Does your dog show agression?

[CarolineL]

Hurley is an unnuetered male and is not aggressive at all. I have only ever heard him growl with intent once and that was when our kitten approached him when he had an enormous bone 

He really is absolutely fine in ALL situations although I did worry a few months ago when he seemed to be getting in to trouble with other dogs but I know now that is/was normal doggy behaviour as opposed to aggression. He is not very tolerant of big dogs jumping on him  when they are trying to play and he will tell them off - but he is all mouth and no trousers, and he can be a bit of a grump with some puppies particularly if he or they are restricted on leads. He is wary of little kids but will bark as opposed to growl/air snap/raise his lip.

Hurley is very vocal as it is anyway - even when I put his lead on he growls but it is with excitement as opposed to meaning something nasty.

Obviously I have never intentionally pushed Hurley into a situation where I think he might or could have the propensity to bite but I can honestly say in the last 14 months of owning him - no matter what situation he has been in he has never ever shown true aggression towards me or another dog.  Lets hope it stays that way!!

[*Lucy*]

Puppy Honey has not shown any signs of aggressiveness at all!

Molly on the other hand is only aggressive when she is scared! I wouldn't say she would hurt anyone its just when a stranger comes into the house she will bark constantly at them and run to her bed. If they approach her she growls! I really don't like it when she does this and it upsets me but have no idea how to resolve it!

While i was out the other night my Dad babysat the kids and i got a delivery (Josh's new bed for new house  ). Dad put Honey behind the babygate and tried to get Molly to go there too but she hid in her bed, barking and growling - he reached down to pick her up and she let her glands off  all over her new bed!! I am pretty sure she is just very scared as she has never gone for anyone!

Molly is also aggressive towards Honey if she doesn't want her too close!

[White Bryony]

Woofie is the softest dog I know. He likes everyone and has never ever shown any aggression except for when Maddie joined our household and tried to take his beloved bone away - first time I had ever heard him growl.

Maddie is another matter, she is a little bully in the house with Woofie but very fearful around people who come to the house and other dogs and shows this by growling/barking aggressively and showing her teeth (even my parents who visit fairly regularly).  We have overcome this by ignoring her and by the end of the visit she is getting curious enough to come close to them (on her terms) for a stroke.  She has never ever bitten or nipped anyone though. I get upset that other people don't see the loving playful side of her that we see.

She desperately needs more socialisation with other dogs, we had a mini breakthrough at the weekend when we met two other dogs at the park and she actually joined in playing with them - I know it might seem really silly but I was ecstatic. 

[PennyB]

In what other situations has Goose shown aggression? Molo has had the odd spate with other dogs, and there are some dogs that he positively dislikes (he never starts anything, but bears a grudge  ) - but I wouldn't use the label aggressive to describe him - I consider it to be normal dog behaviour 

Mine are like this and like you I don't think my dogs are aggressive. There was a 4mo old gsd yesterday who was jumping all over them and biting really heard --- --- now at 4mo he was twice as large as any of mine. Ruby will tell dogs off but if dog is quite aggressive like the terriers we often meet on the Taff Trail she will try to run away.

[lexi]

Byron is quite the macho and just basically wants to be top dog. This behaviour became noticeable when we got Holly (Byron was 2). He does get into the odd tiff with other males when we're out walking but (until now ) it's been all bark and no bite and has never amounted to anything other than the dogs having words and then going their separate ways.

Molo has had the odd spate with other dogs, and there are some dogs that he positively dislikes (he never starts anything, but bears a grudge  ) - but I wouldn't use the label aggressive to describe him - I consider it to be normal dog behaviour 

Much the same with Byron.
Holly loves everyone and everything - except cats, which she hates with a passion.
Mac has never shown any aggression whatsoever but then he's only seven months old.

[flozac]

None what so ever here

[clairep4]

Bella has fear aggression towards certain dogs, generally it's if they charge over to her without the proper doggie etiquette and then she'll react by air-snapping at them. With some large dogs if she spots them her tail goes up immediately and she'll start barking (I usually manage to nip this in the bud by just keeping an eye on her tail position and as soon as I see it go up, I call her to me and distract her).

Her fear aggression stems from having been attacked 4 times by staffie/bull terrier types in her first year. She was for a while aggressive towards any dog falling into that category (she would actually cross the park to go and do her "come on then if you're 'ard enough!!!" routine with them), but thankfully after months and months of work she no longer does this.

Zorro's arrival has helped to calm her down as he is very good with other dogs and will also go and back her up if she's looking worried. We've recently had a set back as a Rottie harrassed them both, the owner refused to call it off, and when we put the dogs back in the car the Rottie the paced round and round, jumping up at the windows, frothing at the mouth and scaring them both silly  . So with big dogs Bella is now quite frightened again but we're working on it.

The only time Zorro ever growls at another dog is if it tries to take his ball.

[Cazzie]

I have never had an aggressive dog, only an aggressive bitch  Sheba, our last dog, was unpredictably aggressive towards strangers and small-furries 

In what other situations has Goose shown aggression? Molo has had the odd spate with other dogs, and there are some dogs that he positively dislikes (he never starts anything, but bears a grudge  ) - but I wouldn't use the label aggressive to describe him - I consider it to be normal dog behaviour 

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy. Its not every single male dog though it seems to be a random behaviour as he is fine with some male dogs than others. Oh well I will have to keep working away with him as he is not going to be allowed to continue this as other dog owners can be quite scared when male dogs behave like this (it doesnt frighten me as I know they cool off eventually) but it could eventually turn nasty if he meets a dog that is more than a match for him (little toad) 

[Cob-Web]

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy.

Have you worked out what type of aggression it is? You mention protection and dominance, which are both different types of aggression but could it be resource guarding (i.e. you) ?

I know they each have to be handled very differently when it comes to behaviour modification; but it can be really hard to work out what type of aggression is being shown, especially when it is inconsistent behaviour 

[Cazzie]

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy.

Have you worked out what type of aggression it is? You mention protection and dominance, which are both different types of aggression but could it be resource guarding (i.e. you) ?

I know they each have to be handled very differently when it comes to behaviour modification; but it can be really hard to work out what type of aggression is being shown, especially when it is inconsistent behaviour 

Its more dominance than protection. He is currently in therapy 

[Gilly]

Mine are pretty much like Nicola's...in a word no. Buttons did shock me once when she had a go at Rhona's Sam  but in her defence he did keep sniffing her fandago and it was just a warning  apart from that I have never witnessed them being any way aggressive to people or other dogs. Gracie can be a bit possesive which has got a bit worse since Lola came on the scene, it's mostly with toys NEVER food. Basically she's like a toddler that's now having to share all her toys with a new baby and she isn't particulalrly happy about it and she has started guarding toys  It has never got serious though and considering the punishment Lola gives her....and I DO mean 24/7 punishment I don't blame her, in fact I WISH she would show some dominance and pin Lola to the floor and assert a bit of authority over her but she really hasn't got it in her which is a shame as she's definitely moving to the bottom of the pack  I'm just back off holiday and this has been their first time in Kennels, all be it with a friend but Gracie has lost a fair bit of weight which I put down to the fact that she's had to spend 24/7 with Lola with no means of escape and this has caused a bit of stress for her.

[Helen]

In what other situations has Goose shown aggression? Molo has had the odd spate with other dogs, and there are some dogs that he positively dislikes (he never starts anything, but bears a grudge  ) - but I wouldn't use the label aggressive to describe him - I consider it to be normal dog behaviour 

Mine are like this and like you I don't think my dogs are aggressive. There was a 4mo old gsd yesterday who was jumping all over them and biting really heard --- --- now at 4mo he was twice as large as any of mine. Ruby will tell dogs off but if dog is quite aggressive like the terriers we often meet on the Taff Trail she will try to run away.

same here with jarvis - would not call that aggressive - just canine communication.

so when Goose 'flew' at this dog was there biting?  I need to get an idea of what you feel is aggressive because people vary so much on this point....

[Top Barks]

He is only started to be grumpy around other male dogs as is extremely protective towards me when other male dogs are around. I am currently working on him at the moment with and around other big male dogs in different situations. I think it is because he is the only male surrounded by female company and he thinks he is top boy.

Have you worked out what type of aggression it is? You mention protection and dominance, which are both different types of aggression but could it be resource guarding (i.e. you) ?

I know they each have to be handled very differently when it comes to behaviour modification; but it can be really hard to work out what type of aggression is being shown, especially when it is inconsistent behaviour 

Its more dominance than protection. He is currently in therapy 

[pupps]

Jet my Lab shows aggression mostly when he can,t see whats coming ie: through the door, down the stairs he's a rescue so already had these issues when I got him.
It is mostly shown towards my kids he,s fine with strangers coming in the house. He has never bitten and they mostly ignore this behaviour. He is fine with other dogs, he does show dominance towards Oscar my pup even tried to hump him this week he,s never done that before 
They are both going through obediance training at the moment which I hope will help me with more control Jet is 7 years old and already does a great down stay for over 20 minutes my plan is to put him in a down when he shows aggression to let him know he is not allowed to behave that way and I,m in charge not him.
                                                                                                    cas.

[ali]

with other dogs, barkley will air-snap, growl and bark if he feels threatened. he has never, to my knowledge, bitten another dog and is nearly always very submissive to begin with when other dogs approach but if the dog doesn't leave him alone and he clearly feels intimidated these days he will get very vocal and tell them off. i'm pretty sure this is fear induced as he is very wary around strange dogs.

with people, the only two he has ever snapped at are myself and my OH, when we have pushed him too far in our ignorance and not seen the warning signs. neither of us have ever been properly bitten- when he has caught our skin it's been deliberately mild. he will growl at us and air snap if he feels he needs to but we are wiser now and so this hasn't happened for months.

with everyone else he is totally gentle but will bark at people who behave unusually when we're out and about.