Lab temperment

[Grute Man]

I got a golden retriever (10 year old alpha bich) and a chocolate lab (about 4 years old.)  The golden has always been more aggressive and protective than I expected from a golden but if i say "Be nice." her tail goes down and starts wagging.  Now this chocolate leared a lot from her.  They both run the fenceline if anyone walks or bikes past our house and if you approach, they'll great you in a way that unless they know you or I'm there to tell them to be nice, you won't want to come in.
The other day a new neighbor was over with her 2 year old daughter.  The daughter walked up to the fence where my lab was looking at us saying "puppy puppy.."  She put her hands up to (but not through) the fence.  My lab smelled her hands for a couple of seconds and burst into the most vicious bark, snarl, growl...I've ever seen from her.  It scared us all because we didn't expect it.  The kid didn't get touched and I scolded the dog harshly and put her in the hosue.

It seems WAY out of character to me.  That kid wasn't being aggressive at all.  Remember, she's only 2.    Is this considered normal for a lab?    Should I ignore it or do something?

[Cody Gruchow]

hmm thats a tough one, mine growls a my buddy and my stepdad, otherwise he is a big baby, but when he growls at him i tell him "NO!" and if he keeps it up he gets slapped on the snout. i dont think you can ignore it because now you know that she is aggressive towards little kids. maybe next time punish her, as much as i hate it, it still has to be done or they wont learn.

[Grute Man]

Yeah I got on her IMMEDIATLY.  Her tail was between her legs and she got a little more than a swat.  She KNEW she messed up.  Since then, I've held out on any rewards (treats) that they usually get.  The other dogs get them but not her.

It really scares me because how am I supposed to know/predict when it could happen again?  I never would have thought to be careful in that situation.  I guess from now on I have to watch her around any stranger and keep telling her "be nice."  She responds wll to that.

[Randy Kaar]

my black lab is very protective, we live on a corner
lot with a privacy fence and kids pound on the fence
to get the dog wound up. my youngest grand daughter,
21 months can do anything to the dog and he is very
tolerent of her.

randy aka bh

[Spinach]

I had a Wirehair a few years ago, the same thing happened to us. the dog was almost 1 years old and was in the neighbors yard. the neighbor had 2 tiny little poodles and my dogs were playing with them, the Wirehair was being a little rough so the neighbor stepped in the middle and tried to pick up one of the tiny dogs, my dog growled, barked and snapped at her. I felt terrible and gave the dog away the next day to a guy up north that lived on a farm.

I told him the entire story and he was still willing to take him, i asked him to keep in touch and if the dog showed any aggression or problems, that i would pick him up and take care of the problem. We kept in touch for about a year and everything was going great, then one day he called and said that Jack did the same thing to his 2-3 year old daughter, he gave the dog to someone in Mpls and the same thing happened to them right away. At that time it was no longer my problem, but i am very glad that i chose to either put the dog down or to give it away.

Whatever is happening with your lab, i suggest correcting it right away with a proffessional or you will more than likely regret something in the future.

Hard to do, but absolutely necessary.

[thunderpout]

Yeah, thats a tough situation, especially with an older dog... Its weird how an even tempered dog can be protective of a yard/house/car etc. at times ...its a tough call, and you definately dont want younger dogs learning bad habits from her.  Thats the bad side of having multiple dogs, the good of course being they pick up the good things from em also.

[The General]

You need to put that dog in a submissive position the instant it does that. 

[JackpineRob]

As strange as it may sound, I have noticed a number of times that dogs appear to feel much more threatened by / frightened of children than of adults.  Now I'm no doggie behavior expert, but I've seen it enough times to really do some pondering on the topic.

Maybe its because the kids are close enough in height to the dog, and the natural respect that it has learned from the owner (an adult) isn't necessarily transferring over to a strange kid.  Then again, you have the natural protective tendency of some pooches that you need to be extremely mindful of.

I had a lab years ago that was your typical loveable, slobbery buddy 99% of the time, and showed absolutely no fear of man or beast.  However, if he perceived a threat to himself, HIS humans or the family dwelling, it was Katy-bar-the-door. 

When Jr. was a little rug rat, just starting to crawl, a friend (stranger to the dog) was over for a visit and a little picnic.  We were all out in the yard at the picnic table, while I was feverishly working at the grill.  Jr. was crawling towards a pile of dog poo left by a neighbor mutt, and my friend quickly reached to pull Jr. away.  Bad move!  I heard the dog's rumble and intercepted him in mid-air, just inches from my friend.  The dog meant business, my buddy quickly hopped inside, I released the dog and he went immediately to Jr., laid next to him and put a paw over the kid, with his tail thumping the ground.

Those two were inseparable until the dog's death, and I never worried about Jr. or his sister when they were with the dog.  When a strange bull mastiff showed up one day in the yard, the dog put himself between the kids and gave clear warning.  When I came out of the house and the mastiff took in after me, the old dog took care of the problem in short order.  I was thankful he was there.

[Randy Kaar]

good post jackpine! i alway had german sheperds growing up
and them dogs were extremely protective of us kids.

randy aka bh

[Cody Gruchow]

same here i had a german shepard also when i was a kid and if he thought i was being hurt in anyway, there as trouble coming

[Grute Man]

Well yesterday she showed some control when a family walked by our yard with 2 dogs and she didn't even bark so I gave her some praise saying "Good Be Nice Good Be Nice..." 

Barkin at people aint so bad but I can't have her attackin people.     That was just too abrupt and vicious. 

[PJ Maguire]

My family has had a couple dogs that were excellent hunters but not really 'family' dogs. aka they didn't like kids or other dogs. The LAbs we have now love people and kids.

[tattguy12]

Our lab is also protective of the kids. She is the sweetest kindest dog that loves everybody. but if shes outside with the kids and she doesnt know you she goes stiff as a board hair up just like if there was a grouse or pheasant in front of her and wont leave the kids side. Luckily we usually dont have strangers in our area. I would put up a beware of dog sign just to be on the safe side. Those usually deter parents from letting there kids try to pet your dog in the territory there protecting.

[gveire]

Barking at people is not good!! you need to keep your dog calm not chase kids by the fence bark or anything aggressive. Control is key in the field and at home. yes it hard to catch them in the act when your not home and i know kids are mean to dogs on the other side of the fence but to have a good dog you need to work on Obedience they will know there place.

Well yesterday she showed some control when a family walked by our yard with 2 dogs and she didn't even bark so I gave her some praise saying "Good Be Nice Good Be Nice..." 

Barkin at people aint so bad but I can't have her attackin people.     That was just too abrupt and vicious. 

[NDGUY]

to much freedom not enough structure, doing obed. on a leash and make them listen will help alot and kenneling them or crating them to help with structure and not to seem to harsh but if you see it agian have a come to jesus meeting with-em but keep it a focused disipline an don't get mad! they need to to you and others. I see it very often and if it comes to the point were you need to get rid of them  please don't give someone else the problem

[Grute Man]

Well she's come a long way since the scary incident.  Just recently a family of ALL ages came over and I told Lucy -- " BE NICE!"  Not yelling but firmly and she was perfect.  I just petted her as they came in and she was just like you'd expect from a lab.  We still keep a close eye on her especially if there are very young kids around but I think she was surprised by the age of the kid on her first encounter.

Lucy for sure knows whos boss around here and never challenges me so I think she just got territorial when she saw a person unlike one she'd ever seen and "did her job" -- protected us.  Oooh thanks Lucy, that 2 year old nearly killed me.   

I won't take it for granted though and will keep telling her "be nice" and keep an eye on her around kids.

Thanks gveire and NDGUY for your advise. 
Grute (aka Don McGruder)

[HUNTER2]

Use a shock collar on the dog. They learn in a hurry. I just happen to have one on here for sale. I bought one you can use for 2 dogs because I have 2 dogs. They are totaly different when they have them on. They mind very good. It only take s a couple times of shocking and telling them no. They stay a lot closer hunting also.

[Grute Man]

I had one that was bark activated and all I have to do is show it to them.  They (2 big dogs and one little one) used to bark at every single car, biker, walker...that dared pass my property.  Once I put that on them, they learned fast.  That has almost stopped.  It used to be sooo bad I couldn't stand it but now its very infrequent.  This thing with the little kid is done.  We've had little kids over while I had my hand tightly clenching the lab's collar and telling her "be nice."  There isn't even a twinge in her body language at all.  She just hangs out with a little one like she will an adult.  I still keep a sharp eye on her and don't just let her wander if the little one is around but I really think she's over it.

I just wish there was a collar that made them happy when they heard a gun shot.  Between a Golden and a Chocolate, I still don't have a hunting dog.     

[finch]

my girlfriend's brother has a male yellow lab that is around 3 years old.  I've never been a fan of him, and a couple months ago, he snapped on one of our mini dachshunds and broke his jaw.  he has showed me and others nothing but aggression since day 1.  he listens to ben (his owner) and my girlfriend's dad.  that is all.  I am curious as to why he is so pissy, not trying to jack the thread or anything, just sharing my lack of love for 130lb male yellow labs :)

Andy

[Grute Man]

Well its been a while since my goof ball chocolate lab did go nuts on that little girl and she has not shown any aggressive behavior since then except for barking at other dogs that come up to our fence.  I truly love labs because they have great personalities but just like people, there are some bad ones.  Sorry to hear about your dachshund; I hope he/she is ok.  I'd say that a lab that is that unsocial may need "a shorter leash."  Has he been fixed? That calms many a dog down.  I don't think I'd want to breed him anyway with that agressivness in him.

[Cody Gruchow]

could of been raised playing rough or not around many people or other dogs. i was a little weary(sp) about mine when i brought him home in january not being around little kids at all or anything like that, but he does very well with them, even seen my little cousin pull his ear so hard that he yelped and i thought o man here we go a kid is gonna get bit, but he walked away from him came back licked him and layed down next to him. he has to behave like this or he dont stay in the house. only heard him bark 2 times when outside and both times were at robins lol. but he barks alot when he is in the kennel at the game farm when the other dogs do.

[finch]

he is almost always around people.  some older some younger.  the dachshund is OK,  a couple thousand dollars later.  I don't even bring up the subject though, because Jake is like a god to her brother.  and no, he hasn't been fixed.

[Wolfer1199]

I spent some time with a trainer in high school. One thng that always works with labs is putting them in a submissive position, if you have someone come to the fence and the dog freaks again. Throw her on her back and then have the person come onto your property and stand over her. Sounds lame, but it shows that you are the boss and you aren't allowing that behavior. Another option is a bark collar. I would normally say a training collar, but a bark collar would be ,ore beneficial because i would be more concerned about what she might do when i'm not around. Labs and dogs in general learn a lot form repition the collar would help stop barking and agressive behavior associated with barking regardless if your around or not. But i'll fore warn you that the first time you entice her to bark with the collar isn't pretty. Just stomach it and let her learn. Tough love.

[Grute Man]

We used to have a bark collar but it got -- ah hemm -- "lost."  She used to bark at EVERY SINGLE walker, biker, roller blader, car    well we have 2 other dogs and they were all 3 doing it so the collars went on.  That behavior did change so the collars came off but then some how disappeared.

She's been real good ever since then.  I did let her know immediatly that it was a big no no and she's never blinked an eye at a kid sicne then.