Last night my husband and I were laying on the bed ticking each other off, when my husband playfully jumped on me and started tickling me. I was screaming and before I knew what was happening Levi and Bandit (my male lab) were bedside watching what was up. They just looked curious about what was going on. So I'm laughing and screaming and next thing I know Levi starts growling and starts biting my labs face. We stopped right away and so did he. After that, he didn't stop watching my husband for quite some time and made sure to stay right up next to the bed close to me, which he doesn't usually do, he has a spot he likes to lay at the foot of the bed. Was this misplaced aggression? Did he really want to bite on my hubby but didn't know what else to do but bite my lab? How should I have handled this? Is this a good sign for future protection work or a bad one?

No opinions on this one?? Did I ask too many questions in one post again? Gosh darn it! One of these days I'll get it right

 Quote: RobbinMann

Was this misplaced aggression?

Did he really want to bite on my hubby but didn't know what else to do but bite my lab?
How should I have handled this?
Is this a good sign for future protection work or a bad one?

Sounds like redirection to me....my Mal used to do this....if her and the Bloodhound were together in the big day run and someone pulled in or the cats were out there, she would get all worked up and then tag the hound if he got too close.

I quit putting them together after that unless I am out there with them.

I would say, don't wrestle unless Levi is not around. If he figures out what you are going to train him for, your hubby may end up with stitches.

My hubby and I cannot wrestle in front of my dogs as they go after him and I do not train for protection. The Dutch will do what Levi does except he grabs a toy, then spits it and grabs Dougs shirt or pant leg....sooooo we don't do it in front of them.

Since I am new to the protection aspect, I won't venture to answer the last question. But it will am interested in the answer.

LOL, thanks for the answer Carol There is no doubt in my husbands and my mind what happened. Afterwards, I looked at my hubby and said, "Considering we are training for protection, we probably shouldn't play like that anymore." LOL! He just got this serious look on his face and said. "I couldn't agree with you more!" Funny thing, the previous trainer I was working with told me a story about one of the dogs that he trained in Scottsdale. I guess the dog was owned by an Asian couple that wanted the dog for home protection, as he was working alot and she was home alone in a high dollar area. He said the guy called him asking him if he knew anyone who might want to buy the dog and he was astounded and asked him why. The man said last night my wife and I were in the bedroom (you are welcome to use your own imagination here, apparently the wife was quite verbal) and the dog bit him twice in the butt. He ended up with many stiches and wanted to get rid of the dog! The trainer explained that the dog was protecting his wife as she thought she was in a stressful situation, LOL! The man ended up keeping the dog and locking him out of the room, ever after.

This is interesting and has come up before on this site.

My dog is not trained for protection (obviously!), nor is he from a breed bred for protection, and yet there can be no wrestling here either! Even a hug with a twirl will cause my dog to get worked up.

Though he has been taught not to bite skin, I can't ignore that he has been trained to tug/rag. He runs and jumps up on us (he never jumps up except in his pre-work gin up), he will even growl. He doesn't bite, but tries to latch on to some clothing a sleeve or something. If there is a toy or something to put in his mouth he will do that too on his own accord.

Though he is my dog he is not too particular about who he targets. I find that interesting since he definatly knows who's dog he is and would follow me to the ends of the earth over my husband. I find juming up on me "misplaced aggression" LOL I mean who feeds you little doggy !! Makes me think it is more prey drive related than protection related.

My sister's Malinois X is the same. No wrestling matches.

My gut tells me this is common amongst high drive dogs of all breeds. List???? Obviously I can't tell you what it means for protection work either.

Just out of curiosity, how old is Levi? Has he been exsposed to this situation before and had no reaction?

-Rob

Levi is 10 months and has never before been exposed to this. This was the first time.

He is the same age as my pup. I have not had these issues yet, but he could start to be developing a little defense. If he is crate trained and you have one in your bedroom, it would be interesting to see what his reaction would be in the crate....

-Rob

 Quote: jennifer coulter

Makes me think it is more prey drive related than protection related.

I agree Jennifer, or maybe even more of a pack drive. My dog also gets worked up if I am tickling, hugging and laughing with the family. He'll come running over in a prance, jump up if we are doing a group hug and will make his Roo, Roo, Rooooooooh happy howling sound. If there is something of his on the ground, he'll pick it up and give it the death shake but it has never struck me as aggressive. Also, I can give him a command and he obeys....sometimes he gets too loud so I'll tell him to go to his bed and he complies, no problem. I always felt it was enjoyment of the "pack" at play.

On the other hand, if members of the family are actually arguing, he stays on his bed. He has no interest in getting involved in that. And if the argument is between my husband and me he leaves the immediate area (smart dog )

Robbin was your Lab hurt by the biting or might it have been play biting/mouthing? And how do your dogs react to an actual argument within the family? JMO but I do think they know the difference between a fight and play.

I would agree with this, although with my dogs, they target Doug so that leads me to think protection.

If they were not targeting specifically I would lean towards prey or pack.......but then again, why take a chance on it?