Diffrence between rumble and growl

[dnj90]

How can you tell the diffrence between a growl and the rottie rumble?Is there a noticeable diffrence?

[HerculesMomma]

I sure as heck know my boy is growling! I don't think mine grumbles though. It sounds more like snorting to me when he gets belly rubs, but no rumbling.

Of course, I would be interested if anyone here on the forums could share what the "rumble" kind of sounds like if it can be put to words.

[babybluetx23]

Since Harley is so young his grumble is still pretty high pitched, but it is a constant arrrrr rar type sound......Dang this is hard to explain. I can tell a difference between his grumble and his growl. I have only heard him growl a few times and it is normally is a game of tug.

[Brooke&Ryan]

I liked this post:

Originally Posted by samanthac

Just telling you what a 30 year breeder/show person explained to me. Its rung true for all my dogs so far. Maybe people are just confused between a growl and a grumble. :)

When I play with the dogs and they get excited it is definitely growling, which is natural...ever hear two pups or dogs play together??? I can tell by where in the throat if they are playing, if they are getting apprehensive or if they are downright pissed off, but it is definitely in the throat.

I think where people may be getting confused is that most growls, especially warning growls start deep in the throat so it is low to begin with and basically shows that they are on alert and not quite yet concerned. As the dogs level of alert, concern or excitement rise, the growl moves up the throat and the pitch increases. But make no mistake, it is a growl.

Please note that this is also accompanied by body language. If two dogs are playing the growl is usually lower and the body language is generally relaxed. They look happy. As it escalates and the growl moves up the throat, body language often stiffens and becomes cautious, the eyes take on a very cautious look and hackles may rise. You'll note obvious agitation if its serious. If you've ever seen a dog bite someone or another animal seriously, you will notice that the growl is very high up (sounds like its coming out of the mouth) and higher in pitch right before the bite occurs with much of the described body language.

When dogs grumble they are very relaxed and it comes from very deep in the chest...like when a cat purrs. That is why they often call it the Rottweiler purr. The dog is very relaxed and there is no threat behavior at all. They look content. But the body language is relaxed.

For example, my bitch will grumble when I roll her on her back and scratch her belly. She lays relaxed and content but just grumbles deep and low. Now, when I try to remove her bone, she growls and hangs on with her paw, but her body language is generally relaxed and you can tell she justis annoyed by the whole thing. It is deep and low and non-threatening, but it is a growl all the same.

So that is why they say that if it sounds like thunder its a grumble. Its a low, deep, consistent noise accompanied by relaxed body languauge. Growls can start out very low, but are higher than a grumble, and rise with level of excitement, apprehension or agitation.

Hope that helps.

[jbach]

If you haven't had this dog very long, I would treat it as a growl and tell him to knock it off. Body language has a lot to do with it also. It's very difficult to try to explain. I have a chronic grumbler and one that does it occasionally but it took me a while with both to figure out which was a growl and which was a grumble.
This site may help a bit....

http://www.amrottclub.org/growl.htm

....edited to take out redundant article.

[babybluetx23]

Taken from: http://www.netrax.net/~arc/growl.html - "Now, back to the problem at hand. Or is it a problem? In general, a Rottweiler is a quite vocal animal who tends to grumble when being petted, handled and played with. A normal grumbler, without ulterior motives, will grumble low in his chest or throat and no facial movement will accompany the sound. In other words, he is not baring his teeth. If he does, you may have an altogether different problem on your hands."

Harley normally will either smile while he grumbles or his tounge will hang out of the side of his mouth. However the article you mentioned above states there is NO facial expression. So if he is smiling or his tounge hangs out of the side of his mouth is this a growl or a grumble (Purr)

[jbach]

Originally Posted by babybluetx23

So if he is smiling or his tounge hangs out of the side of his mouth is this a growl or a grumble (Purr)

Again, I think a lot of it depends on how well you know your dog. If you know your dog is playing and body language doesn't indicate it's aggressive in nature, it's probably a grumble. But if you're not sure, treat it as a growl and tell him to stop. You sound like you know your dog pretty well so if you're comfortable with it, carry on.........
Nikki is notorious for lying on her back with her tongue hanging out, lips are fallen back, and she is content as she can be.

[babybluetx23]

Oh Ok! Phew! Yeah he normally makes that noise while rubbing his belly. Other then that when Playing it is a Growl but his tail is wagging and he has a smile on his face and it is normally followed with an ear drum piercing high pitched bark and a play bow.

[Greg_1111]

To me, a rumble is like a short, semi growl if you haven't heard a real growl before. A real growl is much lower in frequency, deeper in the chest, and lomger in duration. Mine rumbles when she wants to go out for a Pee. THat is the only time she really does it. She comes to wherever I am and looks at me with a really urgent face, nub wagging and then the rumble. She has me trained with that one. Sure enough, out we go. Works every time.

[Roosmom]

Originally Posted by jbach

If you haven't had this dog very long, I would treat it as a growl and tell him to knock it off. Body language has a lot to do with it also. It's very difficult to try to explain. I have a chronic grumbler and one that does it occasionally but it took me a while with both to figure out which was a growl and which was a grumble.
This site may help a bit....

http://www.amrottclub.org/growl.htm

....edited to take out redundant article.

To tell the difference to me is in the body lauaguage.
A grumbler is relaxed his body is not solid or ridged in anyway, he's soft with just noise comming out of his mouth. a growl is more solid the dog is more aware of his limbs and keeps them firmly under him. if you pushed at him he would be solid in stance where as a grumbler would give to you.
Roo is a big talker but usually only talks to those who will understand the difference. he knows who they are and will go sit on their laps then turn his head back and start to grumble, if you just reach down and sratch the butt you won the game and can be trusted. if you flinch in anyway he will remove himself from your lap and you won't see him again.
he talks louder at hubby then anyone and gets to sounding very vicious yet the whole time his body is soft and his legs are all willy nilly. he can not attack from his posture so that can't be his intent.
Zack is a talker too but a different type. he IS bitching and making his thoughts known. He'll bitch if i ask him to do somehting he dosen't want to but the whole time he is bitching he is doing it soooooooo......... he can have his opinion as long as i have the last word.
Roosmomdeb

[Rott'nKids]

Carl rarely shuts up. His grumbling can be anything from a gentle "grrrreylllblerrrgggrrrummmggrrummmrrrummm" to a full out snarling fangs baring looks like he going to rip you to pieces throaty gurgly sound. You really have to know your dog for this!!!!! I can't stress that enough!!!!! I definetly wouldn't trust any other dog that does this, but this is Carl's happy noise. And it took me a long time to learn this. I really thought I had a problem on my hands, but thankfully, it turned out good. Weird, but good. Iria is much more normal, and she has learned to grumble from Carl. But unlike him, she rumbles from her chest and her mouth is always closed. Her cute little cheeks flap out when she really gets into it.

[Rott'nKids]

I almost forgot, with Carl, the tongue is always involved during and at the end of his "sentence", no matter if it's the gentle kind or snarly kind. That's how I learned it was happy noises.

[mantis]

Hi everyone. I've just joined this site. I have rottie too (female) and have problem with growling. Well, I'm not sure is it growling or something else. Every time unknown female or dog that is smaller then she is approaches to us she starts to growel. She never bites, only growels. I correct her every time and yesterday was the first time we met new friend mops and she didn't growl. I told her to sit/stay (she's trained so she obeys) and after sitting few minutes and let her meet the guy. She layed down by her own and started to make a sound that I'm not sure what it was. It was some kind of growl but I wasn't sure was she expressing aggression. What do you do with your rottie if he/she start to act like I described? I'm not very happy to see her growl at another dog female or male. Please don't tell me to use pinch collar.