Unexpected gift

[doorman]

This was an unexpected turn of events. About a year ago we adopted a rescue dog as a second dog. Pooch is about 2 years old and get's along with our first dog, two year old Golden Retriever. This dog is a mutt but mostly yellow lab. Anyway we bring him into the family pack and he gets along with everyone. It turns out he is quite aggressive with strangers and other dogs. I keep him on a tight leash when we walk and over the last several months my situational awareness has jumped tremendously. Because he wants to rip the throat out of what he sees as a threat I have my head on a swivel to avoid these confrontations.

I don’t know his history as to why he is like this but I am working with a trainer to get him over this behavior. Progress is slow but is being made.

The benefit to me, if you will, is that this awareness of what is going on around me is now all of the time whether I am walking him or not, so much so that my wife even made note.

I gave him the gift of a good home and he gave me the gift of being aware.

RU

 

[esheato]

Truly mans best friend in this case.....congrats on a great family addition.

 

[docnyt]

Everybody should have a dog like that.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

Sounds like a great dog, for now I'll just have to stick with my attack Bostons

 

[Skribs]

I have a dog that takes 4 hours to notice that we have people working on our plumbing. Literally. Sounds like you're lucky on that one.

 

[spazzymcgee]

I've got a dog that's urinated on almost every soft object in my home. At least carpet cleaner is as expensive as .45LC ammo.

 

[rfwobbly]

We keep aggressive "watch cats" at our place. I can always tell when there's an intruder. One of them will run up and flop over for a belly rub. The intruder runs the risk of being licked to death.

 

[Coyote3855]

Had a rescue Rotweiller who taught me about boundaries and personal space. She was totally not interested in people or other dogs unless they got close. She then gave very clear signals that she did not want to be toucher or her space encroached. She never bit or growled. Totally oblivious people would come up and ask to pet her. "Ah, can't you read her body language? And no, you can't."

We also have a watch cat that growls at strangers. Go figure.

 

[armoredman]

Goldens are great, we have Clifford, the Big Red Dog. VERY protective!

 

[pitsmile]

Protective is good. I had a pit rescue (and have been around many) - the best breed IMO -very personable with people, but not so much with other dogs. It is the natural instinct of a dog (most) to be on their [strike]toes[/strike] paws around other animals. Evolution has prepared them to be defensive - bred dogs can lose that tendency, depending on how long the breeding goes back.

Please rescue - so many dogs are put down everyday, why buy one, and put money in someone's pocket, when you can save a life?

 

[Old krow]

Good for you doorman. One of ours is a rescue that my g/f just HAD to have. She was extremely lethargic, had heart worms in a bad way, and a little less than 2 years old. After treatment and about 8 months she's all better. As it turned out she one of the best dogs that I have ever owned. She's not overly aggressive, but she is very protective. She outweighs my g/f by 30 lbs so she feels that it her duty to protect her.

 

[lloveless]

I too have a rescue dog (a kuvaz). Believe me it costs to get a rescue dog. Ours came with some very bad habits(he has bitten me 15 times)he developed because of abusive humans and other dogs. Cesar Milan(the dog whisperer) states dogs need 3 things in their life and in this order. Excercise, discipline, and then affection. By applying these principles my dawg has become not only manageable, but a joy to be with. I enjoy our walks(so does he).
ll

 

[ActionJax]

Cesar rules......

 

[JoeMal]

Cesar Milan(the dog whisperer) states dogs need 3 things in their life and in this order. Excercise, discipline, and then affection. By applying these principles my dawg has become not only manageable, but a joy to be with. I enjoy our walks(so does he).

Cesar rules......

It's funny, people joke about Cesar and I've even heard people running their mouth about him

But his methods work.

My American Bulldog is a great dog. He's fine in the house, fine with other dogs. And for some reason, he knows just the right times to act up..... And I love him for it. If we are out on a walk and someone is coming up behind us, he will turn around and tell me that someone is coming so I know. If someone is at our front door, I know about it. His energy and presence tell me when something is not right when I cannot see it or feel it for myself.

Glad to hear things are working out for your dog. Sometimes that added protection isn't a bad thing.

 

[armoredman]

All of our animals are rescues, love them all.