Any dog behavior experts here??

[barryrules]

I' ve got a lab mix dog that has some aggression issues towards our other male lab. He will attack him totally unprovoked - like tonight our black lab was just sitting in the dog chair and out of nowhere Ranger walked across the floor jumped up in the chair and attacked him. The fight went on for a while and much to my surpise Ranger got the raw end of the deal. They are both calm now and sleeping.

But does anyone have ideas on what can be done to prevent the unproked aggression or what might cause it? He never goes after our girl dogs and with people he is an absolute sweetheart. He's currently about 4-1/2 years old and we've had him since he was a puppy (he did have distemper when we first got him).

[JimBob]

He never goes after our girl dogs

Dr. Phil Bob here. Boomer sooner, he's as ghay as the floating ponies.

Beat him gently with a newspaper; then show him a self-help DVD: Happiness Through Self-Licking.

[barryrules]

I can't believe I didn't think of the gay angle!! I knew I could count on good 'ole Dr. Jimbob to solve my problem! :D

(actually having the black lab tear him a new one may have worked, as this morning Ranger seems to want to stay away from him)

[Landscapepoke]

We have two labs. Brother and sister from the same litter. If we take them to the lake to swim, something clicks in BOTH of them, and its like they have to kill each other when they get near water. So we have to take them one at a time.

I would suggest rent a shock collar for the one who is doing the attacking, and when he does, give him a good zap.


Happiness Through Self-Licking.
That is hilarious Bob

[MemphisPoke]

Is the attacker younger than the atackee? If so it may just be a case of the young trying to establish the pecking order. As in who is the Alpha Male.

Pretty common in canines to see this type of behavior. What to do about it I am not sure. In the wild they seem to work it out on their own. In the house it really becomes something you don't want happening everyday.

[legelegel]

Put the knife to the aggressor. That should cut down on some of his testosterone.

[SeaOfOrange]

Put the knife to the aggressor. That should cut down on some of his testosterone.

I was going to suggest that very thing.

[barryrules]

Aggressor is 4 years younger and was already neutered when we got him from the pound as a puppy. I don't think it's a dominance thing since we've had him for close to 5 years now and the black lab was here long before he was and is not a dominate dog.

We talked about the shock collar thing but don't know if that would just piss him off more and make the attack worse. While I'm off work over the holidays I plan to take him to the vet to make sure there is no underlying medical cause (after reading online it could be a few things).

[legelegel]

Aggressor is 4 years younger and was already neutered when we got him from the pound as a puppy. I don't think it's a dominance thing since we've had him for close to 5 years now and the black lab was here long before he was and is not a dominate dog.

We talked about the shock collar thing but don't know if that would just piss him off more and make the attack worse. While I'm off work over the holidays I plan to take him to the vet to make sure there is no underlying medical cause (after reading online it could be a few things).

That does not sound good.

I hope for the best for your dog and you.

[PokesFanatic]

barryrules,

My dad always had both labs and rottweilers when I was growing up and he used shock collars on both breeds (a couple of generations of each) with no ill effects. In fact, it turned them into awesome dogs.

If your vet clears your dog of other possible causes, give the collar a try if the situation continues.

[Erick]

I have a similar problem.

I have two dogs, one and very old blue heeler (Gal) and a 3 year old Lab (Iba). I have had Gal since I was a junior in high school and she is a perfect dog. Iba, on the other hand was raised by me and my dear wife. Since gal is pretty old, she sleeps most of the time, and Iba is more social around the house. If Gal even makes an attempt to come into the living room, Iba goes nuts. It's become a territorial thing. I can just say Gal's name while I am in the living room and instantly Iba turns her head towards that part of the house.

I've used a shock collar on her when the fighting was bad. It worked too. At first the first few levels didn't phases her, but after hitting her with a bigger jolt, she stopped. The problem that I had, was that now, Gal thought she had super powers and use electricity as means for defense. So now, she doesn't back down. If I still had the collar I would have kept it on her, but I don't have it any more.

I think the way to solve the problem is to remind the dog that it is not his territory, sometimes I alternate letting one in the living room and the other outside.

[legelegel]

I have a similar problem.

I have two dogs, one and very old blue heeler (Gal) and a 3 year old Lab (Iba). I have had Gal since I was a junior in high school and she is a perfect dog. Iba, on the other hand was raised by me and my dear wife. Since gal is pretty old, she sleeps most of the time, and Iba is more social around the house. If Gal even makes an attempt to come into the living room, Iba goes nuts. It's become a territorial thing. I can just say Gal's name while I am in the living room and instantly Iba turns her head towards that part of the house.

I've used a shock collar on her when the fighting was bad. It worked too. At first the first few levels didn't phases her, but after hitting her with a bigger jolt, she stopped. The problem that I had, was that now, Gal thought she had super powers and use electricity as means for defense. So now, she doesn't back down. If I still had the collar I would have kept it on her, but I don't have it any more.

I think the way to solve the problem is to remind the dog that it is not his territory, sometimes I alternate letting one in the living room and the other outside.

:)

[RedDirtCowboy]

Try making the sound "cht" when he shows aggression. If that doesn't work lay him on his back in a submissive position and let the black lab smell his butt. Also invest in some funky looking roller blades and borrow about 7 more dogs and let them pull you up and down your street.

I am not a dog behavior expert but I did watch the dog whisperer last night.

[Verb]

Try making the sound "cht" when he shows aggression. If that doesn't work lay him on his back in a submissive position and let the black lab smell his butt. Also invest in some funky looking roller blades and borrow about 7 more dogs and let them pull you up and down your street.

I am not a dog behavior expert but I did watch the dog whisperer last night.

Hahaha!