Do I Molly-Coddle my labs?

Labshack · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 11:34 pm Post subject: Do I Molly-Coddle my labs?

I for a long time have thought my choccie has behaviour issues, but deep in the back of my mind I think its me, he was not bad at the GT but I think I should have just gone with the flow... I know Winston would have at some point 'had a go, not bitten but shown agressive behaviour' and so I try to avoid this, he was fine on the waddle and I'm starting to wonder if I should be more lenient, I worry though that if an agressive encounter would result in someone deciding Winston should be pts, I couldn't bear that he is just like a teddy bear and so loving. What should I do? He has been through so many behaviour training classes and he is OK, I'm sure the behaviourists think I'm crazy but these instances happen so infrequent now, but they still happen. Hence the local GT thread. What do I do now. Oscar I have no problems with he loves all other dogs?????

lablover · Account Deactivated

Hi Shelley

Labshack · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject:

Winston only shows bravado to other dogs, people would be in danger of being licked to death

mommy · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 11:56 pm Post subject:

When we arrived at the GT we walked the line and introduced ourselves - and came across you labshack ...lovely lady and your dogs are stunning.

I have no training experience in this at all and am only saying what i saw and felt.

When you introduced Oscar you were calm and ' hey not a prob ' but with Winston you held him tight on the lead and asked us, very politely which we respected, to move on so you could aclimatise ( sp? ) Winston as he might react.

I wonder if he feels your worry through the lead? As a result of this I wonder if he has on lead aggression, which I think I remember reading isn't actually aggression, just him ' fronting ' the other dog so he doesn't have to deal with it.

sue51 · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:04 am Post subject:

I would guess, and I stress it is only a guess, that some dogs are just territorial and hence aggressive to other dogs, you have two labs, so am guessing that they get on OK.

My bitch is dull as a brush when it comes to other dogs, recently a terrier nipped her quite nastily when out for a walk and she just looked at her with her head cocked to one side, no response, retaliation or otherwise.

At the Welsh KC another chocolate dog not chained jumped off her bench to say 'hi' to Hally, and the dog with her was there like a shot, very aggressive and warning Hally off, but was dull as brush with humans.

As LL says, a big difference between dogs aggressive with humans, and those showing aggression to other dogs.

I worked in a boarding kennels for a number of years and we would have dogs aggressive to people, and dogs aggressive to other dogs. We used to have one that had to be housed in isolation and put in the furthest away kennel before any other dog could be put out, but again, literally licked every human he came into contact with like his life depended on it.

Not sure if that helps

Sue

lablover · Account Deactivated

Ah - ok - lol - DDA doesn't cover dogs licking humans to death Wink

so I wouldn't worry about the pts bit.

There is obviously a legal responsibility to have a dog under control, and a moral one to ensure our dogs are not a nuisance to others.

Dog on dog aggression can be caused by a number of different things and can vary in severity. It may not even be aggression as such, but poor communication skills. Difficult without seeing how he behaves around other dogs, but has he had any bad experiences in the past with other dogs, particularly in his first year. How much socialisation has he done with other dogs, and were those dogs he socialised with as a puppy well mannered too? Is he entire? Does he have a problem with other entire dogs, bitches, or both? Has he attacked a dog before, or is he all noise? If a dog wants to do damage it will, make no mistake.
As I say, it could be due to a number of different things, and it's important to know exactly what the problems is otherwise, and remedial training could make the problem worse if not correctly diagnosed.

Another thought, it may not be Winston at all, if it has only happened a few times, is it possible that he was correcting a rather rude dog?

Labshack · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:18 am Post subject:

Winston is a real wimp - when a puppy a Jack russel he used to play with turned and ran at him ... Winston tried to run away but the dog was too quick .. he eventually decided the only answer was to turn round and confront - this worked and the JR ran off here by creating the behaviour.

I know at the GT I was lead aggressive with Winston, I should have let him go further than I did and I kick myself for it, it just he has come so far in the last year I'm so reluctant to go backwards, which happens so often. One wrong encounter and we go back months. I really don't mean to be rude!

_Mary_ · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:30 am Post subject:

Some dogs like the JR just asked to be nipped!!, CJ got a couple of warnings when he was wanting to play with George or Charlie, one was protective of the other, CJ has no "doggie etiquette!" and charges in like a bull in a china shop Laughing

, so in my view he deserves what he gets if a dog has a go at him.

Could it be that Winston is being protective of Oscar?, he may feel he needs to warn other dogs away in case they hurt him, I hope you can meet up with some of those that were at the GT, more socialisation may help Winston with his apparent aggression toward other dogs, and we understand what his problem is Smile

mommy · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:34 am Post subject:

Hey Shelley,

I fully understand.

Bailey, Tilly's Bro had same prob and that's why I mentioned it.
It certainly wasn't attacking you please don't think that for a minute.

It is because of Bailey that I pass these comments, that's all

mommy · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:47 am Post subject: