Dog on dog aggression in Labs

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Ranyhyn

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I am sure I have noticed a marked rise in the occurences of Labradors being aggressive to other dogs. What do you think?

I could name somewhere in the region of 10 incidents where I have met aggressive dogs, more than half were Labradors. Which for me is almost unheard of - having had a Lab x and straight Labs in the family for over 40 years, we haven't once had one that had a penchant for fighting.

I wonder if it's a sign of the times, more people want dogs - they think of a stereotypical family breed and then don't bother socialising it properly? Or is there a new strain in the breed?

Thoughts at all?
 
Can't say I've ever seen or met an agressive labrador, hence why they're my favourite breed. I've had several over the years and they've all been the most loyal, perfect pets and were all fabulous with my children.
 
Well that's exactly what my personal experience has been, but out dog walking near us there are a lot of muzzled labs and gobby labs. Whereas own own labs were all totally ambivalent to other dogs.
 
In the '70s, I used a very good and young Open Stake winner on a beautifully bred bitch of mine.

I kept 2 bitch pups back for myself, one to be sold on later, and the rest I sold to good working homes. I don't remember how many puppies I had, but certainly 3 of the dog pups were sold, 2 to local 'keepers and one to a local and experienced trainer. All three of them turned out to be aggressive with other dogs. It then transpired that so was the stud dog which I used, and his sire before him.

The bitches which I retained were as their mother, and were delightful.

As with nervous dogs, all so often it's put down to bad handling as puppies, but all so often it can be passed on through genes, I feel certain.

Alec.
 
I think both of you are right, many perfectly canines of what ever breed are not socialised correctly, but there are the old few who hit the ground as aggresive. I recently read on another forum about the experience a breeder had with one of her litters. In one litter she breed on of the pups was agressive from the moment it opened it's eyes. The breeder knew both the bitch and stud, and all the other pups in the litter were absolutely fine. As it happens she kept said pup and with good handling became a credit to her, but had it gone to another home goodness knows how long the poor thing would have lasted.
I think you underestimate the labs, my Dad's uncle had a lab who was the softest thing going, till you tried to enter the works yard after closing time, the it would give any guard dog a run for it's money. It had not been trained as a guard dog but as the family pet, he just knew when to do the guarding bit.
Aren't these "furkids" wonderful
 
It was a lab that took a chunk out of Henry. They are my favourite breed though (after spaniels of course;)) I think people take their good temperaments for granted sometimes and maybe don't put as much work into socialisation etc as they need to?

Dort, our family dog was a lab and he was soft as butter - unless he was guarding his family from harm. I remember once a nasty dog had a go at Barney and he just backed right down - then it came for us kids. Barney sent it back with its tail between its legs in no time, it never even got near us:)
 
By far the most aggressive dogs i have met here have been labs and goldens.

They are being mass produced and over bred for a quick buck with no consideration for temperament, conformation or health.
 
I've never met an out and out aggressive one yet but plenty of rude, bargy ones. I think all the above posters have made valid comments, in that people take their good nature for granted then don't bother putting any work in and like Katielou said, they are being churned out at a shocking rate where I live, particularly choclolate$.
 
Agree with what has been said by others above - some genetic and some bad handling/rearing :o

My Max, as a few on here can confirm is as daft as a brush with other dogs and people if anything is a little timid:o

However if you ask the carpenter he trapped in my porch, the census lady and any other strangers that come to the house in my absence - including the builder who has 3 mahoosive GSD guard dogs:rolleyes: they will not come through the gate;):D:D
 
He should have done, Henry was making off with one of his bones:o

He's just obviously very good at recognising upstanding pillar of society types like me:D
 
IMO, it's a numbers game - haven't labs got the highest number of KC regs per annum? And as KL says, people take their assumed good nature for granted.

Over a number of years, I've seen many more then you would expect that are nervous, illnatured and of course you have to take into account the physical problems that a lot of them have - if a dog is sore it is not going to have the sunniest temperment!
 
Interesting.....

I do think people take their "nature" for granted. I think it means they are more likely to be left in daft situations, such as alone with a child that you simply would not do with other breeds.

My SIL who is dutch told me a story about a Lab in Holland who had bitten a kid, in his own home- it was "his" kid, and so was put to sleep. Now this was just one bite- yes it broke the skin, but the dog did not maul the child.

It was not until after that the vet noticed the dog had not one but 10 staples in its ear- so the dog had tolerated 9 out of the ten staples before telling said kid what for.

personally I would have had the kid put down, but apparently that is not the done thing....
 
katielou said:
By far the most aggressive dogs i have met here have been labs and goldens.

They are being mass produced and over bred for a quick buck with no consideration for temperament, conformation or health.
Click to expand...

Same here - ok the ones we get for boarding are often the ones that the owners don't want to take on holiday or friends won't look after but some have been downright dangerous.
People often chose these breeds because they have a reputation for being easy - often they are not.

lexiedhb - on a similar note I know of a rough collie PTS in similar circumstances.
Vet actually let the breeder know - who asked if a necropsy could be done. Owner was in no state to give permission so vet took an x-ray to look for brain tumours etc. Found a pencil stub down the dog's ear canal.
 
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