Welcome from Colorado!!
I'm afraid I can't offer any advice about about your puppy's grumbling habit--but here are a few questions that might clarify things?? Does she wiggle and squirm to get down when you pick her up, or does she just make noise? Does she bite or nip at you when you try to pick her up? Is she comfortable approaching you or do you have to "run her down" to catch her? Does she mostly act grumbly when you wake her from sleep or startle her, or does she complain most times when you try to pick her up? Is there any possibility she has a sore or tender spot that is bothering her?
It doesn't seem to me that you should actually be holding her muzzle shut to get her to stop--that might perpetuate the problem. But I really don't know. I hope other folks chime in with their opinions.
I'm afraid I can't offer any advice about about your puppy's grumbling habit--but here are a few questions that might clarify things?? Does she wiggle and squirm to get down when you pick her up, or does she just make noise? Does she bite or nip at you when you try to pick her up? Is she comfortable approaching you or do you have to "run her down" to catch her? Does she mostly act grumbly when you wake her from sleep or startle her, or does she complain most times when you try to pick her up? Is there any possibility she has a sore or tender spot that is bothering her?
It doesn't seem to me that you should actually be holding her muzzle shut to get her to stop--that might perpetuate the problem. But I really don't know. I hope other folks chime in with their opinions.