Is it aggression, fear or protection?

[DMikeM]

I was recently told by a couple people that Crusher was fearful aggressive. Mainly due to this event a week back.

07/27/16
Crusher actually tried to bite the ups guy. The guy had my package in one hand and treats in the other. When he extended his hands over the gate Crusher came from behind me and went up the steps and jumped at the guys hand with the cookie in it and snapped. The delivery guy thought he was after the treat but Crusher doesn't really care about biscuits. He missed the guy by about 2 inches because I grabbed him by the neck. :End

I know he is protective and aggressive towards strangers and needs constant monitoring when out in public or around people he does not know. He is still only 19 months old so his protection instincts are starting to kick in. But I think this incident he was doing what the breed is supposed to do. I can see how me being lower on the steps from the delivery guy could make him seem imposing over me to Crusher then the guy reaches out both hands in my direction towards my head it would look this way because of the perspective view. Crusher was at ground level behind me and rushed up the four steps stood up and went for the nearest hand to me face. There was no reason for Crusher to be afraid of this guy that was 10 feet away from him. I think he just went into protection mode.

Does this sound fearful or just normal protective aggression?

 

[Joao M]

From your description, I would say he was (perhaps overly) protecting you

 

[SG1]

Protective and not overly IMO. Sounds like you've got a good Dog to me. Just make sure you have control of him.

 

[Boxergirl]

I think protective too, but I also think a little too much. If someone isn't being obviously threatening, I expect my dogs to be watchful but not act on their own. If I were outside with them I would expect that they take their cues from me and not take the initiative to bite without provocation. I don't consider what the delivery guy did to be provocation. Just my opinion.

Crusher is gorgeous, btw.

 

[Hiraeth]

There are two types of protection aggression. There's "attack first, ask questions later" and "analyze the situation, attack if necessary".

Crusher obviously belongs to the former group. Now that you know he has a propensity to bite without taking pause to decide whether biting is necessary, you can take the appropriate steps to manage him. If you want him to accept you interacting with strangers on your property, you should probably start counter conditioning his instincts by leashing him to you and rewarding calmness when strangers are around.

 

[glen]

I personally don't think that was fearful aggression, as you've said yourself he's at an age where his guarding is kicking in, and under your capable hands he needs to know the boundaries and how to act.we've just done the same with our 22 month old cc.crusher is very handsome.

 

[glen]

How much does he weigh now.

 

[DMikeM]

He was 165 before summer but yesterday weighed in at 158#
Before

After

Between.

 

[Hector]

Territorial aggression. I love the second pic of him.

 

[Iulicris88]

Protective and not overly IMO. Sounds like you've got a good Dog to me. Just make sure you have control of him.

I'm sorry to disagree, but no dog should jump at someone, unless:
A) It's on comand and he's been trained to do it.
B) Him or his family are in immediate danger.

 

[Iulicris88]

By the way, he's a gorgeous boy.

 

[CeeCee]

From your description, I don't know that we have enough information to say whether or not it was fear that caused Crusher to aggress. What was his state of mind/body language before he lunged? Was he attepting to avoid or flee the delivery man? Was he calmly observing? What's happening in the other situations that necessitates constant supervision when he is out in public?

 

[SG1]

Nothing wrong with a little health decent lulicris88. SMileD now sees the type of personality boss Dog has and can deal with as he sees fit.

 

[DMikeM]

From your description, I don't know that we have enough information to say whether or not it was fear that caused Crusher to aggress. What was his state of mind/body language before he lunged? Was he attepting to avoid or flee the delivery man? Was he calmly observing? What's happening in the other situations that necessitates constant supervision when he is out in public?

CeeCee, he was worked up over the truck and noise of the truck door and the driver is very fast moving. he does not use any caution when approaching my gate. He had on glasses and gloves. He did stay behind me when I told him to but did break his stay once the driver reached over the fence/gate. A few other times the UPS guy was here he did reach over to pet Odi and Jade, but Crusher stayed back. 2 times Odi who is the calmest dog you could ever see jumped back and barked at this guy. I think my dogs have marked him as a no trust person. He seems friendly enough but a bit pushy about the dogs.

 

[DennasMom]

Hmmm... the UPS man does engender excitement (loud noises, stranger visiting, and "presents"!!), which may lead to high-energy states and short fuses?

If he's doing this around you, I'd say you've got your work cut out for you... It doesn't strike me as fear aggression based on what you've said, more in the protection category (or being territorial, like Hector suggested), but a bit over the top for the situation - considering YOU were there and had the situation under control.

He sure is svelte in that second picture!! Beautiful! I can see why the UPS man wants to touch (even if it was a bad idea).

Even our socialite Denna will refuse cookies from strangers (especially milk bones, she spits those out... spoiled little bitch that she is).

 

[DMikeM]

I have been working with him a lot with different people. I have been having repairs done at the house and even had a YouTube Dogumentary videographer here and he is getting better with each visit. he will still growl if someone stares at his eyes for more than a few seconds. And he will bump and push people if they walk towards me too quickly. It only takes him a few minutes to adjust to a new person now so I think the worst of his coming into his own might be over.

BTW my dogs and myself will be in a short YouTube Dogumentary do to be released this weekend on the Dogumentary TV YouTube Channel formerly BullyBaddAssTV. We did the interview and shoot today.
https://www.youtube.com/user/BullyBadAssTV

 

[arthurolsen]

hmmmmm well i do not think this is fear aggression.My rottweiler Dante allows my small kids to climb hsis back and people can visit anytime and come in the backyard and play if properly introduced .That being said both times he has bitten it happened very very fast .
1. Boxing day and he is sleeping at my feet we in the backyard and my friend approachs and slaps my hand hard , he wakes bites in a flash . So a trip to the hospital,stiches and a few beers were in order afterwards .
2. walking calmly down the road a person approaches and suddenly rushes us shouting something incoherently

same result.sounds like what you talking about .

 

[DMikeM]

Had an incident at the hardware store a few weeks back. We had gone inside and purchased some DIY stuff and he was good in the store, but on the way out one of our local firefighters (John) that had been badly burned and is scarred badly was walking in with his wife. John reached out to pet Crusher and Crusher didn't mind but as they walked on Crusher circled around behind John and tried to bite his wife on the butt. I caught him in time and pulled him back and he tried to get at her purse so i corrected him verbally and pulled back again. All three of us we shocked and John says that's odd, dogs really like me. I said it wasn't you and asked the wife if she had anything odd in her bag and she laughed "I have food in it". Well it's hard to say what Crusher was doing but I am getting pretty frustrated over his antics.

 

[Hector]

Had an incident at the hardware store a few weeks back. We had gone inside and purchased some DIY stuff and he was good in the store, but on the way out one of our local firefighters (John) that had been badly burned and is scarred badly was walking in with his wife. John reached out to pet Crusher and Crusher didn't mind but as they walked on Crusher circled around behind John and tried to bite his wife on the butt. I caught him in time and pulled him back and he tried to get at her purse so i corrected him verbally and pulled back again. All three of us we shocked and John says that's odd, dogs really like me. I said it wasn't you and asked the wife if she had anything odd in her bag and she laughed "I have food in it". Well it's hard to say what Crusher was doing but I am getting pretty frustrated over his antics.

Just can't trust him. Don't let your guard down. Sounds like he's a dog that's not afraid to bite.

 

[arthurolsen]

Had an incident at the hardware store a few weeks back. We had gone inside and purchased some DIY stuff and he was good in the store, but on the way out one of our local firefighters (John) that had been badly burned and is scarred badly was walking in with his wife. John reached out to pet Crusher and Crusher didn't mind but as they walked on Crusher circled around behind John and tried to bite his wife on the butt. I caught him in time and pulled him back and he tried to get at her purse so i corrected him verbally and pulled back again. All three of us we shocked and John says that's odd, dogs really like me. I said it wasn't you and asked the wife if she had anything odd in her bag and she laughed "I have food in it". Well it's hard to say what Crusher was doing but I am getting pretty frustrated over his antics.

Hmmm that sounds worse Mike. Kudos on the video though I saw it and you dogs are beautiful and it is nice to put a face to a name . The only thing dodgy in what you explained would be the surreptitious approach which is very unlike molloser types and more like what a fear aggressive lab would do. How intense was his socialisation as a puppy and juvenile since that is generally key ?