Dogs

[Emdiesse]

Hello.

I'm sure alot of you probably have dogs, and i was wondering if you could answer this for me :D

My next door neighbours have two alsations. One male, one female.

The male is quite big and is not fully grown but is starting to bulk out and it is a bloody scary bugger.
The female is quite and seems to be a nice dog, it is however trained to go for peoples arms, etc if they run, it is an ex security dog or something.

I got home one day from athletics and when straight into the garden to talk to my mum dad and neighbours because at the moment we are putting a new fence up so it is open.

To my suprise the dogs where out. The female dog was quiet and took no notice of me. The male dog started barking at me, and to be honest i was terrified.
It didn't bite me it just barked and looked as if to say "come any closer mate and your lunch"

Basically, whilst i was doing some work outside helping my dad put up the fence they brought it up to me on a lead and it was fine, it saw me, no barking, it looked away and i stroked it, it looked at me and i went to stroke it again (as you do) and it barked and went to go for me so the neighbour held its lead tight. then it calmed down again

When it had calmed down my neighbour said, its odd, if i let the lead have some slack it will probably still be calm. It was for a bit, then ran towards me barking, so he held the lead tight and took it in.

I know the best thing is to stand your ground, but i can't help but jump, i tried my best to stand my ground but it is a scary dog. Ussually i turn to my side, widen my stance and brace myself (not intentionally, just instinct), and at one point i backed down, and moved away about a metre (whoops).

I don't like just standing there tempting to stand my ground incase it bites.



Should i always stand my ground and back up at no costs?
Should i not look into its eyes?
Should i sout stop it to it?
What should i do?


Thanks,
Emdiesse

[Razorstrop]

Having had dogs around me all my life, this still isnt an easy question to answer.

Should I stand my ground? Well if your going to get bit , no is the answer. If you are confident you wont then do so.

Should I not look in its eyes? Again all dogs are different and staring in the eyes can be a test of wills. Its something I have always done to 'break' my dogs, but they are my dogs would I do it with a stangers, maybe only briefly to see what the situation was. Its not something I wholeheartedly recommend for you to do, in all honesty.

What should I do to stop it?
Shout loud...."Back" or "away" or osmething else short, be firm and in control, dont scream and shout just get your toughest voice and try to dominate the dog verbally.

In general, dogs like most animals have a built in sense of when people are scared of them and react accordingly. Be calm and assured at all times and only raise your voice when you feel like you are just about to be attacked.

At the end of the day theres one more thing to remember, they arent your dogs and it really isnt your place to command them, the owners should be doing that, if they are not and the dogs are causing a problem, maybe you should take it up with the RSPCA or your local dog warden.

Hope this all helps, if theres anything else you want to know PM me and I'll help if I can

Woof woof
Mr Strop

[Emdiesse]

Thats hard because i don't know the dog, we moved 6 months ago, they say it won't do anything.

[BorderReiver]

Not a pleasant situation.

A few tips,NEVER pat a dog on the head,to a dog you are dominating it.Rub its' flanks or neck.

Try ignoring the dog,(when it's with it's handler) let your hand hang by your side and let the dog sniff you.

Try letting it take some treat out of your hand while you are ignoring it.

If all else fails keep out of its way and suggest that the owner takes it to correctional training. :(

[Emdiesse]

Thanks guys.

[Abbe Osram]

If pepperspray is ok in your country, in germany it is here in sweden it is not, then buy one. That gives you already an option and calms you a bit.
If he is attacking you give him a good spray in the eyes that puts him into place and you will not have a problem anymore. If that dog is not police trained it should be ok with that. I guess that guy who has the dog is a nutty who loves to build his ego with such a dogs, maybe he went to a training but if the dogs a propper trained they will not attack you.

Have the spray ready, stand, dont run and spray if he attacks you.

cheers
Abbe

[Emdiesse]

Ah, well he has two dogs, one is not trained in anyform i do beleive and is the one that barks at me. (bark worse than bite?)

The other (the female), is apparently the one to watch out for because it has been trained to jump up and grab your arm if you run.

I'm sure, i'll be fine because the owner would never let it bite me. One because he seems a good guy and two because i'm sure he wouldn't like to see his dog put down.

[directdrive]

Pepperspray works well. So does ammonia in a water gun or squirt bottle. A big, sharp stick works wonders on a crazed animal. It could "accidentally" impale itself. If a dog does attack you and you are without any defense, give it your non-dominate arm to chew on. Yes, you'll be severely bitten but you will make the choice of what gets bitten and not the dog. The arm is better than the throat or the groin, don't you think? If you can, poke its eyes out while its chewing you up......it will let go........Hopefully, you won't have to do anything. Sorry if this post has offended anyone. I am a dog lover myself but will make every effort to kill or severely injure one that attacks me or another person.........Bruce

[Emdiesse]

Pepperspray works well. So does ammonia in a water gun or squirt bottle. A big, sharp stick works wonders on a crazed animal. It could "accidentally" impale itself. If a dog does attack you and you are without any defense, give it your non-dominate arm to chew on. Yes, you'll be severely bitten but you will make the choice of what gets bitten and not the dog. The arm is better than the throat or the groin, don't you think? If you can, poke its eyes out while its chewing you up......it will let go........Hopefully, you won't have to do anything. Sorry if this post has offended anyone. I am a dog lover myself but will make every effort to kill or severely injure one that attacks me or another person.........Bruce

Yes, i wouldn't want to kill or injure it, but heck, if it goes for me it will be shown no mercy (how would a human fair against a dog? I can't see how it would be very well for us since we are naturally the tool bearers and today's society eliminated the need to carry around tools all the time, therefore lessening our chances of a win, but how do you think a human would far in a modern day situation?). My immediate reaction the first time to it was t stand there with my arm guarding me (at the time i had keys) i held the keys ready to give it a jab if it bit me (didn't even think just got into that position)

Afterwards i realised several mistake i made and you have just also pointed them out, to defend with non-dominant arm. I also thought if it gabbed my arm the ayes would be the best place to go for.

However, I wouldn't want to end up in a fight with it because i'm sure once it gets to know who I am it is a nice dog, its probably just scared of me at the moment and is trying to dominate.

Just got to work out how to show it that it is not the dominant, hopefully without maddening it.

[Marts]

If the dog is acting in an aggressive manner in front of its owner then it is pretty clear that the owner is at fault - its likely that the dog believes it is the owner's protector and not the other way around. The owner needs to correct this, not you.

As to how to deal with an aggressive dog - well in the situation you've described it sounds like clear pack challenging. Best adivce (and I know this can be hard when confronted by a large dog) Ignore it completely. Bark and posture are used to say 'I'm bigger than you. I'm more dominant'. By ignoring it you send a very clear doggy message that he is not important enough to be acknowledged. The 5 minute rule is usually enough for any dog to understand the situation and its place in it - when you first encounter a dog pay it no attention, even when it tries to get it (by barking, nuzzling, nosing etc.) This will help the dog to understand its pack position relative to yours; a crucial thing for any dog. Of course this all needs backing up by the owner :rolleyes: .

Probably, as I've seen so often, the owner is sending the dog mixed messages all the time and the dog is simply confused (Although this sounds like it is not an issue for the trained bitch, who i'm guessing is quite comfortable with her own position and feels no need to challenge for it).
From what you've described - tightening the leash then loosening it, holding the dog back then letting it loose, not acknowledging its barks of concern, not taking a dominant stance as owner - All of this is designed to confuse a young, large, hormonally-excitable male dog.

Send the owner to correctional school :)

[anthonyyy]

Those dogs should be both put down immediately and the owner prosecuted. If you do not report this to the police you are morally responsible for any injuries caused by the dogs in the future.

[outdoorcode]

First off if a dog barks and growls at someone it doesn't deserve to be put down , it and its owner need training :eek:

I have 3 german shepherds (and a pug :o ) and one will bite a sleeve on command, but man work or sleeve work is a game to the dog not an aggressive or nasty trait.. at least you shouldn't pick an aggresive dog for this type of work, though many do

If the dog is barking at you when the lead is tight its because the owner is showing his nervousness through the lead, the dog can feel the tension and thinks something is wrong so he starts to warn you off .... if the dog is happy enough when on a slack lead and will let you get near or stroke him build on that ... give him treats and tell him he's a good boy :) he learns you aren't a threat and that nice things happen when he sees you.
Is it a communal area or low fenced area where you keep meeting? if the dog is able to get at you when you are in your own garden then you need to address this with your neighbours, tell them honestly that you don't trust the dog, and they should really be with it at all times if there is any chance of it getting into your garden.


thats my 2p spent

Andrew

[pumbaa]

I have heard of many ways to defend yourself from a dog attack , but many of them are a bit hit and miss .
I would never let my dog ( a rottweiler) act in that maner . I am the pack alpha and he knows that . I am the only person that he will play rough with , even then he will get a bit too wound up and overstep the mark . So i throw him to the floor and lay on him with my full body weight , this prevents him from moving so he cannot do any harm and asserts my dominance with out the need to beat him . I only let him up when he has stopped trying to get up , again reinforcing my dominance . Ok he is a big dog at 40kg at 8 months old , but he has been dominated from day one . Even though his dad was 13 stone and i expect him to reach a similar weight , i am bigger and heavyer and am confident that i can still do this when he is fully grown . He has no need to challange , he knows his place . The only time i struggle to get him to do as he is told is if there is a bacon butty about !!!! I have 6 year old twins and trust him completely with them .
http://www.pumbaa02.demon.co.uk/pete1116.JPG
This is him at the dartmoor meet (thanks Joker)
Pumbaa

[Motorbike Man]

Those dogs should be both put down immediately and the owner prosecuted. If you do not report this to the police you are morally responsible for any injuries caused by the dogs in the future.
Sorry Anthonyyy, but that is a HUUUGE over reaction to this situation. It needs to be made clear to the owners that the dogs are causing a concern and then it is their responsibility to do something about it, moral or otherwise. To turn around and say that Emdiesse would be morally resposible is just ridiculous.

Something else that hasn't been pointed out is that the police will look very poorly on anyone having pepper sprays or ammonia spray etc even as self defence as this would come under carrying a weapon with the intent to do harm.

[ilovemybed]

Those dogs should be both put down immediately and the owner prosecuted. If you do not report this to the police you are morally responsible for any injuries caused by the dogs in the future.

:eek: I'm sure that's not necessary!

If the female is properly trained to take people down, she should also be trained to only do it on command, and to do the least possible damage. It sounds like she's a well behaved dog too.

As for the male - it's a juvenile who still has a lot to learn and it doesn't recognise you. All it needs is to learn how to behave. They're naturally quite nervous.

I used to work at a place where we had 3 Alsatians. Should someone wander the perimiter during night-time and you'll think the hounds of hell have been unleashed. Barking, gnashing, dog spit everywhere and the biggest teeth you've ever seen. I nearly had to empty my wellies the first time they did it to me. All posturing though - if you were on the inside of the fence, regardless of who you were, they'd be like kittens.

I'm sure as you get to know them they'll warm to you.

[WNZer]

I agree with most of the statements,

Ignore it, pretend it isnt there, then it should leave you alone.

Do not put your hand over its head, hold your hand out and let it smell it.

If (at the risk of sounding like a bigot myself) you are not Caucasion, then the dogs will need some time to get used to you, its just the way they are, I used to own a Dobermann and this Chinese family moved in down the street, I was running him in the park then heard barking and he had this poor Chinaman holed up a tree, it was most embarrasing to say the least :o

My Father was a police dog handler and he said the best thing you can do in a dog attack is to stick your hand down the dogs throat, obvisouly not for the timid but alright by my born and breed Duniden Father, :D the worst possibal thing you can do is run and cause even more excitment, ie - running away, screaming and flailing arms all over the place will get you bit on the bottom, LOL

[BorderReiver]

the worst possibal thing you can do is run and cause even more excitment, ie - running away, screaming and flailing arms all over the place will get you bit on the bottom, LOL

That's the mistake most non dog people met when they are faced with an exitable dog,they pull their arms up,which in dog language is "jump up on me and play!!"

If they would only stay calm keep their hands to their sides and turn their backs to the dog there usually won't be a problem.

[gregorach]

Thats hard because i don't know the dog, we moved 6 months ago, they say it won't do anything.

Heh - I used to be a postie, and if I had a pound for every time I've heard that...

[outdoorgirl]

Some very interesting comments here on this subject. Firstly, any issue with any dog that is acting in an unfreindly or aggressive manner towards you while it's owner is present is entirely the fault of the owner, and not the dog.

If a dog has been trained to protect a property and you approach it (whether it is loose or chained) don't be surprised if it goes for you. It's doing what it's been trained to do.

However, an owner should teach the dog that aggressive behaviour towards anyone while he is present is not acceptable. It is always the job of the pack alpha to deal with this, and while it may be acceptable for an initial bark or growl to be given by a subordinate, he should always be put quickly back in his place by the alpha (the owner). This is normal pack behaviour for dogs, and they are much happier knowing that someone else is in charge, and that they can relax and have a good time.

So, firstly, it sounds like the owners need to be taking the dog to an obedience class. I'm not convinced of the appropriateness of teaching a dog to 'go for you' if you run - what if this happened to a child? However, I don't know the specific training this female dog has been given so won't comment further. The male dog needs to know his place in the pack hierarchy and, as a large, strong dog, this should be done as early as possible so there are no bad habits to break. It sounds like this may already have occurred, so I'd encourage the owners as much as possible. It's not expensive, and it results in a much happier dog, and a much more pleasant life for everyone.

Until they have the dog trained, you should be very careful around it. Never stare at it or make eye contact unless you are very sure that you can dominate it, as this in dog language is a challenge.

As always, the best form of defence is not offence, but avoidance - don't get into the situation in the first place, or defuse it if it starts to escalate if you can.

Outdoorcode's advice is good. Make the dog associate you with good things. If you know you are going to meet him, carry a bag of something tasty and smelly - garlic sausage is usually a favourite (pepperami works very well). Almost all dogs are food-motivated and respond well to this kind of training.

Training of dogs is far too large a subject for one post, but in summary, encourage the owners to go to dog obedience classes (or they may end up either giving the dog away or losing it becasue they can't control it) , and try to 'train' the dog to see you as the nice man with the tasty treats... :)

ODG

[R-J]

Those dogs should be both put down immediately and the owner prosecuted. If you do not report this to the police you are morally responsible for any injuries caused by the dogs in the future.

DUDE! calm down there... i'm guessing your a cat person!

for my tuppence worth, the ignoring route is probably the best way. if it tests you, get big (puff out your chest, raise your arms out to make yourself look bigger) and get your most aggressive and deepest voice to say F**K OFF! if you dont feel confident in doing that (some peope cant carry that off) there is a soulution.

its sounds odd, but get a little coke bottle and but some pebbles/marbles in it. try and carry it if you think you might see the dog (i know its not that easy) and if it gets aggressive shake it like hell! it'll scare the bejesues out of the dog (unless its been trained for man work) and it'll backdown. i've seen a little 55 y/o woman (friends mum) doimate a huge huskyxGSD in this way. he listen to her totaly and if he looked like he was gonna "start" she just reached for the bottle.

a chat to the owners might go a long way aswell, if they do the "he's harmless" line (which in all fairness he probably is) just explain how you feel. they should help.

hope that helps,

Rob

ps, pumbaa thats a cracking pup youve got there!

[outdoorgirl]

get your most aggressive and deepest voice to say F**K OFF!

It actually doesn't matter what you say, as long as you say it loudly and deeply... :)


i've seen a little 55 y/o woman (friends mum) doimate a huge huskyxGSD

It doesn't matter how big or small you are, it's how dominant you appear to the animal. The lady who runs our local obedience group is a 5'2' grandma, but she makes a staff sargeant look like a wimp! :)

Tricks used in training like the pebble filled bottle (used to get attention usually) include water sprays (not pepper spray or mace, as they're illegal as pointed out elsewhere), Vick (yes, the mentholated stuff you rub on your chest), and squeaky toys - I've seen all these used to great effect on dogs from Pomeranian's to enormous Alsations and Huskies.

[Carcajou Garou]

Like a lot of post have mentioned, he is a young confused dog getting mixed messages from his owner and his own hormones. The male is starting to look at sorting out a pecking order out of his daily contacts and you would be in that list by default. Never run away just invites the chase response, most dogs will charge and then break (false charge) looking for a response, keep your hands low, hands over your shoulders/head = play/fear response. Keep hand low, flat open, vertical in front of you, allows him to scent; do approach owner about problem before it gets out of hand, this has to be resolved soon as it will become a lifelong domineering problem, dog is only going to get bigger. Don't stare at its eyes, as direct eye contact is a escalating trigger response in animals unless you want to prevoke a response (biggest dog) but do keep it in your sight. Someone said feed it your non-dominant arm I guess this would be OK in an emergency, try using a walking stick then let it grab that, it will shake the living p***s out of you or the stick don't fall down or a world of misery will follow stay up take the hit, think!!! If it has a collar grab it firmly and if you can try to lift it off the ground as far as you can (had to do that a few times), young dog will be confused by the new sensation and possibly relent, at least stop applying pressure to the bite. The social interactions between you and your neighbour and his animals is going to be complicated he may not see it as aggressive, as any postman will tell you, owners never believe their dogs will bite till they do, then the victim suffers and the dogs ends up paying dearly with their lives. May not be the best advice as every situation and circumstance is different I hope this resolves in your favor. I have had large breeds all of my life and usually do what Pumbaa does with his good looking Rotwr. they are too large and powerful not to be raised properly but a joy to live with when they know their place and are confident in their role in the family. CG :yo:

[gaz_miggy]

ok iv had a sheperd in the past the thing uv got to remember is they are very very protective of there pack and home if u met the dogs outside there teratry they would be fine with u, also the old saying they can smell fear is sort of right its body languige just be positive with them u have to read to dog but if uv not been round them much you wouldnt be able to do this very well. the only thing to do is realy lisen to the owner theyll know the dog better.

[Tantalus]

some dogs just dont much like some people

i have seen house dogs take objection to specific visitors over and over again

posties are well aware of the "uniform" thing, but it could be glasses , skin colour, gait, beard or voice pitch

or none of the above, just something that the dog remembers from past experience

first thing is to ask the owner if you can get to know the dog, maybe go for a walk or two with it. Important if you are going to be regularly in contact with the dog.

then there are tricks like having a dog treat in your pocket all the time. the dog should quickly forget his game if he realises you can be relied upon for the occasional treat

with a strange dog i often crouch to appear less threatening, hold my hand out and say the dogs name or just "here boy" "good dog " and stuff

crouching may sound like inviting trouble , but it is not impossible to defend yourself from a crouch if you have to

but the best thing is to try not to further upset the dog if you can, normally if they see you crouch and become less of a threat they will wait and see what this means. Screaming and running away is the dogs idea of an invitation for a game of chase

Hope some of that helps

Tant

[led]

Lots of good advice here. If you're going to try feeding it treats, then either eat or pretend to eat one yourself first. Then wait 10 seconds or so before giving one to the dog. It'll serve to reinforce the fact that you are higher up in the pecking order than they are.

[ilovemybed]

My Father was a police dog handler and he said the best thing you can do in a dog attack is to stick your hand down the dogs throat, obvisouly not for the timid but alright by my born and breed Duniden Father, :D

I was looking for an article I read which provided a similar piece of advice, except that was an African man in his 70's who fought off a jaguar that had attacked him by putting his hand in its mouth and pulling on its tongue until his mates came and finished it off.. :eek:. Now that's a well hard grandpa!

[R-J]

Tricks used in training like the pebble filled bottle (used to get attention usually) include water sprays (not pepper spray or mace, as they're illegal as pointed out elsewhere), Vick (yes, the mentholated stuff you rub on your chest), and squeaky toys - I've seen all these used to great effect on dogs from Pomeranian's to enormous Alsations and Huskies.

a gentle rattle is good for getting attention, a vigours shake & noisey shake usualy puts off even the most determined dog.

i was just using an example of it working with a small person and a big dog to prove it works because i'm not sure how confident Emdiesse is with dogs :)

and yup, doesnt matter what you say, its how you say it. its just that people seem to find it easyier sounding dominant saying F**K OFF! then PINK SLIPPERS! both would have the same effect, if said at the same tone, but the F word is easyier :lmao:

[BorderReiver]

A dog is always harmless until it bites someone.

"oh he's never done that before" is a common refrain.

IMHO people should be trained and licenced before being allowed to keep a dog.

You can't ever be sure 100% how your dog is going to react in a given situation.

I speak as someone who prefers the company of most dogs to most people. :)

[Emdiesse]

I have read alot of your replies and have found alot of them helpful :D thanks guys, i will try my best to get on with this dog, I wouldn't like to see it be put down either, recently when i have been walking to get into my house and it barks from the window i have been ignoring it because i also thought, maybe if i ignore it, it will beleive it serves no threat.

At first when it wa on slack it was fine, it only started barking last time I do something threatening (doesn't feel threatening to me but as a non-dog person i don't understand (like reaching out arms to stroke it and looking at its eyes. I have heard if you catch eye contact it is best to wait for the dog to look away, unless if it is a rottweiler. True?).

I never try to run away because everyone sayd not to, i never have ran away from a dog and don't plan to.

Thanks, i will get round to reading each post hopefully to pick up on tips. Thanks guys :D

[JonnyP]

No advise really, just my sympathy. We used to have a GSD bitch next door (was called Lady, but was not one). The constant barking at all hours drove us mad. It would bark at anyone walking past,cats, kids and I swear Blackbirds farting would set it off. The owners could not handle it and the dog was boss. Anyway, its gone now......Hooray............... ....Jon

[pumbaa]

unless if it is a rottweiler. True?


There is nothing wrong with rottys mate , they are a breed that gets a lot of accusations cause of their size and strength . I find that small dogs are more agressive . Having said that i wouldnt like to see what would happen if someone acted in a very threatening manner to my family members ! They have a big heart and plenty of courage , but enjoy a cuddle big time .
Pumbaa

[Motorbike Man]

Just as a matter of interest, some years ago when my Mum was showing dogs at Crufts, she used the get a magazine called Dog World (I know, it's like something out of the headlines round from Have I Got News For You :lmao: ) and they once did a survey on which dogs made the best and worst pets. As it was a while ago, I'm not sure on the criteria, but one of the things that stuck in my mind about it was that the dog that came out as most unpredicable was actually the Golden Labrador

[BorderReiver]

As it was a while ago, I'm not sure on the criteria, but one of the things that stuck in my mind about it was that the dog that came out as most unpredicable was actually the Golden Labrador

In Pedant Mode: Yellow Labrador,Golden Retreiver. :p

Probably due to popularity and being bought by numpties.

Nothing worries me more than seeing a big dog which has an IQ bigger than its owner.

This happened to GSDs when they were "fashionable" and to some extent with Rotties.

[Emdiesse]

I had a thought. Would a muzzle be effective for it to get used to me without me being tound it wityh fear, because i know it won't be able to hurt me with a muzzle on and it might get used to me and eventually not need a muzzle around people.

@Pumbaa: Yeah, I can see how the accusations may have developed, they do appear to be big strong dogs, but i'm sure they are friendly in there own right, just seem a bit daunting. It doesn't help knowing that they are meant to be the bravest of dogs aswell though :P.

[Razorstrop]

Probably not, if the dog isnt used to wearing a muzzle to start with, then its going to object to wearing it now. And if the silly hound starts to associate the muzzle with you, then that could be problematic

Mr Strop

[Emdiesse]

ok, thanks.

[Carcajou Garou]

When I delivered for parcel post the dogs that attacked and bit me the most were small poodle, chihuahua, toy breeds followed by med. breeds etc... went through a lot of pants with the leg ripped and torn charged to the dog's owner if they still wanted postal delivery. Rotweiler, German Shepards, Labrador Ret. large breeds never gave me more than the look over, never met a Rotweiler or Shepard that I did not like. CG :yo:

[ravem]

What should i do?


I think you should talk with your neighbour about this.
He knows the dogs and knows how they act with other people
and he's the one the dogs must recognize as "dominant".
If he can control his dogs he can also make them recognize
you as a friend.
Meanwhile, you have the right to feel safe, so you must pretend the dogs
to be in a closed place until the fence is up again.
And make it higher enough :D

If you're afraid of dogs search for some breeder or dog trainer and
ask for advice, maybe even a good a friend who owns and knows
dogs can help you.

bye

[Cairodel]

Hi Folks, wot a coincidence... Here's an article to be published in our magazine (British Community Association Chronicle) this month, from a local trainer...

Dog Talk: AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
Aggression in dogs is the most serious behavior problem that pet owners must deal with. It is a complex behavior because of the many factors that come into play when determining its cause. In this article, I would like show our readers some of the causes and how to control this behavior.
Genetic and hereditary factors play a major role in aggression. Working breeds such as Dobermans, German shepherds, and Rottweilers are expected to be more aggressive than Golden Retrievers and Labradors. Usually, it is the breeder's choice that can influence the aggression factor in the coming litters. Responsible breeders know what they can do to control aggression. On the other hand, novice breeders here in Egypt try to promote aggression, confusing it for fighting drive (a balanced strong temperament, a quality needed to have a good guard dog).
Inbreeding can create unstable temperaments; which can contribute to aggressive tendencies. Breeders in Egypt, due to limited resources tend to inbreed, which results in aggressive or extremely timid dogs.
Environment -- lack of socialization, excessive punishment, being spoiled or given too much unwarranted praise by owners, being isolated from human contact or being exposed to frequent teasing can also influence aggression. In my kennel, I meet dog owners who complain about their dogs showing aggression towards them when they try to take away anything from the dog. Clearly, there is an issue of alpha role in the house and it's obviously not assumed by the owner.
Dogs have a pack order that determines their social rank, a pack order that is established and maintained by body language. Some dogs occupy dominant or alpha status, and some have low rank. When dogs live with people, they look at humans as members of the pack and try to establish their place in the social order by challenging the more submissive family members, particularly the children. If dogs display a dominant gesture such as growling while guarding the food dish, and they are not corrected for this behavior, they have established a bit of dominance to build on with any or all family members. If these dominant gestures remain uncorrected, the dog slowly but surely gains in status over one or all family members.
The subtle signs of dominance usually go unnoticed or are explained away until the dog bites the human for infringement on his alpha position. The owner misunderstands the progression of behaviors and blames the dog for biting "for no reason." actually their owners misunderstood the development of aggressive behavior.
Type of Aggression
There are several types of aggression: defensive aggression induced by fear, pain, punishment, dominant, possessive, territorial, predatory or parental behaviour. A dog may exhibit more than one type of aggression at a time in different situations, depending on the behavior stimulant.
Dominant-aggressive dogs are confident, macho, and they stand tall, with their ears up and forward. They carry their tails high and wag it slowly stiffly from side to side. Dominant-aggressive dogs are demanding of attention and excessive affection. Many of these dogs will not obey commands, especially submissive commands (such as "down"). If encountered by one of these macho males, don’t pull their trigger and avoid any direct eye contact. They will rise to the challenge and they will be at you before you know it.
Defensive-aggressive dogs display submissive body language (ears back, often flat against the head; avoidance of direct eye contact; lowering of the head and body; tucking tail between the legs; submissive urination) and they lick hands and roll over to expose their bellies. They resist handling, hate to have their feet touched, don't like to be groomed, and often shy away from human hands. These are the fear-biters; they may snap if cornered and will often bite at people who turn and walk away.
Preventing aggression
The primary goal is simple - never allow any dog to achieve dominant status over any adult or child. If the dog always knows their social ranking and is never allowed to challenge people, they will usually be good family members.
How to Avoid Dog Attacks
Do not run when confronted with a threatening dog. Running only stimulates the dog to increase its aggression.
Hold your ground and demonstrate moderate dominance by telling the dog firmly no. It usually works wonders...
Avoid direct eye contact, which the dog interprets as a challenge. Instead, appear nonchalant.
When the dog begins to back away, slowly retreat also, keeping the dog in view, but without paying much attention to it. If the dog begins to come back, stop and wait until it moves off again.
Don't turn your back on the barking animal
As a last resort, throw or pretend to throw an object at an aggressive dog.
If attacked, "feed" the dog your jacket, bike, purse, books to distract it.
Hope it helps EM.

[Alchemist]

Here is my bit if anyone is still interested in this thread.

Firstly, no dog or breed that is correctly trained is a serious threat to you. Saying that, certain breeds do need to be trained better than others because of temperament and sheer physicality.

I do love all breeds for their own variety but it is Alsations that **** me off at the moment. Actually, it is the owners of about 70% of these animals that do my head. They normally get the dog because its big and hard. And because its big and hard they constantly keep it on the lead, dont socialise the thing and dont let it have a free run when they go for a walk. If you want two dogs to fight then the surest way is to let them meet each other on the lead. I have met some fantastic alsations since moving and the biggest thing these all have in common is that the owners let their dogs meet other dogs and play.

If you are a Dog novice then speak to a few dog owners as well. I have 2 Jack Russells, soft as s***. Because they are JRs they play fight each other all day, they are total nutters. they sometimes gently nip or bark at people or other dogs because they want to play (not to fight). This is no harm at all, if you ignore them they go away. this is also not perfect behaviour but I am not a perfect owner and if there is anyone out there with a perfectly behaved JR then they probably have a dog with no character. The point is that the b******s can smell your fear. Also, try to read the signs better, he might just want a hello and a bit of respect.

If you are going to stay next to this dog for a while then I suggest you calmly ask your neighbour to socialise you and his dogs one evening. Only if this fails repeatedly should you even consider some of the extreme measures some people have mentioned.

Must go, the boy caught a Rabbit earlier that needs preparing.

[Alchemist]

Just so the posties know. My little guys would never rip your clothes. If you have a terrier you need to understand it is a total nutter. It needs exercise everyday. Mine get between 1-3 short walks in the day and a 6-8 mile run with me in the evening. They are bread to hunt Fox, Deer, rabbit etc and need that level of stimulation. Again, people need to understand breeds and get one that is in tune with their lifestyle. PS- if you know the difference it is a Parson JR Terrier

[Cairodel]

I completely agree with Alchemist, even though I own two Alsatians :rolleyes:
In fact, if they will stay still long enough, Skye will even play with cats.!! :eek:
This is only because she has been corrected when neccessary.

[running bare]

if a dog has a good bite on you a good trick to get it to release is to put your hand over its snout and your thumb firmly over its nostrils, he cant breath that way and will release its teeth. there is 1 or 2 breeds that can breath thru their mouths when they bite but for the life of me i cant remember which ones :(

[innocent bystander]

When i was doing the cub scout thing many moons ago, i did some gardening around the local pub on bob a job week. The landlord had a huge GSD called sabre. Sabre walked up to me - i made, what i thought were suitable noises like "nice dog, good dog" etc. Sabre then put his mouth over crutch and sat there with his mouth open. :eek: :eek:
I damn near sh@t myself.

He was a nice dog though, apart from that one experience.

When i was at primary school in the village, every breaktime a local chap would take his dog for a walk. It was a huge boxer called bilko. And every break time he would open gate and let bilko chase us around the playing field :eek:
Luckily he was the world soppiest drooling lump.... :D

[BorderReiver]

IIRC the groin is the favoured target of captive wolves. :eek:

[innocent bystander]

I reckon they can smell the hormones in the occasional dew drop that gets left behind :eek:

Either that, or they like cheese :yuck: :lmao: