I am a new owner (about 1 month) of a 16 mo GSD German lines/Schutzhund parents that I purchased from a breeder. She was selected for me because she would get along w/ my small chi-mix dog and my roommates small dachshund mix dog. Breeder said she didn't have enough drive for a schutzhund breeding animal or competition. I was mainly looking for a companion to go around w/ me on the horse farm, to be a pet, and do some obedience and maybe learn about agility and some schutzhund, get some experience training GSD.

I've been spending time w/ her and she has adjusted well. Nice dog and has great potential for what I want in a pet dog.

I also own a chihuahua mix neutered male. I would like to get several more dogs. I have kennel space, 10 acres, and a stock pond. This past weekend, a relative called and said a black lab female who appeared to know some obedience commands had shown up on their ranch. She had no collar and had been there several days. They frequently got drop-offs from the highway. I went to see the dog and she was a really nice-looking, friendly female who looked like she had had puppies and probably wasn't spayed.

I brought her home and the first thing I noticed was her hackles rose as I walked her up to the house. Once inside, she immed. growled at my small dog. As I walked her up to my GSD in her kennel, my GSD started aggressively barking. The lab went straight towards her and if there hadn't been a fence they would have fought. That nite when I fed the lab in her own kennel, no dogs nearby, she growled while eating. She also tried to dig out of the kennel. I had a feeling she wouldn't work out.

Next day I took her for a walk in a prong collar and she did well in one-on-one. But as soon as I tried to introduce her to my GSD, the GSD just wanted to play (but too aggressive) and then the lab said that's enough and wanted to go after the GSD.

I spend time daily w/ my GSD on pack structure and obed. She always wears a drag line and I'm conditioning her to start using an electronic collar. I bought the dogs & horses dvd, e collar dvd, and pack structure dvd to watch and they've helped me a great deal. I realize now I was missing the dominant/aggressive dog DVD!

After seeing how the lab acted (I didn't even try introducing her to the dachshund as he is a little spoiled and doesn't know his size) I was sure I didn't want another dominant dog around. I felt like I had enough on my hands w/ my GSD and did not want a dominant aggressive stray to add to the pack. Especially not knowing her history. I also thought I could see a bit of pit-bull in her (musculature and face features). So the next day I called my relative and returned the dog.

However, this experience has raised some questions about my own dog. She obviously still needs more training. Was she correct in being aggressive (barking and pouncing up and down at her kennel) when she saw the dog coming? Was she being protective of our farm and me, or overly aggressive towards the other dog? She gets along with our 2 small male dogs, altho plays a little rough sometimes and I'm working on that.

I had hoped the lab would be a submissive type. She got along okay with my relatives 2 male neutered dogs - one a very submissive great pyrenese who ignored her and the other a jack russell terrier type that was just horny to her...

Or is it just normal for 2 dominant intact females to act aggressive towards each other? I'm planning on getting my GSD spayed asap. She went into heat before I could get her spayed...

thanks for any insight,

Donna
(previous owner of lab and great dane/rottweiler mix, trains horses, too).

Why do you think it's dominance?

have you considered the possibility that the lab might have been exhibiting some fear/uncertainty in new surroundings? i'm not an expert, but her hackling, the growling, and her other behaviours, i'd wonder about that. she probably had had a lot of change in a very short period of time, let alone trying to meet/get used to new dogs.

why do you think your GSD was barking aggressively/dominant-aggressively? how does she behave around other dogs/strange dogs in general?

Not sure what "it" you're asking about? how the dogs reacted to each other?

The GSD sometimes displays dominance by posturing over the other dogs. The lab was jumping on people and acted like she owned the place. She also postured. Wouldn't a submissive dog tuck tail, use different body language? and maybe still be aggressive thru fear?

My gut feeling said the lab was dominant aggressive and I didn't feel comfortable with her around my other dogs. More of a project than I wanted.

the lab seemed very confident, got along well with people. was running around w/ my relatives dogs. she jumped in the truck to go. My relative said she had jumped on the back of her 4-wheeler and sat there with her head on her shoulder.

She just didn't act like a typical lab - more like the lab from hell w/ some pit bull mixed in.

"why do you think your GSD was barking aggressively/dominant-aggressively? how does she behave around other dogs/strange dogs in general? "

I don't know, how LOUD it was?

She behaves playful with the other small dogs. She gets along okay with my neighbor's dog who is a lab/char-pei mix female. I've only had her a month and she hasn't met any other dogs. The breeder had 2 other females avail and said they were dog aggressive but this one wasn't. I think she knew when she saw the "lab" that the lab was an intruder that didn't belong.

i was just asking.....the more information you give, the more people (and those more experienced than me) will be able to help. i wasn't saying you were incorrect in your assessment of the gsd....just asking for more information.

heh, in my house, volume isn't a sign of aggression

"She just didn't act like a typical lab - more like the lab from hell w/ some pit bull mixed in."
Hiya!Sorry just wanted to mention that we have a lab and he is often noisy and agressive looking around strange dogs.but I think its because he is scared!!

 Quote: Tracey Rudwick

Hiya!Sorry just wanted to mention that we have a lab and he is often noisy and agressive looking around strange dogs.but I think its because he is scared!!

Yep. My Lab hackles and growls and acts like hell on wheels. It's baloney. He's really a big wuss.

Your GSD was reading the lab's body language. She could see that the other dog was "walking in like she owned the place". I'll bet that is why she reacted the way she did. It does not mean you GSD is dog aggressive, just that she probably doesn't put up with certain things. I have a dog like this. (Only he doesn't get along with small dogs)