I like what Rich C. and Crabtree had to say, really for a Lab and not being trained in protection he doing an outstanding job. And is a stand out Lab. I've posted this before the Golden retriver story (Most seem to put Labs and Golden in the same boat), this dog let some strange walk pass him in the upstairs bedroom and raped his owner.

You don't have to worry about this, I think your dog would chase him out of the house (as in the incident when your daughter came through the window/back door) barking throughout the encounter. I believe he probably would not bite unless one of the family member are threaten, (he may not bite and hold, but bite and release and bite again if the threat does not run or back off). This is only an assumption. Its a fact that he would alarm, which gives the other house members the time to be aware and get armed.

The Lab has made a reputation for being a great overall dog, he can be taught to anything. But like most dogs excels at what he was breed for.

I think you got a nice one, and I think he has solid nerves because he can turn it off and on. When at work and at home he changes roles for you and theres nobody that can tell me that you don't get scared when you confront the unknown
whenever theres a chance you might die/be harmed, you feel your hair standing up on the back of your neck (hackles up). Trained or not you feel it and like Cannon said, its not all fear its an invitation to a date.

YOUR LAB seems to be a great S&R dog and a good watch dog, as far as untrained dogs go he's a keeper. I'd want one just like him, why try to act like a good Lab is one that are so mild natured that they won't alarm or be startled by strangers on their truff, he's a dog. If this was true why not just keep these primo donos in their air conditioned kennels until showtime.

I hear you, and I've always felt that a dog is a dog, and there are certain instincts and drives that every dog has, regardless of breed. However, there are those that say that there is no room in a Labrador Retriever for ANY type of aggression whatsoever. They say that Labs are supposed to be the kind of dog that welcomes everyone with open "arms".....so, I guess I don't have a great Labrador. But I think I have a pretty great dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />