The next stage may be your dog growling – and for many people this is the first time they notice something is wrong but for the dog, this is almost a last warning. Growling is a vocal way a dog can express that they are feeling fearful or aroused, and it’s a very clear warning that they will in all likelihood escalate their behaviour to a bite if the situation does not change. We should be looking to prevent our dogs feeling uncomfortable enough that they have to tell us with a growl but if they do, listen to them!If your dog feels that they are going to be punished for growling, they may stop doing so in the future but they will no longer give you that last warning and may instead move straight to the next level - which is to bite.