That's so right on Redyre.
One time my boyfriend was saying good bye to me and gave me a hug and then tickled me something awful. I HATE to be tickled. Lyric was lying down my Bonnie, my Lab at the time. I shreaked, screamed and wrenched myself from the tickling. Lyric stood up, left Bonnie and came closer and sat there next to us and watched. He never made a move....just watched with a little look of concern, ears up, alert. When I started giggling mixed in with my shreaking, he wagged his tail, stuck his rear up and looked like he'd like to play too. He didn't rush right in without assessing the situation. No telling what he'd do for sure, if someone was hurting me. But I sure as heck wouldn't want a dog to misinterpret any kind of rough play and go bite someone. Bonnie, the Lab just lay there like, "So what. She's being tickled." LOL.
So hopefully you'll change your mind about thinking that it's cool for your dog to act like that. It's one thing to watch and assess and determine, but quite another to fly off the handle and make a mistake like that. A good protection dog is smarter than that and takes cues from his leader.
Absolutely true.
One time my boyfriend was saying good bye to me and gave me a hug and then tickled me something awful. I HATE to be tickled. Lyric was lying down my Bonnie, my Lab at the time. I shreaked, screamed and wrenched myself from the tickling. Lyric stood up, left Bonnie and came closer and sat there next to us and watched. He never made a move....just watched with a little look of concern, ears up, alert. When I started giggling mixed in with my shreaking, he wagged his tail, stuck his rear up and looked like he'd like to play too. He didn't rush right in without assessing the situation. No telling what he'd do for sure, if someone was hurting me. But I sure as heck wouldn't want a dog to misinterpret any kind of rough play and go bite someone. Bonnie, the Lab just lay there like, "So what. She's being tickled." LOL.
So hopefully you'll change your mind about thinking that it's cool for your dog to act like that. It's one thing to watch and assess and determine, but quite another to fly off the handle and make a mistake like that. A good protection dog is smarter than that and takes cues from his leader.
Aggression does not equal protection. Aggression generally equals nerves, insecurity, fear, and lack of control.