What should I do when she growls??

The only thing I would do different maybe than what you are already doing is asking her to down when she's doing something enjoyable that she likes to doing during her fun time, like playing catch with a ball or frisbe when she brings back have her down before you throw it again. The more often she does it, not just in the obedience work she'll see hey it's no big deal.

Yes, I'm going to work on the down command more.  I was working on them all for a short time each night.  But, you know how things get and I've been letting it go.  She does know them though.  I will work on the down more a little each evening.  Thanks.

I did, and do, everything I can to eliminate this behavior. And never once thought it was a good thing he growled at me.

I made that mistake, too. My dog then decided that growling was bad. Since she was growling out of fear or defensiveness, she just found a different way to show her feelings. She snapped. I corrected the snapping. Guess what? Now I have a dog with a bite history.

Hey, I'm the one who said "growling is good" but please take it within the context we're discussing, and within the context of my own original post. Please?
 
I get all my dogs from the shelter and that's good and bad. Part of the bad is not knowing exactly what happened to them and what they learned before.
 
Growling scares most people to death. Really--it's a threat to us and we get confused. Would I rather a dog never growled? Sure--if it also never bit.
 
Would I take a growl and then have time to step away from a situation of being hurt? Absolutely. Would I rather my dog had growled at my niece before snapping on her face? Absolutely.
 
Does that I mean that I just let it all go now? Absolutely not. I'm pretty dedicated, as are many people here, and that means work work work--desensitize desensitize desensitize and then see how things go.

So I wonder in my case where Bubblegum seems to be trying to not let my DH come in the computer room,,,and now doesn't even like him coming up the steps where the computer room  is,,even though he is probably not coming into the computer room, she jumps up and growls and really tries to stop him,,,how do you ignore that????       Just doesn't seem like you should ignore it.

Nancy---We were not addressing you regarding the growling.  We were addressing luvmyswissy.

Dyan--I don't even know  how to begin with that.  I was told earlier here to re-direct when she growls not reprimand.  But, with the guarding of the computer room, I don't know.  It does sound awfully unsafe for your poor husband.  I still can't believe her temperment is like that and she was a show girl.

Right now I do try to talk to her, and so does he as he is coming up the steps.  We make her sit most of the time as it is a command she always does immediately....well,,,,,,,,,,,,,almost immediately!  We are trying to show her at this time who is in charge. Don't know if that is the correct thing to do or not,,,but I feel it gives her something else to think about besides the computer room or me,,,,,and she knows that both her mom and dad have to be listened to.

Growling is usually meant to intimidate someone or something to leave property or valued resources (food, toys) alone, or to indicate that the dog is scared and may bite. In other words, growling is meant to repel.  So when in a situation when my dog feels these feeling; e.g. At a park where a child runs up and bothers a dog who is feeling scared, than yes – thank god he growled, few!  I agree.  Growling in this case is a good thing.
Why a dog growls depends on the dog and the situation, but it is usually associated with aggression, therefore growling is not good. There are different types of aggression. A dog may growl when he is scared (fear-aggression) or because he is asserting his status as the alpha dog (dominance aggression). On his own property, he may growl to protect his turf (territorial aggression and some people encourage this) or to guard some valued resource (food or toys).
 
My only point is that growling is an aggressive reaction to a feeling that should not be felt in my home with my family and in most cases anywhere, since I would not intentionally expose my dog to a situation where he should have these feelings    If my dog is in a situation where he has these feelings yes growling is a good thing, a warning that hopefully will prevent a dangerous situation.  Is growling, at home with his loved ones a good thing? Not in my home.  He should feel safe, secure, subordinate and watchful.  Not insecure, scared, dominate or guarding. 
 
Its just semantics, I do not disagree with all your examples.

He should feel safe, secure, subordinate and watchful. Not insecure, scared, dominate or guarding.

 
OK, right, but if he's not, a growl to communicate that he's not happy is much better than him thinking a growl is bad and immediately going for a bite.
 
I believe that if they are feeling any of the types of aggression you mentioned they cannot rationalize, OK, well I'm at the park now, so it's OK to growl.  Well, I'm home now, no it's not OK.  It either is or isn't OK no matter where they are in there mind. 

I'm the "pack leader" so what should I be doing?

 
Sometimes DH's won't listen to their pack leader spouses LOL.  Please tell DH that this professional agrees that he should *not* be leaning over Willow, or physically manipulating her into a down.
This might work on a submissive dog, but it will get him bitten.  And, please dump your instinct to yell "hey!".  Remember what happens to dogs whose "warning system" is discouraged.  Right to the bite.  Not what either of you wants.
DH is right - Willow can't be completely trusted.  BUT - she's a whole lot more trustworthy than she was before you started working with her.  So, instead of thinking in negatives, tell him I've had more success preparing for the worst, but encouranging and expecting the best out of dogs.  The object is to try, at all times, to make Willow successful!

I would not intentionally expose my dog to a situation where he should have these feelings

 
Key word - intentionally.  But, when a dog feels frightened, or threatened, it isn't usually our intention to have made that happen.  So, I just view it as the dog either feels calm or fearful, calm or threatened.  And, I forget about the context the dog is in, except as a tool to figure out how to make the dog feel calm in that setting.  I don't think the dog figures - oops, I'm at home, better not growl.  If he's scared or threatened enough, he'll growl (hopefully) no matter where he is.  I would hate to have any lurkers think that dogs should never be allowed to growl at home.  But, if they do, I want people to look for the cause and remedy it, so there's no reason for the dog to feel anxious or afraid, etc.  80%, or more, of "aggressive" behavior is rooted in fear.

Thank you Anne, I will take your advice. 
 
He's talking to her again, I knew he wouldn't be mad at her for long. 

Willowchow - I've only been a member since 6/06, but have been reading and reading all the agression posts... as aggression and dominance are our 'personal problems'.
But, for a long time I've wanted to tell you this -  your dog is the most startlingly gorgeous dog I've ever seen.  Every time you post, I just STARE at Willow.  I've never seen anything like her and I've been a dog loving nut since the day I was born!
She is certainly worth all your good efforts and she has certainly come a long way.
She is really, really special. 

Oh, how nice of you!  Thank you soooo much.  []

But, if they do, I want people to look for the cause and remedy it, so there's no reason for the dog to feel anxious or afraid, etc.  80%, or more, of "aggressive" behavior is rooted in fear.
[color=#330000]I agree about Willow being just beautiful..I always stop and look at her picture everytime Lori posts also. She is a cutie![/color]
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[color=#330000]In my case with Bubbegum, when she seems to growl when DH is going into the computer room that I am in, or sometimes even just walking up the steps to get to the computer room (or when she mistakenly thinks he is going to the computer room and really going to the bathroom) I believe she is not afraid, I believe she is showing dominance.  Last night I told DH to come up here just because of this conversation,,,she was laying on a cushion in front of the computer room.....she did not growl this time,,,instead you could see her head become erect.....but as he got upstairs she grabbed one of her toys and ran behind me.....DH called her back and told her what a good girls she is.   But next time,,,she will probably growl at him again.   If she does its not out of fear,,,,I can't see just letting her say to him that he is not allowed to go in the computer room. She is a sweetie..loves DH I know...and he can do just about anything to her as I can....but there is this room and me in it. She has a hard time if my sons come over and want to use the computer also.  We sweet talk her into letting them sit down,,,but when they get back up she jumps up and goes to bite or push them with her nose....I can't tell what she is doing.

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