Growling & snapping advice

Hi all,

I have a 8.5 month golden retriever on a whole is doing well in terms of behaviour and learning. This is mine & my partner’s first dog so we’re learning ourselves along the way.

When we have been out for a long walk with our dog, he will often fall asleep in the back seat of the car on the journey home. When we open the door to let him out, he sleepily doesn’t want to get out and will just look at us.

If we go to pull his lead to force him out he will growl.. if we back off, he can bark and then eventually he will snip if we continue.

I’ve tried a few things: – forcing him out and a snip from him (didn’t draw blood) – treats on the side of the door and on the driveway – getting his favourite toy and luring him out – getting my partner to call him from the door (this only works if partner hasn’t come on walk)

Treats and the toy won’t work immediately as he’s really too tired to be bothered by them, and it can take up to 10 minutes of waiting.

The mixed advice I’ve had is that if we back off and let him growl, he will learn that that behaviour gets him what he wants and will continue doing it.

Also had advice to let him growl and give him space slowly lure him out with treats and toys when he’s ready.

I don’t want to reinforce bad behaviour so I’m not sure what to do?