protection

[pbhound]

my wife walks our dog Raven every morning (her daily routing, the dogs that is) well last week while on the walk there was another dog that came and was following Raven and my wife, my wife told the other dag to go and tried to scare it away. it did not and so my wife keept walking, (raven was not bothered by the other dog at all) well wife's last resort was to use the end of Raven's leash and try to swat at the other dogs nose; at this the other dog bared its teeth and growled at my wife, well Raven did nothing not even a flinch to this. this scared my wife we are not sure why Raven didnt try to protect my wife (we are not trying to promote a mean dog but would like to have her protect anyone of the family if they are threatend). does anyone think they know what might have been why she didnt try to protect my wife???

[lblax]

maybe because she speaks dog and the other dog was no threat....

[Denise L.]

Gee whiz I know I am learning when my reply is the same as Larry's!

My first thought was Raven did not perceive the dog as a threat.

[Mattweiser]

there are a couple of different posibilities here:

1. as previoiusly stated, the dog was not truley a threat. The most likely reason why it bared its teeth was in response to the attack on it from your wife. He was simply defending itslef from the "crazy lady with a leash" (Most likely)

2. Your dog was showing avoidance behavior, attempting to avoid any type of altercation with a possibly superior dog (next likely)

3. Dog is submissive enough to the wife that he decided to let the boss handle the problem, figuring that she had the situation well in hand. (possible, but I doubt this one)

[pbhound]

well i doubt that its the avoidance behavior along the same walk there is at a germanshepard (in a fenced yard) that tries to protect its yard from any and all other; and Raven tries to i dont want to say attack but that is what it seems like. with the growls and barks and the pulling hard on the leash.
my thoughts on the issue were Raven (still being a puppy, only 11 months old) saw something moving, weither it was a leaf flower dust or something and it had her full attention, and didnt realize what was actually going on.

[Judi W]

Expression of aggression towards something one cannot possibly get to (no real fight possibility) should not be used as guideline.

I think you should be glad your bitch behaved as she did. Surely you would not want to see your wife in the middle of a true dog fight caused simply because she did not want another dog following them.

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by Mattweiser

there are a couple of different posibilities here:

1. as previoiusly stated, the dog was not truley a threat. The most likely reason why it bared its teeth was in response to the attack on it from your wife. He was simply defending itslef from the "crazy lady with a leash" (Most likely)

2. Your dog was showing avoidance behavior, attempting to avoid any type of altercation with a possibly superior dog (next likely)

3. Dog is submissive enough to the wife that he decided to let the boss handle the problem, figuring that she had the situation well in hand. (possible, but I doubt this one)

Also, inter-dog aggression has nothing to do with protection. Some dogs (and specific breeds) are dog aggressive and fight other dogs every time they come in contact with one. Dogs that are not inter-dog aggressive may choose to avoid the confrontation altogether; however, most of the times, if the aggressive dog attacks, usually the attacked dog will fight back and engage in the fight.

That has happened to my current rottweiler. Dominant aggressive dogs coming to my dog with an attitude (growling, snarling, attempting to mount him, etc.) So my dog tries to avoid the confrontation, and in the eyes of the inexperienced seems like my dog is a coward, but if the dominant aggressive dog keeps pushing the issue, my dog always counter-attacks. So far I have been lucky that he puts the other dog in the run (last time it was a black Great Dane thinking bigger is better… )

However, dogfights are to be avoided. Dog bites can be extremely harmful (ncluding potential death), and even the "winner" may end up in the emergency room of the vet's office.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by German Vanegas

That has happened to my current rottweiler. Dominant aggressive dogs coming to my dog with an attitude (growling, snarling, attempting to mount him, etc.) So my dog tries to avoid the confrontation, and in the eyes of the inexperienced seems like my dog is a coward,

This has happened to be me three times in the past week and half. Once by an aggressive female and twice by a non-aggressive female who did, however, charge suddenly towards us. Both times I was lucky to have my male with me who simply "assumes the position" (strong, 'look how big I am' stance) and waits it out. If I had had my female, either the dogs would not have dared to get close enough to challenge her or there would have been blood.

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

If I had had my female, either the dogs would not have dared to get close enough to challenge her or there would have been blood.

Normally, male dogs never attack a female dog. That is a very rare occurrence. Avoiding a confrontation between dogs, if at all possible, is the best way to go. A dogfight can be gruesome and terrible injuries may take place. Keep in mind, a dog can kill another dog; so it is better to prevent a dogfight than to encourage it.

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by German Vanegas

Normally, male dogs never attack a female dog. That is a very rare occurrence. Avoiding a confrontation between dogs, if at all possible, is the best way to go. A dogfight can be gruesome and terrible injuries may take place. Keep in mind, a dog can kill another dog; so it is better to prevent a dogfight than to encourage it.

I never knew that males don't attack females - that's very interesting. My male is very used to other dogs, as well. My female is from the HS and is getting much better around other dogs but I do avoid confrontation with her at all costs (cross the street, etc.). With both of them, actually. I don't want to see either of my dogs hurt - they're my companions first and foremost.

[Rott-Wiley]

Originally Posted by pbhound

my thoughts on the issue were Raven (still being a puppy, only 11 months old) saw something moving, weither it was a leaf flower dust or something and it had her full attention, and didnt realize what was actually going on.

That doesn't seem likely to me, surely another dog would be more interesting then a leaf, flower, dust or something like that. Fortunately your wife didn't have to break up a dog fight. That's the good news. No one got hurt.

[Judi W]

Even though the handler seemed to desire a fight, the young bitch wisely avoided it.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

I never knew that males don't attack females - that's very interesting.

I never knew that either. Ya learn something every day.

Although it does make sense now that I think about it!


Brooke

[Patty1231]

Haha - no wonder Rocco's such a kiss-up!

[Judi W]

If I see a male that will attack a female, I am looking at a male with a screw loose. Mother nature has decreed that males accept any and all including abuse, from females in hopes that they will be favored sometime in the future.