ANSWER: The Labrador
is generally an affectionate dog even with strangers.
Only occasionally do you see aggressive tendencies in
this breed. Almost always it is from either a poor
cross between the parent dogs (genetics at play here as
in never breeding two dominant type Labradors to each
other). Or lack of exercise and lack of Basic
Obedience Training. They are known to bark
deeply at strangers they are unsure of and even hold
their ground but no actual snarling or actual attacking.
The Border Collie leads
on the list of Intelligence in Dog Breeds. It is
this extreme intelligence that gets Border Collies
in trouble. Also they are a working breed who MUST
HAVE something to do every day to prevent Boredom.
They also require
Advanced Basic Obedience
Training
to be happy, well socialized companions.
On top of that they need
exercise, then more exercise, then add some more.
This exercise must be daily and coupled with both
play time with their master and TRAINING time with
their master. Again daily.
Both these particular
breeds (not all breeds are the same) mature both
Physically but most important Mentally at about 16+
months old. In both breeds, Aberrant Behavior
first rears its head from approx. -9 to 11 months
old.
NOTE: If your
saying that he has had dominance problems since a
puppy as in 3,4,5 months old, then It Is usually
Hereditary coupled with uncertainty if he is doing
the right thing expected of him?
If it started more in
the time frame of -9 months onwards, then it is lack
of Basic Obedience Training and Respect for humans.
Regardless he needs to
attend "Basic Obedience Training Classes". Not only
is the dog learning to RESPECT his masters commands
(the dog Loves you, just does not RESPECT you), the
best part of such classes the owners are learning
When and How to correctly
Discipline a dog and When and How
to correctly Reward a dog.
What is learned in class
must be continued at home daily coupled with enough
stimulating exercise.
If a dog is so out of
control that it must be put outside or in a kennel
then that dog IS NOT respecting it's masters
commands to behave properly.
If not neutered, do so
immediately. Expect up to 60+ days at 2 years old
before the aggressive tendencies caused by
testosterone leave the dogs muscle tissue and body
organs where it is stored.
For starters, when
someone comes to the door, he should have a leash
on. He should be made to Sit, Stay beside you and
not so much as wrinkle his lips, let alone growl.
This dog needs to learn his behavior is unacceptable
and putting him outside or in a kennel or where ever
is not teaching the dog anything at all. TIME OUTS
may work for children but do not work for Dogs.
Only through you
learning how to Teach him and him learning that you
won't put up with this nonsense from him will he
stop.
***********************************************
Remember the big
4 when training all animals. Patience, Kindness,
Consistency and Repetition. All 4 combined never
fails to work.
