I posted recently about being asked to loan one of my dogs out to help a friend:
http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=32569

The lady owner has the breed as myself,a neapolitan mastiff male.She has taken him regularly to obedience classes and only having met the dog a few times seems to be obedient.The owner tells me that one in twenty encounters with strangers the dog exhibits agression,he has never bitten anybody.He is not dog agressive in any way. When I took my young female along to where he lived I also took my older female with me.We were all able to enter the home where he lives indoors with no issues at all infact my two girls seemed to take over with no resistance.When I sat on the sofar the male dog did try and jump on the sofar next to me but I simply pushed him away and he simply complied and lay on the floor .I only spent a short time with the male dog but he happily lay on his back and allowed me to rub his tummy.I know the lady owner is not one to exggerate but I did find hard to believe that this dog was prone to showing ocaisional agression towards strangers.Because she shows the dogs it is hard to avoid the often inappropriate attention of people in the often large crowds of people at shows.My first thoughts are that the dog is fine and that he may be picking up the wrong signals down the lead by the owner.She continues to take the dog to obedience classes and is ,in my opinion,a good and responsible dog owner and wants to sort the problem.I don't think it is a dominance issue as he gave up his position too easily to both my females in his own house.
Any insights into what could be going on here?

You are the last person that should be giving anyone training advise. In fact the thought of that seriously worries me.

 Quote: andrew harris

... Any insights into what could be going on here?

The owner of the dogs should join the board and post her questions.

I hope she does. I know she will get help. I hope that you encourage her to do so.

To walk into another dog's house with a strange dog(s) is an invite for disaster. It has nothing to do with dog aggression in that instance and you lucked out.
What your trying to do takes a ton of experience reading dogs, working with dogs, training dogs.
I can only say again that you were lucky.
PLEASE have the lady join LB!!!!

 Quote:

When I took my young female along to where he lived I also took my older female with me.We were all able to enter the home where he lives indoors with no issues at all infact my two girls seemed to take over with no resistance.

Ahh, twice as good! You took two bitches to beat him down in his own home! Did I ever thank you for living on a different continent?

 Quote: Bob Scott

What your trying to do takes a ton of experience reading dogs, working with dogs, training dogs.

There are several long term posters on this board who have gotten very good at guessing from written descriptions. She could get a lot of help by joining the board and posting an example of a specific encounter or two where he showed aggression. Even the most well meaning person is going to forget or misinterpret some details when a situation is related second hand.

Andrew,

I reviewed your 'about me' notes, and I'm confused. You seem to genuinely want to discuss training issues while at the same time not, apparently, seriously considering any of the recommendations made by very seasoned dog folks.

I can not imagine a less responsible action than to expose one of your dogs, forget two, to the possibility, repeated for emphasis 'the possibility' of an aggressive dog. Incredible. On what planet is such a 'training' or 'dog assessment' approach used?

If you live for your dogs, how could you occasion your dogs to such a situation?

Andrew, I followed your predecessor thread. Have you not sensed a level of frustration on the part of those who have responded to your posts?

You asked for insights. Well, one might be to leave your dogs home when you are helping some one assess an aggressive dog. Another might be to seriously consider some of the opinions of the seasoned posters who have responded to you. Yet another might be to think about the possibility that you are, perhaps, not fully competent to help others with their dog issues.

Perhaps one more insight. It is possible, given the opinions, recommendations, observations, et al offered by a number of the seasoned and experienced dog people who took the time to respond to you, that you really are simply and blissfully unwilling to reflect on your own short comings.

I wish you luck Andrew. You could hedge your luck by seriously considering the commentary you have received and received and received.

I think with all this luck I have been told about by the many "experts " on here I should be winning the lottery lol.I will happily post the weblink of the lady trainer that came to my house to meet the dogs and I in order to help train us both but dont want to be seen o advertise on here.What I will say about her she is a fully qualified and certificated trainer and judge in obedience and working tials and an owner and breeder of german sheperds.Being an accountant I am appreciative of formal qualifications gained in a field one wants to call themselves "experts".When I reveiw profiles of some posters here giving advice I note the lack of the latter that may be because they just have not got round to adding the information or perhaps they just do not have the formal qualifications.

You may argue that why do I join such a forum,Well I was interested to get input from individuals that are fanatical about dog training;indeed it was such input that made me seek a trainer and the type of trainer that would be of most benefit.I believe I found the best suited type of trainer to suit the requirements so many on here highlighted and one that was not only understanding and competent but highly qualified.

When it comes to appropriate replies and exacting comments and or advice being posted I am sure all reputable and qualified trainers will agree it is not possible to give 100% accurate advice based on written words or even short video clips,this can only be done when actually meeting the dog/s and their owner within their own enviroment and only a flavour of perception can be taken from poster's posts and the replies from posters given in response to them.

Something that is difficult to have a sense of no matter the eloquence of posts and associated video clips is the bond that exists between a dog/s and their owner/s and this is something I beleive is of great importance and relevance.The closer and intense bonding that is possible between owners and their dogs is one of the reasons people love to own dogs and it is the thi bonding that allows for smother and easier training but I believe i is why there is little luck in the outcomes of situations my dogs are placed in by me .

The lady I mention in the begin of this topic has seen the special bond I have with my dogs and the mutual trust and expectaion of behaviour clearly apparant as did the trainer that came to see me and is why I was asked for the loan of one of my dogs and please be aware this lady does attend formal obedience training classes with her dog.

While I may not be as adept as many here in reading dogs body language I do have an intangible sense of any situation my dogs are in and their likely reactions to them and tho they have not undergone the regimented training many others have ,it is that hard to put into words bond between us that allows mutual communication.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u165/bosscat69/DISCOVERY%20DOGS%20CRUFTS%202013/Image0282_zpsd661a3b0.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u165/bosscat69/DISCOVERY%20DOGS%20CRUFTS%202013/Image0280_zps9809a4bd.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u165/bosscat69/DISCOVERY%20DOGS%20CRUFTS%202013/Image0279_zpsb7395343.jpg

Some more pics of more lucky off leash moments from our time on the breed stand at Crufts this year

Good afternoon Andrew,

A beautiful if chilly day here.

I would never use one of my dogs in an evaluation of the aggressiveness of another person's dog. Short. Simple.

In a nutshell, that is what I thought you described. If I have misunderstand your posts, Mea culpa.

If you described a situation where, cutting to the chase, you were asked to use your dog or dogs to assist in the evaluation of the aggressiveness of another person's dog, and you agreed to do so, under the conditions you described, I would again assert that such a course of action is not and was not wise.

But that's just me. And I may have completely misunderstood your posts, misinterpreted your representations, judged inaccurately your intentions, and in a fit of knee jerk reaction responded boorishly. If that is the case, I should be, deservedly, criticized. And I note again, mea culpa.

But if not

 Quote: andrew harris

I think with all this luck I have been told about by the many "experts " on here I should be winning the lottery lol.

Being an accountant I am appreciative of formal qualifications gained in a field one wants to call themselves "experts".When I reveiw profiles of some posters here giving advice I note the lack of the latter that may be because they just have not got round to adding the information or perhaps they just do not have the formal qualifications.

You may argue that why do I join such a forum,Well I was interested to get input from individuals that are fanatical about dog training;indeed it was such input that made me seek a trainer and the type of trainer that would be of most benefit.I believe I found the best suited type of trainer to suit the requirements so many on here highlighted and one that was not only understanding and competent but highly qualified.

This is not a forum of professional trainers, but merely experienced (in some cases, very experienced) dog owners and handlers. I don't recall anyone telling you that they were an expert.

As you said, YOU came here.

As you said, most of us advised you to find a professional trainer.

So why would you come here criticizing the absence of what you consider proper credentials?