Thanks Gary. I don't think we are going to worry about it too much now. He seems to have "gotten over it" so to speak. Maybe he was just really timid for a while and now has clued in that dogs are fun. Our next door neighbours have grown children and one has a wee little toy dog. She is only about 8 inches tall, blind in one eye, missing most of her teensy tiny teeth, and is so old she can hardly walk anymore. My puppy was terrified of her at first, it was actually quite amusing to see a 10wk old lab three times her size, scared of her. But that now he has met her a couple more times he has dug a peep hole through our hedge so he can spy on the neighbours and watch out for their dog to visit. The other day he heard her there but could not see her, and he took his bully stick over and pushed it through the fence as an offering to her . Now, the biggest problem we have is that dogs are just as exciting as human strangers - every single one he meets is his new best friend and he thinks that they all love him and want to scratch his belly and hug him and kiss him
It’s a shame that Pits get a bad wrap, most are super sweet and gentle. An aggressive Pit isn’t the dog’s fault but rather the owners fault. Saying that though, when my previous dog was almost a year old we came into contact with a a man walking his Pit who when asked if he was friendly, he responded yes. So cautiously I allowed his dog to approach mine and within a couple of minutes his dog started attacking mine viscously. It wasn’t the playful play dogs usually play. Thankfully my sweet dog was able to defend himself very nicely and we were both able to pull our dogs away safely quickly. Luckily also my dog did not become afraid afterwards. Needless to say I was more angry with the dogs owner than the dog. Pleased your dog is doing so well at a new class.
While I totally disagree with labeling any breed as 'aggressive' or 'dangerous', a dog's aggression can not be solely blamed on the owner. There are many reasons why a dog shows aggression and a dog can show aggression despite the care and training lavished by an owner. The owner is responsible for how that aggression us managed though.
Exactly, the dog’s owner did not manage his correctly,he told me his dog was safe and friendly to greet when he wasn’t. I saw that dog going after others as well as hearing later that others had their dogs attacked from his dog Yes I realize and agree that despite the owners care that in some breeds they are inherently aggressive it’s up to the owners’ to train that dog properly to listen to his commands. He should have never have told me his dog was safe
@Chaunceysmom I can never understand why people actual accept another owners 'my dog's friendly' as correct. I never allow play unless I know the dog. I allow a sniff and we move on. It keeps my dog safe particularly when so many owner have no knowledge or understanding of their dogs and their behaviour. No sorry but no breed is inherently aggressive. Some breeds are bred to protect, guard etc but that does not make them inherently aggressive.
I’m not going to get into this with you, for some reason you enjoy arguing with me. I come to this forum for advice and fun, thanks for making me leave
While it may be true that no breed is inherently aggressive, there are certainly behaviors that are considered desirable in certain breeds and the breeders try to enhance those behaviors. Labs are noted for their even temperament and that they generally get along with other dogs and people, at least in part because they were bred to hunt with other dogs and people. The similar Chesapeake Bay Retriever was breed to be protective, guarding the (Professional) hunter's bag. It is much more common to see Chessies that do not get along with other dogs.
Absolutely agree, I have three labradors, and whilst 2 are fairly typical show labradors, Bramble the youngest is a different kettle of fish. She has a very high prey drive which does take a bit of handling! Plus she is not particularly sociable. She lives to work with me, and hunt and anything else well she is not terribly interested. Her working genes are very obvious and literally just need fine-tuning. Humans have been drawing on these inherited characteristics in different breeds and enhancing them for years.
Yes, @Chaunceysmom I know a few people with pit-bull type dogs or crosses, and they really are sweet dogs. I quite understand your point too regarding the owners' influence over behaviour, and it's such a shame it unravelled a bit when you went to say hello. Please do stick around though won't you?
We have two pits in the shelter. They are both so wonderful and real people-dogs, but they were rescued from a dog fighting ring so can't be trusted with other dogs, completely understandably.
@Ski-Patroller , that's interesting about the Chessies, I would have presumed that all gundogs were inherently friendly, the development of bred in tendencies and attributes in the different breeds fascinates me. @Chaunceysmom , I agree with @Beanwood , I too hope you stay around.
Agreed. At the class I went to (lasted about 2 months), the puppies weren't allowed to play with each other before or during class. There were times during class where we had to teach the puppies to actually ignore the other dogs when they walk right up to them. They were allowed to stay for an extra 10-15 minutes after class to play with each other, though.
I would have found that approach very beneficial and it would have accomplished TWO goals!!! Yesterday I was walking and a very okd man wirh a very old Collie was on the other side if the street. My puo was jumping and oulling to go over and I kept him back and said no. The man was really grouchy with me in a way 90yo men are, saying I needed to ket him play. I said I would, but only when he calmed down and waited for me to allow it - he cant just tear off at the sight of another dog anytime he wants to! Old man tutted at me and went off mad. Sigh.
Our pups are not allowed to play or greet at puppy class at all. They do have play dates but that’s a completely separate thing from classes and only two pups at a time so that they can be closely supervised. It does result in pups which don’t expect to greet every dog. .
