I personally don't correct growling if its a "back off" kind of a growl. To me, there's not a whole lot of reason to correct that. Correcting it isn't going to make the dog less uncomfortable and it isn't going to make the dog less likely to lash out, and the dog isn't going to understand I don't like the emotional state behind the growl- they're probably going to think I don't like the noise, if they make any connection at all.
What I will "correct" (ie, with a verbal "no" and re-direction) is territorial/alert barking and sometimes play howling/snarly barking. My parents dog is an unbearable alert/territorial barker and growler. If there's a dog outside the building (which there very often is, since we live in a fairly busy NYC neighborhood and people walk their dogs on our block a lot because it's in a less heavy foot traffic area of the 'hood) she will growl very low, and slowly escalate to all out barking. She also growls at people passing by in the hallway outside our door, and god forbid if they stop to check their mail and/or there are more than one and they are talking. She does not like that at all. I've suggested (and been practicing for the few more week I'll be living at home) that my parents walk over to her when she starts growling calmly tell her no, and then bring her into the back of the apartment (away from the doors) and ask her to sit, then treat, then for a hand touch, then treat, and distract her that way from the common outside. I'm also going to have them practice having people go up and down the stairs and elevator outside out apartment and work on engaging her before the reaction starts and then have her practice ignoring it. My own dog will make a terrible play bark/howl/chainsaw-like snarling noise when she wants someone to play with her while running around crazily. That I correct by shushing her and taking her toy away until she's quiet, and then after she's been quiet for a minute or so I get the toy again and play.
Not correcting a growl also doesn't mean he's going to start growling regularly or try to bite, and a growl doesn't necessarily mean he's thinking about biting. A warning growl is a normal noise that's just saying "hey please don't do that, I don't like it and I may escalate if you keep provoking me". If a dog is growling regularly, IMO it means there's underlying emotional issues that need to be addressed. Maybe he doesn't enjoy being touched in a certain place, maybe he's guarding his food/bed/toys, maybe he's fearful or anxious, maybe he's grumpy and doesn't like his space invaded. All of these things can be trained out without the use of force, and IMO most things that cause a dog to growl are better trained out exhausting force free methods first.
All that to say: IMO, yes, you did the right thing, although I might suggest stopping rough child/puppy play in the future before the pup feels the need to growl. Whenever he seems like he's having less than a spectacular time, have a little time where the kids goes and does something else and don't teach the puppy he needs to warn others away from him- teach him you'll do it for him!
What I will "correct" (ie, with a verbal "no" and re-direction) is territorial/alert barking and sometimes play howling/snarly barking. My parents dog is an unbearable alert/territorial barker and growler. If there's a dog outside the building (which there very often is, since we live in a fairly busy NYC neighborhood and people walk their dogs on our block a lot because it's in a less heavy foot traffic area of the 'hood) she will growl very low, and slowly escalate to all out barking. She also growls at people passing by in the hallway outside our door, and god forbid if they stop to check their mail and/or there are more than one and they are talking. She does not like that at all. I've suggested (and been practicing for the few more week I'll be living at home) that my parents walk over to her when she starts growling calmly tell her no, and then bring her into the back of the apartment (away from the doors) and ask her to sit, then treat, then for a hand touch, then treat, and distract her that way from the common outside. I'm also going to have them practice having people go up and down the stairs and elevator outside out apartment and work on engaging her before the reaction starts and then have her practice ignoring it. My own dog will make a terrible play bark/howl/chainsaw-like snarling noise when she wants someone to play with her while running around crazily. That I correct by shushing her and taking her toy away until she's quiet, and then after she's been quiet for a minute or so I get the toy again and play.
Not correcting a growl also doesn't mean he's going to start growling regularly or try to bite, and a growl doesn't necessarily mean he's thinking about biting. A warning growl is a normal noise that's just saying "hey please don't do that, I don't like it and I may escalate if you keep provoking me". If a dog is growling regularly, IMO it means there's underlying emotional issues that need to be addressed. Maybe he doesn't enjoy being touched in a certain place, maybe he's guarding his food/bed/toys, maybe he's fearful or anxious, maybe he's grumpy and doesn't like his space invaded. All of these things can be trained out without the use of force, and IMO most things that cause a dog to growl are better trained out exhausting force free methods first.
All that to say: IMO, yes, you did the right thing, although I might suggest stopping rough child/puppy play in the future before the pup feels the need to growl. Whenever he seems like he's having less than a spectacular time, have a little time where the kids goes and does something else and don't teach the puppy he needs to warn others away from him- teach him you'll do it for him!
