Reading all this has to make me wander. My AB has shown aggressiveness to visitors tour house in particularly some of my 17yr sons friends. The works are a set of twins brother and sister. I never liked the boy fore some reason I never trusted him., when ever he comes over while I’m at work my wife tells me that our dog is aggressive towards him. I have never witnessed this. About a month ago the sister was over, I thought she had left so I got the dog out and took her in the house, at which point the sister had returned for a sec and the dog went at here I gave her a level 10 correction and she calmed down but still growled at the sister till she left. Makes me wander if my thoughts on the brother are right. Don’t get me wrong he is a good kid and I have had no problems with him and he is always respectful. So I cant tell you why I don’t like him just a feeling I get from him. ??????
One for sure is that its not meet adding to the problem since I’m not home when she goes after the brother and my wife like s the kid.

 Quote:

Originally Posted By: Jennifer Coulter

I would also not leave a hard dog capable of an aggressive reaction tied up outside a store. Just in case someone poorly educated about dogs with a bad character might try to pet it..it only takes a second...
JMHO.


Scott wrote:
Jennifer, I understand what you mean and if Marcus was a Golden Retriever or a Dalmatian or something I would be more worried.

 Quote:

The thing is he is not an approachable looking dog, he will not wag his tail or show any sign that you are in front of him at all besides the fact that he will be staring directly at you.

His very alert look is quite intimidating, add to that his size and the jet black color of his coat and even the most ardent dog aficionado will think twice before approaching him.

Trust me, most people will be disuaded as you say. Not everyone will be. You don't even want to know what I have seen people do, even with "scary looking dogs".

You could do a quick search on this site about people petting a dog without permission. I agree with you it is more prevelent with fluffy dogs, but the intimidating looking dogs are not immune to unwanted attention.

 Quote:

I have in fact had people wait until I returned to him to ask if they could approach him, one of whom was actually an off duty State Police K-9 officer.

These are educated dog people. Obviously an K9 officer would not pet your dog without asking. If everyone was educated like them, there would be a lot less dog/people conflict out there.

 Quote:

as far as any passersby be concerned he might as well be a jolly happy go lucky Lab.

This kind of goes against what you just said above? Maybe you mean that is his his personality, but his look is still not inviting?

 Quote:

Also being "hard" does not mean he has a tendency to be aggressive, it means that he can take a correction that would send most dogs into severe avoidance and not be bothered by it in the least, the biggest issue with being a "hard" dog is it can be difficult to dissuade him from something once he is in drive and has his mind set.

Hey, I know what hard means! My thinking was on the very off chance (I underestand we are talking remote possibility) that this woman walks by, or someone else that has the same smell, or someone that does something idiotic to your dog, your dog COULD have an agressive reaction. (So could ANY dog) I did not mean your dog was "aggressive". The hardness thing comes in in that once your dog is being agressive, it may be hard to stop the behavior. Especially if you are in the store. Your own words:

 Quote:

the biggest issue with being a "hard" dog is it can be difficult to dissuade him from something once he is in drive and has his mind set.

If the guy with the Golden Retreiver tied up outside goes for someone when he is tied up, the guy could probably yell "NO" and kick the dog and the dog would stop the agressive behavior. I got the idea from your description that this would not be the case with your dog. You talked about needing some large corrections to stop the unwanted behavior with the strage woman and you where there at the exact moment it started.

Though the chance of your dog being agressive are small, the concequences could be big.

I am not big on people who tie their dogs up and leave them unattended. No matter the breed or agression level. Too many dumb people around.


As I stated in my post, it is only my opinion. I understand it may not be a MAJORITY opinon. You know best for your dog, and your comfort level. Just someting to think about.

Cheers,

Scott,
You, the board users, or I have no idea why your dog doesn't like this woman. She may be creepy to you, she may have mental problems, or high on any number of things, but what ever her story is does not negate the fact your dog goes stupid at the sight of her. Add to the fact she, you, and the dog seem to show up in the same place often enough for it to be a concern. If something happens to this woman while you are in the store; the store owners as well as your self are going to be on very soft legal ground, no matter what the woman is or is not on.
She would be the innocent passer by.
I have, I'm sure like a lot of people here, a natural rapport with dogs (have done my whole life) seemingly every dog in world likes me, don't know why but the point is; once in a while one will come into view that will want a piece of me, the last one was a Great Dane that the owner assured me afterwards likes everybody, humf, go figure. YOU JUST DON"T KNOW WHAT SETS THEM OFF.. And it doesn't really matter, you the owner of the dog are responsible for the dogs unprovoked actions.
Tieing a dog outside of a store unattended for any lenght of is time is ill advised no matter the breed, no matter the training, no matter the confidence level you have in your dog. If you can't take the dog in with you, ask the manager to bring your paper out, other wise leave the dog home or get your paper another way. Alot can happen in 60 seconds.

Randy

 Quote: randy allen

Tieing a dog outside of a store unattended for any lenght of is time is ill advised no matter the breed, no matter the training, no matter the confidence level you have in your dog. If you can't take the dog in with you, ask the manager to bring your paper out, other wise leave the dog home or get your paper another way. Alot can happen in 60 seconds.

Randy

Ditto. A lot can happen, and that includes TO THE DOG.

Yep,
A lot of weirdos out there.