Dog growls are far from simple warning signals—they encode a wide range of emotional and contextual information. Published in Royal Society Open Science, the study by Tamás Faragó and colleagues explored how human listeners interpret the emotional meaning of dog growls across different social contexts: food guarding, threatening, and play.
Human participants listened to recorded growl bouts and rated their emotional intensity and perceived context. Listeners consistently associated growls with the correct context more often than chance, suggesting that humans intuitively understand dogs’ emotional cues. Moreover, women and participants experienced with dogs were especially accurate in interpreting the growls’ meanings.
Acoustic analysis revealed that growls differ systematically in rhythm, pulse rate, and pitch depending on the context. Growls with slower, longer pulses and lower apparent body size were judged less aggressive and more playful, while those with faster pulses and deeper tones were associated with threat or defense.
The researchers concluded that dogs may communicate honestly during serious conflicts—accurately signaling their size and inner state—but may use growls manipulatively in playful or uncertain interactions to influence human or canine partners. This flexibility highlights the sophisticated emotional and cognitive aspects of canine communication, shaped by both evolution and domestication.
By decoding these vocal subtleties, we can better appreciate that growling is a nuanced form of expression, not merely an indicator of aggression. Recognizing this may help dog owners respond appropriately to their pets’ emotional states and strengthen mutual understanding.
Source: Faragó, T., Takács, N., Miklósi, Á., & Pongrácz, P. (2017). Dog growls express various contextual and affective content for human listeners. Royal Society Open Science, 4. Published May 1, 2017.
