We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

The male is fairly laid back with other dogs. A couple of times when
he has gone to another dog, and that dog reacts aggressively, he'll
just walk off but she will make a beeline for the aggressor with a
growl, no attempt to bite though. It's more when she is on the leash,
which makes me think that she may feel more easily threatened or
anxious when leashed. When the other dog is friendly toward them they
both respond quite happily. They're both good off the leash but we
don't want to risk them when near unpredictable roads etc.

It's not really a problem, they both respond to 'leave' or even just
some kind words. Just wondering if you've experienced similar
'protecting' behaviours (which seem perfectly natural to me).

incidently the dogs were being overlooked in the rescue home for
months because they were a pair and because they were older and had
some medical history. It seemed some folk 'score' dogs like you might
score a car on how much rust it has!

They 'get on' fine with our similarly aged rescue cat too, btw! Both
had in previous lives known the other specie and the cat is bold
enough with the dogs, they've settled into mutual ignorance which
seems reasonable.

The male dog does quite like cat food though, but we are not into
punishing dogs for doing 'wrong' (what can that mean to a dog
anyway!), a word seems enough to put him off the thought and if he
occasionally gets a mouthfull i can't really get upset toward him.

"gswork" wrote in message
om...
We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

The male is fairly laid back with other dogs. A couple of times when
he has gone to another dog, and that dog reacts aggressively, he'll
just walk off but she will make a beeline for the aggressor with a
growl, no attempt to bite though. It's more when she is on the leash,
which makes me think that she may feel more easily threatened or
anxious when leashed. When the other dog is friendly toward them they
both respond quite happily. They're both good off the leash but we
don't want to risk them when near unpredictable roads etc.

It's not really a problem, they both respond to 'leave' or even just
some kind words. Just wondering if you've experienced similar
'protecting' behaviours (which seem perfectly natural to me).

my male dog does this. whenever he decides another dog is part of his
"pack", he always puts himself between them and "intruding" dogs who come to
the area. he does this with his "sister" (not a blood relative) and
neighborhood dogs, but he also does it with puppies when i used him as a
demo dog for breed education booths. he seems very protective of anyone he
has decided is part of his pack.
once, when i had him in an obedience class, he'd bark and growl at any dog
who came into the room after class had started the trainer thought he was
just letting the new guy know that this was "his" pack, and they better play
nice.

-kelly

"gswork" wrote in message
om...
We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

The male is fairly laid back with other dogs. A couple of times when
he has gone to another dog, and that dog reacts aggressively, he'll
just walk off but she will make a beeline for the aggressor with a
growl, no attempt to bite though. It's more when she is on the leash,
which makes me think that she may feel more easily threatened or
anxious when leashed. When the other dog is friendly toward them they
both respond quite happily. They're both good off the leash but we
don't want to risk them when near unpredictable roads etc.

It's not really a problem, they both respond to 'leave' or even just
some kind words. Just wondering if you've experienced similar
'protecting' behaviours (which seem perfectly natural to me).

my male dog does this. whenever he decides another dog is part of his
"pack", he always puts himself between them and "intruding" dogs who come to
the area. he does this with his "sister" (not a blood relative) and
neighborhood dogs, but he also does it with puppies when i used him as a
demo dog for breed education booths. he seems very protective of anyone he
has decided is part of his pack.
once, when i had him in an obedience class, he'd bark and growl at any dog
who came into the room after class had started the trainer thought he was
just letting the new guy know that this was "his" pack, and they better play
nice.

-kelly

"gswork" wrote in message
om...
We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

The male is fairly laid back with other dogs. A couple of times when
he has gone to another dog, and that dog reacts aggressively, he'll
just walk off but she will make a beeline for the aggressor with a
growl, no attempt to bite though. It's more when she is on the leash,
which makes me think that she may feel more easily threatened or
anxious when leashed. When the other dog is friendly toward them they
both respond quite happily. They're both good off the leash but we
don't want to risk them when near unpredictable roads etc.

It's not really a problem, they both respond to 'leave' or even just
some kind words. Just wondering if you've experienced similar
'protecting' behaviours (which seem perfectly natural to me).

my male dog does this. whenever he decides another dog is part of his
"pack", he always puts himself between them and "intruding" dogs who come to
the area. he does this with his "sister" (not a blood relative) and
neighborhood dogs, but he also does it with puppies when i used him as a
demo dog for breed education booths. he seems very protective of anyone he
has decided is part of his pack.
once, when i had him in an obedience class, he'd bark and growl at any dog
who came into the room after class had started the trainer thought he was
just letting the new guy know that this was "his" pack, and they better play
nice.

-kelly

gswork wrote:

We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

They sound like great dogs!

I see protective behaviors among my dogs. Gordo, my male chihuahua,
threatens Oppie, my male lab, whenever Oppie seems to be annoying Chile
(female chihuahua, littermate of Gordo). Oppie likes to get his nose
under her butt and lift it up for a good sniff. Gordo barks and lunges
at him, without making contact. Sometimes Gordo, snoozing under a
blanket, will hear Chile mildly protesting Oppie's rudeness, and he will
bark without bestirring himself to lift the covers.

FurPaw

gswork wrote:

We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

They sound like great dogs!

I see protective behaviors among my dogs. Gordo, my male chihuahua,
threatens Oppie, my male lab, whenever Oppie seems to be annoying Chile
(female chihuahua, littermate of Gordo). Oppie likes to get his nose
under her butt and lift it up for a good sniff. Gordo barks and lunges
at him, without making contact. Sometimes Gordo, snoozing under a
blanket, will hear Chile mildly protesting Oppie's rudeness, and he will
bark without bestirring himself to lift the covers.

FurPaw

gswork wrote:

We have two lovely older (nearly 9) rescue dogs, male and female
siblings (dark haired lab crossbreeds). We were told that the female
only shows aggression occasionally, notably when her brother is under
threat from other dogs.

They sound like great dogs!

I see protective behaviors among my dogs. Gordo, my male chihuahua,
threatens Oppie, my male lab, whenever Oppie seems to be annoying Chile
(female chihuahua, littermate of Gordo). Oppie likes to get his nose
under her butt and lift it up for a good sniff. Gordo barks and lunges
at him, without making contact. Sometimes Gordo, snoozing under a
blanket, will hear Chile mildly protesting Oppie's rudeness, and he will
bark without bestirring himself to lift the covers.

FurPaw