Hi
To my opinion it is neither fear or aggression for this 51/2months pup. When he is in the kennel,seeing people comes by his balk is hey friends let me out please I'm bore inside. Correct me if I'm wrong. Is nice to be in this forum. Learn until you die, teach the dog until depart.

It's definitely fear aggression. A competent kennel staff could have handled it.

so, since we have decided that my dog was simply scared, and most likely would NOT have harmed the staff, what can I do? Should i expect to find a friend to watch her every time i have to travel? Or in time will she learn to be away from us and act civilized? I just want to know if she's going to attack someone if I leave her, or what the deal is. If this was your dog, wouldn't you be a little nervous about taking her somewhere and leaving her again?

My friend said that she would not trust my dog alone, say, if she escaped and ran down the street, she thinks the dog might attack someone if cornered or approached. I don't think so, but what do you all think?
thanks for your help!
Lisa <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

even if your dog did bite someone at this age, we are not looking at any real damage... well, unless she bit me... she wouldn't do it again...

You should look into taking her to a trainer, call your vet and see who they recommend for behavioral issues. If it means driving past 4 other places that are cheaper, drive on.

Same thing goes with the boarding. I don't board at the closest kennel... not because I have behavioral problems, but because I am picky as snot about where my dogs are staying and how clean the kennel is....

I've only had to board my dogs one time and a looked hard because my JRT can be a fear biter with unfamiliar people. I explained this to each kennel I visited. Some said no. I can respect that. The one I decided on, and not just because of my JRT, worked out great. When I came back a day earlier(I planned it that way)The kennel attendant was in the run playing with the nasty little beast, and haing a ball. One of the ways I picked the kennel was to make uninvited visits to the different kennels. You'd be supprised at how some of the big name kennels work if they don't expect you. If they refused to let me come in, I didn't go in, EVER.

Lisa B,
Fearful dogs can be unpredictable. I don't think anyone here is saying that she wouldn't have hurt anyone. We don't know that. We can generalize and say that most fearful dogs will choose to run away rather than attack, but in a kennel, the option to run away does not exist.
You need to shop around carefully for a good boarding kennel, and there are many things to look for. Cleanliness, staffing, security, what the exercise area is like (clean, secure, etc.), are they willing to feed your particular food, how many times a day do they exercise the dogs, can you visit ahead of time unannounced during their regular business hours, and much more.

If your dog were to escape and run down the street she would most likely not attack anyone. The dog is fearful so she would flee or just keep her distance from strangers. Like L. Swanston said, in a kennel the flee option isn't there so a bite is much more likely.

The dog is only 5 1/2 months old, I don't think aggression is a good term. The dog won't have the maturity to back anything up.

This just isn't the picture of a confident no worries dog. The dog freaked out in the kennel, the dog is a little afraid. That is what dogs do when they are afraid. I doubt that your dog is a FEAR BITER. Not a big deal you just have to adjust your training accordingly.

The dog sounds like most of the pets in America, IMO. Do some extra socialization and don't go back to that lame kennel.

Barking and lunging at staff in the kennel at 5 1/2 months and your own friend who I assume knows your dog thinks it would bite? I am not in the majority here, and not a trainer, but I do assess dogs fairly regularly - I see fear aggresion and I do not think it is a problem with the kennel. Just my non trainer opinion. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Where did you get your dog and how was the dog socialized up to this point? This is an issue I often see as a MAJOR problem with young dogs.

I got the dog when she was 3 months old. She was not socialized to other humans much before we got her. she has NO problems with other dogs, in fact she is usually the best behaved dog at doggie school when we are there. she will shy away from an adult, sometimes even a child, if they approach her. she will approach them though, and sniff. then i usually tell her to shake hands, and after that the person can pet her face a little. but if someone reaches for her, she backs away. sometimes i get a little irritated with that and stand behind her so she can't back up. usually she warms up to someone rather quickly, and if she has met them once, she will remember them the next time. this has taken us about 2-3 months to establish. when we first got her, she really could not be approached by strangers. so, from what i have read, it's weak nerves. she barks at sounds, and people she does not know, which is what i want her to do.

her mother was a housepet who has to be crated when visitors come over, but her father was a police dog.

the other problem i think is that she has one blue eye and one brown eye, so people naturally stare into her eyes. i think this adds to her nervousness.