A little help here (BlackLabbie)

Basically in "dog speak" Apollo was telling the stranger Back off this is MY mom and I will defend her ...the stranger understood perfectly and accepted YOU were off limits. Then Apollo being the good boy he is was willing to make friends.   Perfectly normal and acceptable as long as he allowed you the final bark...

Bonita of Bwana

So, should that be OK and allowed? I just don't want another dog to challenge him.

I always thought he was leash reactive because he does this with any dog that's coming toward us...but, if the dog is in their yard and not coming directly toward us he does nothing.

I would not discourage Apollo from doing this. Hes just saying "back up" and thats ok in my book. 

You know...I talked to Jeremy tonight and he said Apollo rarely does this with him...and he's never done that with my Dad walking him either. Apollo is very attatched to me...if I'm home and Jeremy wants to take him out he usually will keep looking back at the house, and sometimes try to pull back to the house. He has never ever acted like that towards people, or cats...even strange ones. But dogs, if I have him out and a dog is rushing towards us he gets very riled up! And the leash isn't tense or anything, I always keep it loose because I know he won't bite another dog...he will growl at it though.

Theres nothing wrong with a growl. 

BlackLabbie

So, should that be OK and allowed? I just don't want another dog to challenge him.

I always thought he was leash reactive because he does this with any dog that's coming toward us...but, if the dog is in their yard and not coming directly toward us he does nothing.

Sorry I have been off line most of the weekend , lousy head cold   But No I would not correct or over react to his alert and protective satnce with an approaching dog. As long as YOU stay calm and controlled it should never escalate. Since you said he does not do this with the guys in your life either you are really soft with him hencce his need to step up OR you ,like one of my puppy owners are duprd into thinking you are too small etc to control a dog of this size....he arrived at my home wearing a prong collar for walks , now my 25 pound 2 year old can handle him...His mommy will under go boot camp before he goes home , he is a big softy but appearances can be misleading....

Bonita of Bwana

Thank for replying! Head cold are the worst! Hope you feel better!

How did you get him to walk nicely on a leash w/out a prong collar?
Apollo used to use a prong collar and he heeled GREAT. When I took it off him he pulled and "heel" didn't mean a thing. Now, I put the prong collar on him, but clip the leash to his regular buckle collar and he walks great again.

BlackLabbie

 Now, I put the prong collar on him, but clip the leash to his regular buckle collar and he walks great again.

How old is he? 

In this case and the case of the approaching dog it sounds like Apollo uses great judgement but also gains cofidence with your direction. For example with the prong and with you correcting him with the other dog. I think your right to correct him when he growled but also because he is a stable dog. Now if he were truly dog aggressive he would need much more correction but it sounds like he was acting on his instinct to protect you BUT your teamwork is what confirms your bond. I'm sure if you had showed fear he would have reaccted differently but your leadership allowed him to relax....does that make sense at all,LOL?

Good job Apollo!

AuroraLove

BlackLabbie

 Now, I put the prong collar on him, but clip the leash to his regular buckle collar and he walks great again.

How old is he? 

In this case and the case of the approaching dog it sounds like Apollo uses great judgement but also gains cofidence with your direction. For example with the prong and with you correcting him with the other dog. I think your right to correct him when he growled but also because he is a stable dog. Now if he were truly dog aggressive he would need much more correction but it sounds like he was acting on his instinct to protect you BUT your teamwork is what confirms your bond. I'm sure if you had showed fear he would have reaccted differently but your leadership allowed him to relax....does that make sense at all,LOL?

Good job Apollo!

 

Good question....honestly, I have no idea really. The shelter form his first owner filled out said he was 3 years old. My vet said he was 5-8 years old (based on his teeth, many were chipped and/or broken), but Apollo was chained his entire life, so the broken and chipped teeth could be from chewing on the chain. My Dad (always had dogs, trained hunting dogs) thinks he's 3-5 years old.

I feel like when I put the prong collar on him he goes into "work" mode, he heels like a champ and is very attentive. But, with only the buckle collar on he's in gamesome mood.

ETA...I was just thinking about the way Apollo is with me compared to Jeremy and my Dad (the only other 2 people who walk him). He is somewhat protective of me...which I like. For instance, when me and Jeremy got into a fight (a while ago, everything is fine now) he was right in between us, but leaning on me, and didn't take his eyes off Jeremy. Also, one night we were out walking and a group of teenage boys was running by us and he got in between me and the kids by running on my right side (he always walks on the left) and just stood still while the kids were running by, but didn't lose sight of them until the were passed.

Ah, I didnt know Apollo was a adoptee! Woo Hoo! Just goes to show that sometimes we need to put aside all the dominance, alpha, top dog things that have been fed to us and rely upon the bond we have with our dogs! Feels good huh?

Yup, he's my own personal rescue!

Long story kind of short...I lost my first lab at age 13 from cancer. 3 years later I was ready for another dog. Jeremy was going to school in GA and noticed some flyers for shelters, rescues, adoptions days... I ended up finding an online forum, Saving Georgia Dogs, dedicated to saving dogs in shelters that gas/euth. I found Apollo, and adopted him the very day he was to be put down- he didn't have a single application. I paid for vetting, transport, the whole deal from GA to MA. The shelter he was in, Spalding County Animal Control, still gases, it's so sad.

Which is EXACTLY what the ATTS wants to see ( American Temperament Test Something or another )  Your dog regardless of breed is expected to insert himself in any suspect situation between you and possible harm.  Barking is fine, growling is cool as long as you have control and the dogs responds to your commands to back off....I now require this test for any of my breeding stock, it displays PRIME intelligence and ability. Gooood Boy Apollo, from another who rescued and loved a black Lab for almost 14 years!!

Bonita of Bwana