Dog Aggression

[lone wolf]

We have a 4 yr old purebred lab of the american lines . She is a family pet . Has showed no signs of aggression to people until today . We have had her since a pup . She has been great with kids . Tugging on her ears and such . We have a daycare and is curious with strangers and other peoples kids. But never left alone . Until now . A lady who has been here a few times and the dog has seen . Showed up and she was petting the dog and she kinda turned on her. Friendly petting . Our dog didn,t bite her, but started growling ferociously and my girfriend called her . Our dog then started circling her veichle growling like never seen before. I will be keeping an eye on her and she will have to be locked up when strangers come . To be on the safe side . Could this be a case of dog sense and there is something she senses and doesn,t like ? Definately out of her character .

[cloverphil]

I'd be more curious about the lady than the dog, perhaps asking her if she did something out of the ordinary that day or had a particular smell your dog found offensive for whatever reason, just a thought,

dogs smell a lot more than we do obviously

that being said, my sister had a black lab back in the 90's that turned on her 4yr old daughter biting her face, dog met the shotgun that night

[lone wolf]

The lady works in the hospital and has been here numerous times after shift.My girlfriend asked her if she had any unusal scents or done anything different. She said nothing out of the ordinary .

[Chuck]

I had a Spaniel that I raised from a pup. We were like brothers. One day while walking along a dirt road, and the dog coming along behind, he suddenly rushed up and bit me on my bum. When I turned to confront him, he just sat down with an odd look on his face.
Go figger! I never did know what that was about.

[takla1]

your dog has had a bad experience at some point when it was younger and this lady touched on something the dog remembered and didnt like.Maybe a female post lady that kicked your dog and this woman just happened to look like her...If you get my drift.Theres something called agitation training you can train a dog with and that training feeds on giveing the dog repeated exposure to negitive stimulus and propting an agresive responce.

[Deer Sausage]

the woman who visited your house is a vampire...only possibility as labs dont bite people.

[lilhoss]

I wouldn't "lock her up when strangers come",that will only add fuel to her curiosity,either good or bad.Socializing is key.Like Takla1 says,something,hopefully something isolated has triggered her reaction.My brother once sprayed a garden hose on one of my chocolates when she barked,and for the rest of her 14 years she could not stand him.Come to think of it,...niether could we!

[Spokerider]

Sounds like a territorial-aggression display . Luckily, your visitor did not get bit. Now you KNOW that the dog cannot be trusted with strangers or visitors that the dog may view as tresspassers.

If it were me, I`d research more on this behavior and possible corrective interventions and training. There are some good aggressive dog trainers around that can help you with understanding this behavior and training.

May also wish to have a medical exam on the dog to rule out illness, injury or other medical reason for such behavior.

[Iron Glove]

Our 8 year old Toller has always been a dominant girl but not really agressive. More reactive - another dog gets into her face then she will react. Never bit anyone or anything until a couple of days ago while we were at the cabin. Down at the neighbours and suddenly there is a lot of growling and yelping and she runs by with the neighbour's little lap dog. Shoe string tackle and she puts the dog on his back for the sack. Unfortunately she did bite and caused a puncture wound. We don't know what happened tho' the other dog can be territorial. We felt really bad about it and offered to pay the vet bills to preserve a long standing friendship. So, now we are looking for a trainer to help with this - any recommended ones?

[Sasquatch]

Maybe check the dogs ears, mouth and eyes really closely for any signs of injury or infection. Could be the lady touched something that the dog found sensitive.
I've seen friendly dogs with ear infections growl at people when petted.

[Kevin So]

Agree with Sasquatch....Keep an eye on her, sometimes when dogs are sick or injured they act aggressively. at 4 they are usually pretty set on their behaviors and personalities to act out for no reasons. So before assuming it is behavioral problem, have a vet to confirm her health is in good order. After that is confirm all good then look into curbing aggression. my 2 cents.

[JeffR]

I would agree with the comments about checking the dogs health. Also try to determine if it is fear-based aggression. Did your dog have his tail between his legs when he began to growl? Was the dog in a position that he could have felt trapped?

[newhunterette]

reasons for a passive agressive behaviors


Is Your Dog Becoming a "Teen"?
Like human children, dogs go through developmental stages that produce hormonal changes, which may result in "passive-behavior dogs" becoming "aggressive-behavior dogs." It is a myth that getting your pet "fixed" will address this issue. Your dog's temperament will still be adjusting, especially at this time.
This is especially true for those who come from an aggressive family tree. Aggression will many times become manifest any time between 6-18 months of age. If your male puppy has not been neutered, his tendency will be strongest at this age to become aggressive--in particular against other males.
The first of the aggressive dog training tips is two-fold: expect this behavior at this age, and get your pet spayed or neutered to temper the degree to which he or she expresses this trait.
Maybe Your Pet Is Shy
Perhaps your little "Fido" is simply a bit shy, or needs to be acclimated to social settings. Owners who have more than one dog tend to believe this will provide enough socialization for their animal, but this is not the case. It is the unfamiliar dog that your sheltered pet will defend against, out of fear.
Every breed is going to display the ability or inability to adapt to new social setting differently. Your first puppy may be an angel, whereas your second is a little beast. Also, different breeds will want to socialize or play differently, which may lead to your pet's display of sudden-onset aggression.
The second training tip is to have him leashed and under controlled settings as you acclimate your pet to new situations. Try to make your pet feel safe, with reassuring words and even removing your dog if he or she becomes overwhelmed. Using positive reinforcement, train your pet with rewards for good behavior. The use of a clicker and treats for this training is a great idea.
PTSD...Animals Get it, Too
Maybe your dog was traumatized somehow. This can be as simple as being attacked or made to feel threatened in a public setting. If your dog has been attacked, especially as a puppy, the deep-seated threat may incite your pet to respond aggressively in similar situations.
The next of the aggressive dog training tips is: you may need to get a training muzzle for public settings until you can train your dog to be confident around other dogs. There are quite a few dog training resources available online, or seek the help of a dog behavior specialist. Initially, reassure your dog of your presence when in public, kept under a leash, rewarding good behavior as you give a command such as the simple "heel" command.
Another great way to overcome this is to schedule a "dog's day out" with other friends who have dogs. Introduce your dog to these other dogs, one at a time, while you socialize with your friend. As your dog acclimates to these other dogs, introduce more dogs to the meeting, one by one.
Is Your Dog Ill or Hurt?
Dog language is body language, so when your dog comes down with, say, arthritis, he may turn into an aggressive grump. You can't blame the poor guy. When a sick pooch is jumped on by a playful puppy, for instance, aggressive behavior may result.
Aggressive dog behavior may be your dog's indicator that he or she needs to see the vet. Don't ignore the aggressiveness, it will only get worse over time if left untreated. You'll want to either learn positive reinforcement techniques through online resources, or hire a professional dog behavior specialist/trainer if you can afford the higher cost. When "passive-behavior dogs" become "aggressive-behavior dogs," it's time to get aggressive dog training handbooks which most pet stores, kennels, veterinarians have available.

[Spokerider]

Our 8 year old Toller has always been a dominant girl but not really agressive. More reactive - another dog gets into her face then she will react. Never bit anyone or anything until a couple of days ago while we were at the cabin. Down at the neighbours and suddenly there is a lot of growling and yelping and she runs by with the neighbour's little lap dog. Shoe string tackle and she puts the dog on his back for the sack. Unfortunately she did bite and caused a puncture wound. We don't know what happened tho' the other dog can be territorial. We felt really bad about it and offered to pay the vet bills to preserve a long standing friendship. So, now we are looking for a trainer to help with this - any recommended ones?


Have you watched any of the Dog Whisper TV shows? Lots of good insight on canine behavior and techniques for modifying. Cesar Millan also has a couple of good books out, well worth reading, with emphasis on identifying and modifying the root of unwanted behavior. I`d start there. He has a unique way of explaining how a dog *thinks*.

[Chuck]

Have you watched any of the Dog Whisper TV shows? Lots of good insight on canine behavior and techniques for modifying. Cesar Millan also has a couple of good books out, well worth reading, with emphasis on identifying and modifying the root of unwanted behavior. I`d start there. He has a unique way of explaining how a dog *thinks*.

X2....and I'm always amazed by how he "thinks" like a dog, and that imo is the key to not just dog behavior, but to the behavior of all wildlife. I'm sure all would agree that to be a good hunter or fisherman or even anything else, one must study the subject of interest and get into its brain and become just like it. Of course I'm directing this additional blurb primarily to struggling newbies...........

[stitch]

I'd be more curious about the lady than the dog, perhaps asking her if she did something out of the ordinary that day or had a particular smell your dog found offensive for whatever reason, just a thought,

dogs smell a lot more than we do obviously

that being said, my sister had a black lab back in the 90's that turned on her 4yr old daughter biting her face, dog met the shotgun that night

That's just wrong.....:twisted:

[fozzy]

X2....and I'm always amazed by how he "thinks" like a dog, and that imo is the key to not just dog behavior, but to the behavior of all wildlife. I'm sure all would agree that to be a good hunter or fisherman or even anything else, one must study the subject of interest and get into its brain and become just like it. Of course I'm directing this additional blurb primarily to struggling newbies...........

Cesar Milan is coming to the island in October, check out his web site.. he's a very smart fella when it comes to dogs..