Seeing more aggressive labs...........rant!

I just posted some nice pics of my walk with Caiza and my daughter in the woods today and it was very much fun and relaxing until we were almost back to the car to leave. This huge black lab came charging down the path like he was on a mission running like a mad man. He initially ran past us growling as he stopped to take a poop but then he b-lined it back towards Caiza and I who was leashed walking beside me and my daughter. I knew from the labs behavior tail erect, ears back, and his hackles raised that it wasn't going to be a nice meet and greet. Sure enough a fight pursued and I let Caiza go to do what he had to do and get my daughter out of the way of two big dogs fighting. The owner who was walking with two other people probably in their late 50's early 60's did not even try to call off her dog I ended up stopping it by raising my voice and telling Caiza to leave it. The other dog finally gave in and I grabbed Caiza's leash and started to walk away. The lady didn't apologize to me or anything. I told her that if her dog is aggressive then he shouldn't be loose.....I said you are holding a leash in your hand USE IT!!! I was so pi$$ed! And is it just me or has anyone else noticed more aggressive labs over the past years. I have had a run in with one to many and it blows my mind because of a well bred labs gentle sweet nature. UGH!

I hear so many people say they are not but i have known some foul tempered labs in my past. TOwards people as well as other dogs.

Wow, is your dog alright?

I haven't seen so many aggressive labs, but I have seen a lot of aggressive goldens. It's undoubtedly because they are so popular, there are many being poorly bred for quick money

Yes, Caiza is fine......Thanks for asking ACD's are tough and he is 60 lbs of muscle so I didn't worry to much. The black lab weighed in easily at about 90lbs but was fierce. I don't like to see dogs fight and it scares me to see my boy go up and up with another dog but the lab was the aggressor and Caiza was just protecting himself as well as us. And yes, I too have seen and heard of labs being aggressive towards people. Scary!

If I had a dollar for every aggressive lab I've met, I'd be able to buy quite a nice dinner. Seriously, they are very popular, and everyone assumes they are all "harmless." Therefore, the result is nasty labs. I've met fewer nasty goldens, but there are definatley some rotters out there.

THat is why i think each dog should be considered on an individual basis and not a blanket statement that covers the whole breed. I have worked with been bird boy for a lot of labs. From sappy lovely willing to please wonders to aloof (sp?) and tempermental. No two alike. I may not know about other breeds but field trialing all those years gave a lot of lab exposure. THey are as different as we are.

Unfortunately. My Dad was attacked in front of me by a vicious lab. It's so sad because our lab was such a love and a great dog. Labs should be friendly. Unfortunately they're way popular. Luckily in this neighborhood most of our lab owners (and there are a LOT) are really model owners with good dogs.

The only breed that ever snapped at me in a class setting was a lab. I think part of it is bad breeding.. but the other part is that people seem think that labs automatically love EVERYONE so they don't worry about socialization or classes until AFTER there is a problem.

If you get a JRT you KNOW you are going to have to socialize it (even John Q Public seems to know this) But all these labs who come in to class who have issues.. and the owners are so bewilderd. "I thought labs loved everyone"

Even well bred labs and goldens need socialization.

I'd say that it's both the breeding and the handling . Both girls were lucky with lab rescue . Rudy's now gone , but Hunter doesn't have a mean bone in his body . I dread what Marley will bring forth . Same with Seger .

I have met many agressive labs and goldens. they are far to popular that they are being bred every where. People get a lab or golden and think its a great breed that doesnt need to be trained, that they come programed or somthing. I can think of 3 very rude to agressive labs and goldens who come to our dog park, luckily my dog park is so big that I can spot them a mile away and leave before they try and start somthing.

I remember in the summer I was at a conservation with Blaze, my boyfriend and 2 brothers we were fishing. And dogs need to be kept on a leash there. So I had Blaze on his leash and as we were leaving, a lady came down with SIX (6)! labs, ALL offleash. ALL came running towards my dog, and came at different ends to smell him, he is leash reactive, expeacially in a situation like that (what dog wouldnt be while being surrounded by a pack of dogs while the dog is stuck ona leash). Blaze growled, which led to a few of the others to start growling, I was almost ready to crap myself, as I was inthe middle of this. lucky I did have my boyfriend and 2 brothers there, who helped get the dogs away from us. As the owner was VERY obviously unable to (she was clearly paralyzed fromt he waist down as she was in a wheelchair and couldnt move much of her body). I was so mad, and just ripped in to her about how her dogs should not be offleash espeacially if they can not be controled. She told me they were harmess labs. I dont care if they were a pack of freaking hummingbirds, control them if you bring them in to public.

I though for sure my dog would be ripped a part by those 6 dogs.

my boyfriends next door neighboor has a lab, very very very agressive. I didt see it one day while my boyfriend and I left to walk Blaze and his moms dog Jazz. We were ont he stoop of the house locking the door, and before I could do anything, this lab came out of no where and ripped in to blaze, he was out for the kill, he didnt even smell blaze, just ripped in to him. Broke blazes collar off, blaze ran, so the dog chased him down the road. i was crying I was so scared screaming for my dog. My boyfriend finally got the stupid lab, who is obeese and probablyw eights 130lbs. wile their other dog benji took after blaze as well, a little shitzu (shih tzu) and start to rip in to Blaze too. Now Blaze when ever we go to my boyfriends sits there and shakes he is so afraid to even be in the house.

It is unfortunate that there are more labs that have iffy temperaments. A well bred lab should never be aggressive towards human and it is a major fault to be aggressive towards dogs. They should be happy, confident and, and tolerant.

I actually have been fortunate enough to only come across one aggressive lab. it was a similar situation as the OP, actually. My female was on leash (like she was supposed to be), an off-leash black lab came charging up and after a couple of tense moments a fight ensued. Both were OK, but the woman never even apologized. Maybe it was the same lady and her dog--lol.

I do think that it is because people just assume that all labs from all sources are friendly, and that's just not the case. Not only that, but they do need socialization just like any other dog. We took our boy everywhere to try to get him to meet as many different types of people and dogs as possible.

I've had/ seen so many bad encounters with labs that iam sooo turned off to the breed. Probably permanently.

Its very sad, like others have said, people just assume that they are the perfect dog without any work. They are sooo popular that there has been times where I'm the only one at the dog park without a labrador.

I do think it is important to give every dog a fair shake without making blanket assumptions about the breed. Just as it is not fair to decide that all pit bulls are trouble because of what has been seen in the news, it is equally unfair to hold anything against labs as a breed because of some bad owners. As has been said many times--it's not the dogs, it's the owners.

I do think labs are popular for a reason though and you have to remember that. They should be people friendly, dog friendly dogs with good dispositions. They should be medium-large dogs, not giants and a good fun energy level. They make great family pets, but I probably won't have another. If I go for a hunting dog, it's going to be a toller or a pointer nowadays.

:hail: Spot on!

I've seen a lot more latley aswell. There is a huge one that make me quite nervous when I am out walking, he lives near me, only ran into him once but he was coming across the road fast and growling. I turned around a told him very loudly, clearly and firly "NO!GO HOME" it stopped him a bit but it made Buster notice him. Luckily he hung back a bit.

I hate seeing it, so many examples of the breed that are just so off what they should be.

THat is what i am trying to say. TO be turned off on the breed is a real shame for some of the ones i have worked with, and the half that makes up Mary have been the best dogs in my life.

not at all my point.


not holding anything against the dog.

I mearly stated that I've had so many bad experiences that I would not care to own a lab. They are not my type of dog. At all. Even without all the bad icing.

Exactly. I dont think any one is trying to hate labs. I dont mind them, but have never been a lab or golden person. never want to own one, and not because of my dog being attacked, just in general have never been intrested in them.
Doesnt mean I or any one else will hate them, just not own one.