"agression" - or so a friend says.

[noludoru]

Hannah will go ballistic at the door when someone comes, and it's certainly not due to being fearful or unstable.

I'm so glad you added that.

I think she's fine, honestly. As long as she can recognize WHO is coming through the door and exercises good judgment about who to flip out over (ie.. anyone but a member of your family that lives there) then you're probably good.

Your friend is an imbecile. If Sasha really did bite her, then good for Sasha. Maybe she's learned not to do idiotic things.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

In spite of what people have written in response, your dog does have some issues that may need to be dealt with...

I would not call her aggressive from what you have written, I would possibly call her fearful, and perhaps untrained, or unstable.

There has been one incident in which the dog protected her home and you're telling Shay that her dog has issues? This is what guard dogs do- they protect. It's owners were not around and it acted as such. Good dog.

I want my dog's to protect my home. I don't want visitors thinking they can come on in and I doubt any would be stupid enough to think they could with the barks (not even looks as there are not any windows at the front door area) of Banzai and Bella alone.

 

[CAOgirl]

you cant measure psi of a dog.. but you can bite force...

 

[ToscasMom]

I would possibly call her fearful, and perhaps untrained, or unstable.

I would call her a d!amned good guard dog doing her job.

 

[ToscasMom]

People who come to my house can clearly see that there is a potentially aggressive dog inside.

People who come to my house understand their ear drums are in grave danger. lol.

 

[JTP]

Ok, so it is a great guard dog in your eyes.....

Can you turn it on, and turn it off??
Just because a dog jumps at the door, and puts on a good show, does not mean it will perform when the threat is real. Indeed most will break, and run, it is natural.

I don't think you guys see the whole picture. this dog has been likely reinforced to be dramatic, and in doing so loses the calmness needed to make good decisions based on sound training. This is why she bit the owner when she got excited. It is a symptom of a problem, that can create a liability

Great, she will eat up an intruder, not so bad, but if she eats up an excited screaming child, or overly playful hollering adult, then you have a problem.

This is not a bad dog, or dangerous, but it is untrained, and can be dangerous.

My argument is to teach the dog acceptable parameters for turning on, and turning off the behavior, so as to make it more stable.

Owners who expect their dogs to protect them can be very disappointed when it comes time to perform rather than make a show.

The dog has the potential, but not the training.
That makes him a liability, and a loose cannon.

We all want our dogs to protect us, but going crazy at the door is not a signal that the dog will do such, it is a sign of fear, and a measure of instability, or lack of confidence. Little dogs go crazy at the door, and most will be under the bed at the first harsh word, expect no different from a bigger dog

Be afraid of the dog that sits there waiting, and only issues a couple of barks, or a low growl. That dog does not need to put on a show, he knows he is tough.

The guard drive is a good thing if used properly, but one wrong bite and somebody else will be living in your house, driving your cars, because they sued you, and took it from you.

So I still stay find out more about guard, protection defensive, attack training etc... and train accordingly.

 

[CAOgirl]

You come across like you are an expert in this field... are you?

 

[JTP]

You come across like you are an expert in this field... are you?

No, more of a hobbyist who has seen too many dogs put down for being "protective", when all they actually needed was some training to control their natural drive.

I am by no means equating pitts with danes, but even many of the pitt incidents you here about are Pitts being "protective, or guard dogs".
The being protective did not do a bit of good for the PTS dog, or the injured innocent victim who was minding their own busines.

I do enjoy protection training, and I have never seen anything a dog enjoys more than protection training. It is the one thing they always win at, and a great time to let off energy.

By all means everybody just do what you want with your dog, and think what you want, but if you continue on thinking your dog is a good "guard dog", and he takes a bite out of the mail man, or some random good citizen, who is not being stupid, and is put to sleep, and you get sued, then blame only yourself.
I know of a dog who actually bit off a mans arm protecting his master from a mugging.
Nothing happened to the owner, because his dog was well trained to turn on, and turn off.

Had that been an individual who was beggind, and one of our dogs had done it in the mistaken assumption he was protecting the master, we would have lost all we own.

 

[ToscasMom]

Great, she will eat up an intruder, not so bad, but if she eats up an excited screaming child, or overly playful hollering adult, then you have a problem.

Only if the screaming child or hollering adult is trying to break into the house without permission and shoving his or her hand through the door when the dog is clearly protecting the home.

My argument is to teach the dog acceptable parameters for turning on, and turning off the behavior, so as to make it more stable.

Would it be fair to say that in this case, acceptable parameters would be to protect against someone letting HERSELF into the house without the knowledge of the homeowner--and sticking her hand in the door besides?

 

[Angel Chicken]

Good point Tosca...

Shay, I think your dog is fine. Doesn't sound to me like she is a loose cannon, she is just doing exactly what she knows to do.

Same thing for Kona... she guards people at my door and will not let them in without my consent. This is a 20 pound dog, mind you. Once I tell Kona to hush and be quiet, she will sit and look at the door, waiting to see who is on the other side. If I tell her to get them, she goes even more ballistic.

She has chased a many of Jehovah's witnesses because I told her to :lol-sign: and she'll attack and chase anything I tell her to. I think this is what JTP means. She has an on/off switch. Sure, she gets wacky when someone comes to the house, but as soon as I tell her to hush, she sits and waits for the next command, which will either be "Kona get 'em" or "Come on in Guys". If I tell her to get them, she gladly will, but she will also stop if I tell her to do so.

 

[ToscasMom]

She has chased a many of Jehovah's witnesses because I told her to

Tosca too! I have been trying to get rid of those pests for decades. If I had known all it would take is a dog with good sense, I would have gotten one sooner!

 

[Angel Chicken]

Oh yeah... they thought she was cute as she was running to them...

"Aww look at that sweet... wait.. she's GROWLING! Oh no, she's coming after us... RUN!"

And here I am on the front porch, laughing my ass off.

 

[ToscasMom]

Yeah they strolled by and spotted Tosca and one said Oh Look Lassie! I took one look at them and Tosca picked up on it right away and did her best growling and snarling.

Another time, I was gardening in the front of the house and one of them was dumb enough to decide to cross the street. You know how they can't resist harrassing people who are having fun in front of their homes. Anyways, Tosca was tethered on a ten footer so she could be out in front with me without road access. Tosca just stood up and looked. So I said to the woman as she was halfway across, smiling that oily smile, "I wouldn't do this if I were you". And then Tosca took the cue beautifully. The woman U Turned her butt really fast. Hahahaha.

 

[JTP]

An extreme case would be the 2 neopolitan mastiffsa few years back.
Those two fed on excitement, did not have an off switch, and killed the neighbor. Were they being protective, sure they were. Were they put down, and the owners sent to prison for manslaughter, yep.
Thse two owners never thought their dogs would kill the neighbor

A protective dog is a loaded weapon, that is not a bad thing at all, but do you want a cheap loaded weapon that may misfire, or do you want a high quality weapon that is loaded, but will not go off unless it is triggered properly.

You have a good dog, but you d not want this dog going off at te wrong time.
A little excitement, or stress, and the dog could make the wrong decision without some training on how to react to stresses.

 

[noludoru]

You come across like you are an expert in this field... are you?

:lol-sign:

 

[Renee750il]

Ok, so it is a great guard dog in your eyes.....

Can you turn it on, and turn it off??
Just because a dog jumps at the door, and puts on a good show, does not mean it will perform when the threat is real. Indeed most will break, and run, it is natural.

I don't think you guys see the whole picture. this dog has been likely reinforced to be dramatic, and in doing so loses the calmness needed to make good decisions based on sound training. This is why she bit the owner when she got excited. It is a symptom of a problem, that can create a liability

Great, she will eat up an intruder, not so bad, but if she eats up an excited screaming child, or overly playful hollering adult, then you have a problem.

This is not a bad dog, or dangerous, but it is untrained, and can be dangerous.

My argument is to teach the dog acceptable parameters for turning on, and turning off the behavior, so as to make it more stable.

Owners who expect their dogs to protect them can be very disappointed when it comes time to perform rather than make a show.

The dog has the potential, but not the training.
That makes him a liability, and a loose cannon.

We all want our dogs to protect us, but going crazy at the door is not a signal that the dog will do such, it is a sign of fear, and a measure of instability, or lack of confidence. Little dogs go crazy at the door, and most will be under the bed at the first harsh word, expect no different from a bigger dog

Be afraid of the dog that sits there waiting, and only issues a couple of barks, or a low growl. That dog does not need to put on a show, he knows he is tough.

The guard drive is a good thing if used properly, but one wrong bite and somebody else will be living in your house, driving your cars, because they sued you, and took it from you.

So I still stay find out more about guard, protection defensive, attack training etc... and train accordingly.

Those are excellent points.

There's nothing wrong with doing your best to idiot-proof our dogs, because the world is full of idiots.

 

[AgilityPup]

I guess I didn't explain this well enough... When Sasha jumps on the door it isn't until they go away, its until I come down and say "Sasha! Enough!" Or "Go lay down Sash!" Its not like I have to drag her away from the door. I will say though, I have a problem getting her away from the door if the person outside the door is wearing a hat. If so, I look to them and signal for them to remove the hat. Then she calms down when I tell her to get.

I don't think you guys see the whole picture. this dog has been likely reinforced to be dramatic, and in doing so loses the calmness needed to make good decisions based on sound training. This is why she bit the owner when she got excited. It is a symptom of a problem, that can create a liability

Sorry, but I don't think YOU see the whole picture. Sasha bit me yes, that was when I was about 6, I am now 14, and she hasn't bitten since, other than the situation with the friend. I don't see my dog as a "loose cannon" or anything, I can control her, and I weigh LESS than she does! Shes my baby, she sits on my lap, and she PROTECTS her family, and like I said, I like it that way.

Great, she will eat up an intruder, not so bad, but if she eats up an excited screaming child, or overly playful hollering adult, then you have a problem.

Like it was said, she will yes, but only if they are trying to get into the house. My father treats me like a son, we play fight all the time, you know what Sasha does? She sits there and sleeps. She doesn't care, even if I am screaming, she knows we are playing. As for the screaming child, we have a 4YO here every week atleast once, he cries, what kid doesnt, he has fits, once again what kid doesn't, but still Sasha doesn't care. In the house when no one is at the door, you can hardley tell that shes there.

That makes him a liability, and a loose cannon.

I should hope that some of what I said has changed your opinion on my dog being a loose cannon.


I also do not agree that my dog is affraid... I am still sticking with fact that she is protecting her family. She doesn't go hide after they are in the house, she sticks around to make sure things are okay. I must say that fear is very little in my 150 pound dog...

Sorry if I am coming of as nasty, but my dogs are my girls, they are my babies, and I will not sit here and let someone tell me she is a loose cannon, because she isn't.

 

[JTP]

I guess I didn't explain this well enough... When Sasha jumps on the door it isn't until they go away, its until I SNIP>>>>> I like it that way..

Sorry if I offended, only trying to help.

I apologize, your dog is fine, no problem, needs nothing, continue onward, and enjoy.

 

[AgilityPup]

Sorry if I offended, only trying to help.

I apologize, your dog is fine, no problem, needs nothing, continue onward, and enjoy.

But now I know you're not telling the turth, I know I need to work with Sasha, I just got worked up when my dog got called a loose cannon, I know you're trying to help, and I do appreaicte it! Thank you.

 

[shadowfacedanes]

I DO reinforce my dog's display at the door when a stranger enters our yard....WHY? Because I would much rather her deter a stranger behind closed doors by barking and NOT having to take it to a physical display than to have a stranger keep on coming and feel as if he can gain easy access into my home.

I have total control over Hannah. I can call her off with a simple command. She is not fearful, unstable, or a loose cannon, but if someone stuck their hand in my door without me saying they could and Hannah knowing it was okay with me, then yes, she'd bite.

Danes are protectors. Danes were used in the past to guard royalty and as war dogs and estate guardians. It's in their nature to protect their homes and their owners. I'd hardly call a dog who bit someone entering their home without being allowed to, a loose cannon.

Shay, I have spent my entire adult life with danes, and I will tell you I think Sasha behaved like most danes do when confronted with someone entering their home without being invited. If she were a loose cannon, your friend would be missing a limb (what with that 2000 psi bite danes have ). She was simply giving a warning. Your friend will probably never make that mistake again.