In a couple of previous posts about prong collars I mentioned an incident at Petco that happened the other day. It's been bugging me that I don't know how to interpret it. This is what happened:

Kodee and I were in the petstore standing in line. A man w/a large Great Dane/GSD mix (I asked the guy) was standing about 15 feet away. His dog was on a prong. When he saw Kodee, he started growling and barking, and he meant business. However, I guess b/c he was on a prong, he didn't make a move towards us (I could have kissed his handler for this). LOL. Anyway - Kodee, who was on a flat leather collar, barked in response and tried to pull me towards the other dog, and I held him in place, although it wasn't easy (hence, the decision to buy the prong). The thing I can't figure out is, Kodee didn't sound like he was being aggressive, it was more like he was trying to greet the other dog. But would a dog try to "greet" another dog who was being aggressive towards him? Or am I interpreting this wrong? I'm sure there would have been a dog fight had the two of them reached each other. More b/c of the other dog (I think), than b/c of Kodee.

So, was Kodee being "dog aggressive" in response to the other dog? Or was he just being a dumba** and trying to greet a dog who would have eaten him for dinner? It's bugging me that I can't interpret his behavior the other day.

it could have been a "hey, i'm going to be submissive, please don't eat me" greeting.
when bart meets a dog that really will kick his ass, he is all tail wagging, ears back, licking face, don't eat me!!!!! to the other dog. while the dog is snarling, etc. it's his offer to make peace.
and hilarious, because bat is dog aggressive, until he meets a bigger dog.....

In my opinion, it doesn't matter what his motives were, barking and lunging at another dog shouldn't happen, regardless of the other dog's behavior. If it does happen, you need to be able to control and correct your dog.

this is yet another reason why I will NEVER take my dogs to a pet stre and if for some reason I did, I would be set up for success with the proper tools. You can't depend on other dog owners to control their dogs, so I just avoid those places like the plague unless I would have a fully trained adult I want to proof on my training.

 Quote: cindy easton rhodes

In my opinion, it doesn't matter what his motives were, barking and lunging at another dog shouldn't happen, regardless of the other dog's behavior. If it does happen, you need to be able to control and correct your dog.

Absolutely.

Korri, it simply does not matter. Dog aggression, or interest in another dog's aggression only tells me you have more work to do with your dog.

I have been working on my dog's "interest" in other dogs. He has come a LONG way. Now he will only bark once or twice (this is from lunging, crazy barking previously) and generally, it is if there is a "surprise" factor, (ie: dog approaching as we were exiting building.)

That particular incident actually has geared me into further training *including* a surprise factor for my dog. Setting *him* up in controlled situations.

The only way I feel comfortable training him around other dogs is when I know the dogs are dogs/handlers are solid with training involving other dogs.

In this type of training, are always on lead with prong and I have treats or tug to reward for behaviour I want him to repeat (IGNORING OTHER DOGS).

 Quote: Cindy Easton Rhodes

this is yet another reason why I will NEVER take my dogs to a pet store

A HUGE ditto. It's in the dog-park category for me. I don't know those other dogs or handlers!

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: cindy easton rhodes

this is yet another reason why I will NEVER take my dogs to a pet store

A HUGE ditto. It's in the dog-park category for me. I don't know those other dogs or handlers!

I like to stick to places like Lowe's, Menards, Borders books and other large places that have nice wide aisles and people that pretty much just look and whisper "Look at that lady and her dog"

Another good thing about stores like this, is that there are not a whole lot of kids in these places and what kids there are, they are usually contained in the cart. And people are generally pretty good at asking if they can interact with the dog.
If someone approaches, I can easily see them and first ask them to leave the dog alone, or tell them if need be.

The only person that I really allow to interact is the store manager, since they are the ones that gave me the okay in the first place. But when I explain that I do not allow others to interact, they pretty much say "hi" to the dog and then leave us to cruising the store.