl.....kinda like a cats purr

 

Yes, I agree that it sounds harmless.