Why Are Dogs Aggressive With Only Certain Other Dogs?

[@StonnieDennis]

Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!

[@stephaniedonlan6749]

Definitely a fan 👍

[@aubsarg0222]

This dog is a Caucasian dog the only dog with no ears. Very war type of dog. Give me a hard one lol. I will say the point of your video, is correct and incorrect. For one, your catalogue dog has been very calm from the beginning as a pup. You’ve started intense training from the beginning. Have to remember not everyone is a trainer, so with this said………. Ppl are asking, why does my breed of dog naturally develop an intolerance to other dogs? And this is true. I’ve had tons of dog breeds, and have obsessed over dogs my entire life…… some dogs like my German shepherds and even Belgian shepherds once they hit around 6 months, they didn’t like stranger dogs anymore…….. but dogs like my French mastiff and Siberian husky would love any dog who entered their space. I think it’s important to teach ppl how to properly train and to learn dog behavior and to give hope to those who have a dog who is dog aggressive, that through training the action can be corrected……. But it’s also important to allow ppl to understand what breeds are pron to develop guarding, dog aggression, etc naturally without training……. It’s also important to teach ppl how to pick a puppy or dog and to learn how to identify their behaviors. Puppies all within one litter, can have some that are anxious, some outgoing, some reserved and calm while others are rambunctious. It’s important to note that if you get one that is rambunctious then this is the type of behavioral issues that may arise……… and if you get one that’s timid then this is the behavioral issues you may face……. Etc, etc. I can also understand why personality traits are different within this dog breed (catalouha) bc there really isn’t a strong breed standard. I dk if it is even known by the AKc. Same with working vs show line German shepherd or even within labs there is an array of personalities and this is due to their bloodlines….. I dk it’s complex lol but I’m sure any dog you have is amazing. But even though I’m knowledgeable and love dogs, every female GS I’ve ever owned has been a crazy nut lol. Hard to train when they have so many triggers. All my females had severe issues with other dogs, went to numerous trainers, etc…….. and then I see ppl with female GS and they are so amazing and well behaved….. the main difference was I had the original working lines, while these were show American/Czech lines. At least this is what they told me.

[@tabletemail-rh6pe]

In my limited experience I've noticed that some LSG have had similar reactions to huskies and malamutes over other breeds like labradors and rotties. Does it have anything to with their wolfish coats or the specificdogs themselves?

[@spanniesmeandgus819]

What kind of LGD is Toji?

[@c.san.8751]

It might also have something to do with the fact that all of the other dogs are gone and he is the only dog left alone with him. You should have brought all of the other dogs out again and seen what happens.

[@krystal4745]

I had a very friendly, outgoing dog when I was high school. I took her to the park every day, and she loved everyone she came in contact with. One day, we passed a guy on the walking trail. She started growling and would not take her eyes off him. I trusted her judgment, and we went right back to the truck and straight home. I remember my mom saying I was right to trust my dog.

[@vivaldi1948]

Never trust anyone your dog doesn't like.

[@Kriszzzful]

that's where the story ends? your mom confirmed it... ok then

[@renerenatorivera9062]

My Boston/Rat terrier mix Terrier is very friendly. He's almost eleven, 28 lbs.He rarely barks, but there are some dogs in the neighborhood he doesn't like. And he has protected me during two attempted muggings. I'm glad I adopted him 5 years ago.

[@margodphd]

With how many hikers have gone missing around the world, the suspects always having looked like "normal guys" I'd say you were right to trust your dog, too. One of my dogs is generally people-weary but some people - she likes and seeks. First people in dog park she trusted - a lady the age of my mum, her daughter and granddaughter were a suprise, because they have a dog the size of Taji, and from a far away - mean looking,scars on his face. My mom usually fears big dogs, but this one she went out of her way to pet and they both did amazing with my dog, despite not being generally dog savvy people who know dog body language. They did "all the wrongs" - bending over her,patting her head...and she let them. My dogs immediately accepted that dog, too. We started hanging out whenever we met at the park. Not half year passed, I'm reading our local borough newspaper, and plastered on front page are my park friends. They saved the life of a lonely, elderly neighbour who fell in her cluttered house and couldn't get up, the stuff blocking the way. Apparently the dog wouldn't stop pawing and crying at the fence, even tried climbing over so they went to check on her, and with no response - called welfare check. The house was so cluttered the emergency services were afraid to enter so the 67 year old lady and her daughter went into the trash corridors themselves and half-dragged half-carried her out. She's fallen and broke her hip, and some of the clothes and newspapers fell on top of her. She had no family in Poland, was a loner and if not for the dog letting them know, she would have died there. Dogs know.

[@ACLC00]

My dog is incredibly friendly to everyone , i was walking him late at night one day and there was a guy walking around us alone i saw my dog going from relaxed to a statue staring at the guy with all of his hair sticking up , i recalled him and leashed him for safety. The guy moved closer and my dog just went from staring to barking and trying to lunge, the man didnt say a word and just turned around and left. Never undestood what got into him , he never barks and generaly loves people, he had never done that before and never did it since, i trusted him on this one and went staight back home.

[@CJ_Kelly]

If a dog who gets on well with most people and dogs suddenly reacts to a person, dog or situation like Hank is acting here, I trust their instincts and adjust accordingly. They don’t feel the need for false politeness, they just tell you what they’re feeling. More people should listen to both their own and their dog’s gut instincts.

[@vivienneclarke2421]

I 💯agree with what you said here. Which then leads me to say this..... I have a 10 year old rescue AmStaff,,100+pounds. I've had her for 6 or 7 years now. Obviously, she came with baggage,and it was apparent initially that she'd been abused. She's become a wonderful companion dog for me,gets along great with my other pit/lab mix,my dobie,and my 2 cats. She's also wonderful with my grand daughters,ages 4 and 10. She's always been wary of men,but will warm up to them eventually. With one exception. She's behaves so strangely around my brother in law. This is a man who I've known since I was a 6 month old baby(he married my sister when I was 4). He's 74 years old,is kind,gentle,loves animals. My dog sees him EVERY single day,and has for the last 5 years. Yet she acts scared of him,nervous of him,super anxious and skittish. Yet she WANTS to be friends. She just can't bring herself to do it. He's tried everything including treats. NOTHING works. It's frustrating for me,and I think deep down it hurts my bro in laws feelings. I'm not really asking for advice~although I'll take any offered!~ just throwing this weird situation out there to see if anyone else has experienced this kind of behavior and understands the whys........

[@michaeldavid6832]

@@vivienneclarke2421 Likely he looks like her abuser -- in general size and shape. Either that, or he smells similar. Or maybe your BIL has a curious collection of little shoes in his crawlspace.

[@nannettefreeman7331]

Could be glasses. My dog doesn’t like people wearing glasses coz he can’t read their eyes to determine whether they are friendlies or not.

[@revabbyjoovitsky5152]

My landlord told me a funny (I thought) story last year about an Akita he was petting. The Akita allowed the petting when landlord sat with Akita's owner together in the same room. When owner left the room and landlord was alone with the Akita, Akita growled at landlord. A few months later, I had reason to growl at landlord.

[@vivienneclarke2421]

@michaeldavid6832 🤣

[@joefish6546]

One of the main reasons I like Stonnie Dennis' videos is because you have an opportunity to observe and compare behavior between dogs; both dogs of different breeds and dogs within the same breed. I particularly enjoyed this one because it was a specific and unhealthy dog behavior (unhealthy from the perspective of a dog owner), rather than general behavior. Both dogs were very interesting to watch for different reasons. Thanks Stonnie!

[@jakejohnson6120]

What dog behavior was unhealthy here in your opinion?

[@ImCreepingDeath]

Yes in a calm humorous manner!

[@jamieabele9239]

Oddly enough, I do have an Anatolian who acts as my guardian. If he perks up for any reason, I pay attention. He has saved me from both animal and human predators. Dogs are amazing animals.

[@bchearne]

Anatolians are no joke. I shear sheep, and that’s one type of guardian dog you have to be friends with. A Pyrenees will bark and maintain a distance, but an Anatolian will take you out of the game

[@kelleywyskiel3478]

I have anatolians. They have an off on switch between a daytime walk and a nighttime walk. Most people can pet in daylight but at night it’s keep your distance and I respect that enough to never try to correct it. I trust them completely.

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

I trust my Anatolian to keep all threats away. She is a fabulous Guardian.

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

​@@bchearne You definitely want to be invited, and escourted around Anatolian. They don't mess around.

[@cw4608]

You have the coolest dog yard ever! They are so relaxed and walking over ramps, down slides, across canoes…you name it.

[@kelleywyskiel3478]

You are so chill it’s therapeutic just to watch you with the dogs. The boat bridge is my favorite. I love how you come up with courses for the dogs like this.

[@leegardner554]

Just a interesting side note, I have a English & a French Beagle (Harrier), the male French Beagle is very laid back and rarely Barks, the English Bitch is a typical Beagle who will bark at a leaf blowing past the window. We sit together and watch Uncle Stonnies videos almost everyday (working thru the back catalogue) along with other You tube Dog based material, not once has either of them reacted to any of the dogs on screen. Hank has been watched several times and what a fine beast he is, but with this video, at the start, as normal, no reaction, as soon as he reacted to Taji, our English Beagle was up, barking at the screen, then charged the TV and stood there barking for the rest of the video. When it stopped, she calmly turned around jumped onto the back of the sofa and lay back down. The power of silent communication.

[@StonnieDennis]

Very interesting!

[@markwilburn546]

Dogs don't have a language in the sense that we are used to hearing, but they do communicate with each other audibly as well as through non-verbal cues in body language and facial expressions. My dogs were on high alert and immediately watched the TV screen when Hank started barking. Hank doesn't trust Tadji. At first I couldn't see why. Tadji didn't seem to be giving any aggressive overtures toward Hank; therefore, I was confused until you stated in the comments section that Tadji had already aggressively attacked three other dogs. That is an issue, it's not an unsolvable issue. Tadji is non-verbally communicating to the other dogs that he's now the big dog and the king of the hill and he's daring the other dogs to knock him off of that hill. This is not alpha behavior. Tadji is being a bully and pushing his size around. This happens all the time within pack hierarchy as the dogs age and grow in size and confidence. However, when a totally new dog joins the pack and immediately starts pushing his size around and aggressively attacks three other dogs in the pack, then the pack will be on high alert. Hank is acting as if he is the top dog in the pack and he is warning Tadji to stay back. Tadji is throwing fuel on the fire every time he comes near Hank. Tadji is doing it on purpose to intimidate Hank. Hank is not intimidated. Hank rightfully may be fearful because Tadji is a big dog, but Hank is acting as the pack guardian and is willing to fight and give up his life in order to protect the rest of the pack.

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

Those black lab puppies are just so adorable - their happy faces just are so delightful

[@anmolsingh9025]

I am already liking hank. He is not afraid and willing to stand ground even though unwise in context.

[@michaeldavid6832]

As a part of a pack of the same breed, this would be very intimidating to any large animal. Imagine 5-10 hanks with a mind to set someone straight.

[@anmolsingh9025]

for sure, thats what a live stock guardians typically do. I dont know much about Catahoula dogs, though I understand they are used for a pig hunting in US@@michaeldavid6832

[@miked.7722]

I'm thinking Hank is out of line, he needs to chill and needs a correction. Taji is fine, Hank is scared.

[@dim5479]

There is one smaller dog that drives my dog crazy. I never understood it until I happened to be walking alone towards the dog as it passed my house. What I had never heard or realized was that the other dog would make a low growl and bare it’s teeth when it passed my house. You couldn’t really see it because of its longer fur and my human ears didn’t hear the growl from across the road. My dog had his reasons.

[@isabelsimoes7375]

I have the same problem with my neighbour’s dog, a french bulldog. I have 3 dogs, 2 female German Shepperds and a male Cane Corso. The french bulldog is always bullying my dogs, so they just snap when they see him.

[@ctzn291139]

The other dog may have growled at you because it smelled your dog on you and they seem to not like each other.

[@debbiesmith2207]

He's afraid because he doesn't have his pack with him. I'd like to see how he reacts when he's got some backup. I also agree with what Stony said it's a great big dog he might not be confident that Stoney could fight him off. My dog usually hides behind me when he's afraid of another dog . The only time he was aggressive to other dogs was when I was on day 3 of covid. The first 2 days I didn't take him for a walk he was so great he just laid beside me the whole time. Even though he's a young hyper Golden Retriever. I live in rural Canada a lot of people leave their dogs running around and some of them are aggressive. I generally walk mine on a leash when we are in town. we are often approached by other dogs A discussion/ VIDEO of dog body language would be awesome. Thanks for all your great videos Stoney.

[@Katydidit]

Yes!!.. a video on dog body language would be much appreciated... as well as how to deal with it!! My daughter is a dog trainer and also a good friend trains and shows dogs. The way they interact with misbehavior regarding other dogs is vastly different. .. would love to see how you deal with this in a dog park type of setting and also on a leash on the street. New subscriber here.😊

[@pennymayphilip9646]

I'd also be interested to see that scenario. My only issue with it is that one dog can often set off the whole pack & I'd have concerns that the Aussie shepherds/ GSD's might join in. I had two GSD's , a Boerbull (South African mastiff) & two Jack Russels. The Boerbull was pretty chilled (a very big confident dog). If the GSD's started getting uptight with another dog, the Jack Russels would nearly always join in which seemed to raise the tension in the GSD's. The Boerbull seemed to know to only join in when the situation was about to go pear shaped & his presence would make the other dog back off & de-escalate the GSD's. The Jack Russels would naturally continue to 'chase off' the other dog/s (in their minds at least).

[@rayr4320]

It is called threat perception and the catahoula pup is working on fine tuning his. You introduced a large even tempered, confident dog, and the puppy is saying get away threat, I dont know you. This is typical of catahoula dogs. It is very different than most other dogs. The catahoula pup will not be able to focus on any other activity until the threat is resolved. You dont believe? We can take all those dogs in this video and go to a Louisiana marsh that is loaded with alligator. The catahoula will identify motionless gator quickly and more importantly will never let its guard down. The other dogs will start sniffing something, drop their focus, and be in immediate peril. It is a dog bred by Indians and french to live in the marsh. Everyone suggests "my dog is a good watchdog and very smart". If left overnight in the marsh, your dog will also be dead by sunrise. Its all genetics. the catahoula isnt the fastest, or strongest or smartest dog. It is the dog best equipped to live, hunt and survive in a marsh. You always trust its innate threat perception. It isn't fooled by a mouse or the wind. If these three features sound like your lifestyle than the catahoula is the choice for you.

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

If Stonie were to pet and love on the bigger dog, do you think that would help the Catahoula understand the bigger dog isn't a threat? That's the way it is for me as a small-framed woman. I am much more alert and aware than a big lumbering guy -- until I have evidence there isn't a threat. Then I can relax.

[@ichisanjman]

​​@rebeccaoliver7977 i was thinking the same thing as you... personally don't know the dog breed, I've only known german shepherds, Rottweiler, Bassett Hound( they can be "stubborn" /laid-back or more aware of their physical abilities) ", Dogo Argentino, Golden/Labrador , chihuahua mix...... More as a pet environment scenario, not as working dogs.... the best nose of previously mentioned the Bassett Hound. But I can agree of what I've researched about the Louisiana breed , it has his survival instinct at 1 million.....

[@rayr4320]

@@rebeccaoliver7977 Yes, the dog will learn to adjust its behavior by the tone of its owners voice. E-Z is my word for calm down and then make them sit. If he starts cussing again at his transgresssor "E-Z". You must correct unwanted behavior so its not reinforced. Im an old man now and of the opinion that you dont take on more dog than your lifestyle can handle so I only have 2 females and another female that is crossed with a retriever. I have had aggressive males back in the 90s. For a new male: 1. First train sit and stay 2. train your perimeter. Each day take new dog to each post, Pound post sharply and say STAY Then go to next post STAY, Pound all 10 positions I am alpha and Dog must never cross or be punished. Then I play and feed them. Violators are punished w timeout and 3 pieces of kibble floating in water for dinner. Other dogs get full dinner. . 3. Train dog on leash with a choker collar. They like their collar and always want it on. If dog lunging or displaying uncontrollable bad behavior. Stop, say no and return home. Do not pass go. three kibble for dinner. Train at home for a week. Walk on leash again. If dog misbehave go home immediately. 4. Socialize so they learn acceptable behavior. It's mostly common sense and mutual understanding. Punishment is normally food restriction. For fighting its a spanking, isolation, and three floating kibble for din din. don't be arbitrary. Zero tolerance. You are alpha. Thats how you gonna do it.

[@myhounddog]

Interesting 🤔🤔🤔 thank you for this.

[@e.m.3705]

​@@rayr4320May I ask what makes you sure the misbehaving dog is conscious of why it isn't being fed, and how you know? I'm asking because, to my knowledge, a dog links a reward or punishment to the action immediatly (by a split second) preceding it.

[@ravenbird3014]

I have a Kangal/Pyr who is very large. He usually has no problems with dogs because he has always been mellow and moves slowly. He has never been as bouncy as Taji unless engaged in mutual play. Lots of dogs do not like giant bouncy dogs. There is low content wolf dog that is super large and bouncy and dogs are terrified of him. The way they move seems to be an important factor.

[@melblacke5726]

I know what I would do.....I would keep the dogs apart. Who knows why some dogs just do not get along with certain other dogs? It might not make sense to humans but it happens. That's why, when we are out and about, when people say.... oh my dog loves other dogs...I tell them something like no offense but your dog is many times larger than my dog and if we humans miscalculate, my dog cannot defend herself against your dog so no, it really is just not a good idea. As a dog trainer, Stonnie, you would be able to know the warning signs which, depending on the situation, can be quite subtle. However as the owner, it is my responsibility to keep my dog safe, even from my own poor judgment or other well meaning dog owners.

[@LeiaAskin]

I had a chow/lab mix that I rescued when he was a 6 week old pup on the side of the road. He had two things he loved in life. Walking/hiking and protecting his territory. He tolerated other dogs, but never wanted to play with them. He absolutely hated pit bulls and Rottweilers. He wouldn’t let them near me. It was just those two breeds. And he was the bestest boy and kept me safe when I was a single woman living alone. Sometimes some dogs just don’t like other breeds. You take such good care of your puppers.

[@C.Hawkshaw]

Funny, both my coonhound and chihuahua hated pits, they would go straight for them!

[@Kristen10-22]

I won’t ever take our 1yo back to the dog park … It’s just not worth losing my dog He relies on me to keep him safe, not put him in an unpredictable environment. A dog is still a dog at the end of the day. I respect them enough to know they can and will go off at a drop of a hat.

[@stevenrn6640]

I have a female white GSD that I got as a 2 YO rescue 6 years ago. She had massive anxiety issues and we were able to work through almost all of them except her threat assessment toward other dogs. But there is an exception. She loves un-neutered younger male dogs. The reaction difference between these two groups (un-neutered male dogs VS all other dogs) is simply astounding.

[@katarishigusimokirochepona6611]

Newsflash: She's not a dog, she's a cougar.

[@indigentphd]

Great video! I rescued an Anatolian/Kangal. She was/is always being threatened and sometimes attacked by other dogs. She used to fight back, but through lots of socialization and calm responding on my part, she can tolerate it now and just moves away. This was a great video to help me understand why she gets picked on even when she is not sending aggressive vibes. If the other owner won’t take responsibility for their dog, I let them know, “She might not tolerate that much longer and your dog could be really injured if she decides to fight back.” I try to be hyper-aware in all social situations as I know her power.

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

I have Anatolian x Maremma. She is not friendly to other dogs, but is fairly decent if other dogs leave her be. A dog jumped its fence in the neighborhood, and came at us. I thought, this is it. Dog fight. She placed herself between me and the German Shorthair. She just stood there, looking at him. He figured it was a good idea to jump back in his yard....

[@indigentphd]

@@darlenelarochelle4011 they are protective but seem very sensitive to when aggression is required and when it is not. Mine is actually very sweet once she knows I’m OK.

[@SaschKrassBass]

100% agree and I am 100% guilty. I fussed at my dog once because she threw a fit when she just saw another dog from the distance. When came closer, I realised that the other dog communicated to my dog that she (both she) wanted to kill my dog. So, I basically fussed at my dog for displaying defensive behaviour against somebody else who clearly wanted to harm us. My dog just was more right, more early than me.

[@BrandonJones-cq7yu]

I have a dog that was a stray, and she likes every dog except very large lgd breeds. As soon as they start walking up, she starts posturing. She plays with great danes and English mastiffs, but a pyr or Anatolian Shepherds are no gos. I just accept it. I don't like everyone, and my dog doesn't have to either. As long as it doesn't get overwhelmed to the point it doesn't listen.

[@territepper2779]

It looks like a fear reaction.

[@nancyhebert5325]

Thanks for addressing this. This video caught my eye since I just returned from my early morning 3 mile walk with my 2 dogs. An off lead Lab mix came in hot across a somewhat busy street. Not just high energy but very aggressive. The owner ran to get his dog but he had zero control over it. He eventually tried to pick it up. Luckily he was not bitten by his own dog. My goofy Golden/Lab mix was standing her ground. At least the owner didn’t say “but he is usually so friendly!”

[@rjf32jdog]

Thanks for sharing this. I have a lab that is usually easy going but gets real anxious around huskies. Would love to see a follow up with how to deal with this? It makes for some awkward walks when we run into our neighbors with dogs that our lab doesn’t like.

[@peggyprescott2040]

Agree would like to see some follow-up on how to handle.

[@gab-bingo]

I've had the same experience with my lab and some shepherds, akitas, and huskies. Maybe it's the pointy ears!?

[@mikelaughlin270]

I also have a lab who gets along with virtually all dogs and people. He too also gets very agitated around huskies and shepherds and he has been that way since he was a puppy.

[@hbishop8475]

Our intact male lab had a good husky buddy... til our lab hit adolescence. Then got aggressive with his former buddy, who is actually very chill and basically blew our lab off. Didn't stop our lab wanting to start something - frequently - with his former playmate. He does fine with shepherds though. I always wondered if it was something about the husky breed

[@Thediydog]

⁠@@gab-bingoSpitz breeds have a very upright posture, plus the pointy ears and the tail held high. I think this can read as dominant body language to other breeds and they might feel the need to bring them down a notch. I have a spitz and has that effect on other dogs too. Of course it doesn’t help that he’s a young, boisterous male and is giving off that energy too.

[@alexaalyeshm]

i just got an aussie pup, and would love if you made a video with more of your observations of australian shepherds! i was unfamiliar with the breed when i originally got her, but i am learning so much now.

[@sarastrohmeyer7632]

Second this. We got a mini Aussie (American shepherd) and we’d love to hear more about that dog park comment. 😁

[@ameliam7898]

Third!

[@YochevedDesigns]

I used to breed and show champion Australian Shepherds. I can tell you that they are the second smartest dog in the world, next to the Border Collie. You can teach them a million commands, and they will love it. They were bred to work 12 hour days, and need a TON of exercise. An hour or more of ball chasing at the dog park, and a good long jog or run in the evening. If they are bored they will find something to do, and it will usually involve chewing up your favorite pair of shoes (or your sofa). It's tempting to get them started on agility training, but don't let your puppy do any jumping until it's had it's hips and joints x-rayed and approved by a vet. You should wait until your dog is at least a year to year and a half old before doing any kind of high impact activity, because otherwise you run a real risk of damaging the growth plates on the bones. This will lead to arthritis and a lot of pain later on. If you have any other questions, just let me know. Aussies are not what I would call a "beginner's" dog.

[@kathrynhohmann5697]

Seems like Stonnie dismissed all Aussies in one fell swoop with his comment about the way they behave at dog parks. Pro tip: not everyone goes to dog parks with their Australian Shepherd. Why give Hank the benefit of the doubt while throwing shade on an entire breed?

[@jutaymfm]

I do love your desensitization process, along with the generalization. It flows smoothly, switching different obstacles. The way that you handle the dog. working with the dog and keeping it focused on you and in the track.

[@southernbelle4266]

I love watching you teach your son! Great teacher in my opinion. You say,explain,then show. Many things in past videos have hit the nail on the head in my experience. This video in particular has come to me at a time in my life where I question whether I should own a dog that is more than I could handle if the scenario ever presented itself- me against him. Proper training of both me and the dog is a must.

[@tiffanyfrehleyyeshuaismy0153]

…I think Hank wisely recognizes Tajie as a potential threat. Pretty courageous for 5 months. The high pitched bark shows Hank is a bit fearful because of his youth and inexperience. If a nice steak were presented, we would see Tajie show his dominance and Hank could get hurt if he did not back down. Uncle Stonnie must have let Tajie know that this is his house and yard, but still needs to keep four eyes on the situation. Likely there will be a scuffle if both were off leash. This is fascinating to watch. 😁 🐶🧔🏼‍♂️ 👀🐕 🐾

[@damaristighe3227]

"Scuffle"? :) Taji could kill them all if he felt like it. Maybe the pup is smarter than Stonnie!

[@armandhammer2235]

@@damaristighe3227Maybe stonnie knows that and is throttling the dog's emotion.

[@mdub1955]

Stonnie, I agree with your take on the behavior shown. Regarding my 8 year old Golden Retriever, he is highly socialized, confident and very capable. He trusts me and I trust him... that is absolute. When he shows discomfort with another dog or person, I take immediate note and adjust accordingly. He certainly knows dogs better than I do... no question there, and I tend to suspect that he may be able to read people and their intent better than me. Bottom line, he listens to me and I listen to him. After all, we have each other's best interest in mind.

[@anniwilson2534]

So much is non-verbal here. Taji (sorry if spelt wrong) appeared with very confident body posture - tail up, so not a neutral approach. You mentioned he’d attacked dogs previously too maybe he signals unease. Taji he wasn’t doing anything to assuage the situation either, almost baiting Hank. I’d be interested to see Hank’s reaction if Taji was out with some other dogs, not solo. Gorgeous dog!

[@bspano24]

Thank you for this demonstration!! Very important logic by dog & you!!

[@vv2066]

Taji is a good looking dog. I bet his owners have full faith in Stonnie and his abilities to make him THE best LGD.

[@samgriffiths1017]

I love this , any other trainer would tell you Hank is WRONG for reacting this way.... Stonnie sees it in a different light, Hanks got legitimate cause to be concerned

[@dogparty-tt8qw]

Awesome video thanks Stonnie!

[@alainacallahan5030]

I work very hard to build a bond of trust and respect with my dog. I don't HAVE to understand why she does everything. 99.4% of the time, my dog is calm, relaxed, and attentive. The first time I watched her react negatively to a person, we stood still and I checked my own energy. When she persisted with her behavior, we beat feet (and paws).

[@killiansirishbeer]

I remember being at an event downtown as a Red Cross volunteer. We have a tent, material and can administer basic first aid. The event was on one side of a park in town, and lasted two weeks. They put fences around so that it could be closed at night. One time, when it was time to close for the night, we were waiting for everyone to leave the premises before we could leave. I was chatting with a security guard that had a dog and who I met earlier. It was very interesting to see how the dog would react and bark at some people and not others, for seemingly no "obvious" reasons. I'm sure the dog had his reasons, but it was interesting to see his behaviour. Another thing was, I had asked the security guy if I could bring the dog a treat, so the next day after prepping the tent I went to look for him. As I came, there was a female employee (I'm a woman too) who was talking to the guard and was trying to pet the dog. She obviously wasn't used to dogs, and even though she wanted to pet him she hesitant which made the dog a bit hesitant too. Then I come over and the dog immediately recognised me, came to me for pets and I handed him his treat. The girl was very surprised so I did tell her that I had petted the dog extensively the day before (during breaktime, of course)

[@armandhammer2235]

I know it's difficult in stressful situations but staying calm is also important. Dogs read the handlers emotions.

[@vikkiwilson5069]

I agree. They do, it's almost uncanny. Also, short-tempered people shouldn't be training dawgs or children. If you can't govern yourself it's harder to govern the student.

[@peterl0815]

There is a difference between being calm and trying to look like you are calm. I think this "reading" isn't about body posture at all but about stress reactions and olfactory feedback because one gets an adrenalin rush. That's something you hardly can control in my opinion.

[@lorpsandorps3729]

My neighbor's pittie came wandering one day. My Catahoula mix wasn't having it. Thank the Lord that this particular pittie is so confident he just basically ignored my dog. I've seen an Argentine Dogo like that. They just waltz in and act as if the other dogs don't exist. I had to force myself and my son to walk calmly back to our house like nothing was up. No fight.

[@armandhammer2235]

@@peterl0815 You most definitely can control adrenaline. That comes from experience. I stay calm inside where others might freak out. Some of that probably came from my experience in the military.

[@peterl0815]

@@armandhammer2235I usually in such situations firmly try to block the other dog from getting access to my dog and show no sings of surrender, make myself bigger than I am and try to make a point that I'm not a person to messing around with. The problem with this forward directed strategy is that this can escalate quickly depending on the bread and brings me into a ready-to-fight situation with a full fledged adrenalin release. I do not freak out but also don't want to step backwards in order to protect my dog. I'm sure this is not always the right way to solve such issues but I'm not sure about the alternatives.

[@2strokinit527]

I see your point and have experienced this with my dogs getting barked at. I have 3 Irish Wolfhound/Great Dane mixes and other dogs sometime get nervous around them.

[@pamcm1098]

That's an interesting topic that I've often wondered about. My Great Pyrenees mix will look out the window and watch dogs pass by the house and not bat an eye, then one dog will set him off. It could be a little poodle, or a friendly golden retriever. I haven't been able to figure it out.

[@VerdenAvGlass]

One of my friend's friend is very experienced obedience trainer and competitor. She has female belgian shepherd, two border collie males and male australian cattle dog. Her dogs just live together, there is no problem with them. But when she was pregnant both border collie males started to fight with each other. Like her different state made them overprotective... or they sensed that she is weaker and in their opnion no longer in charge. They stopped after baby was born. Dogs are smarter than we think, they can sense a lot of things we are not even aware of.

[@Amy-dw7ii]

Such wise commentary. Good boy Hank. He knew that dog had it in him to be a threat.

[@AnnaAnnieAnneofGreenGables]

My gsd was attacked by a smaller breed off leash. She tackled the dog and held it down. The owner eventually got there. In this case, she could have killed. She did not bite or kill but used her body to hold down the dog while growling. Dogs are amazing. Breed matters, and so does training and relationship. Dogs make "decisions" and choices if given the opportunity, just like humans.

[@kelleywyskiel3478]

Having two gsd’s I believe this is normal neutralize a threat behavior when it’s not a deadly threat. Kinda what they do to calm the sheep or goats. Mine never use teeth but will put an entire dogs head into their mouth and just lay on them until they calm down. Minutes later all of them are friends. Unless the dog gets overly snippy again and down they both go. I’ve also watch them work together and body check dogs in a group away from a fearful dog until it’s like, hey where did all the dogs go 😂

[@nancymesek]

@@kelleywyskiel3478 My east European Shepherd/husky is the same. She’ll pin a dog that shows disrespect and moments later lick their face.

[@sfdf1979]

Given the age of Hank, I think he is in the “better safe than sorry” phase where he is going to alert to what instincts tell him is a possible threat. That was the age that my shepherd got super reactive to things that were new that appeared threatening. She outgrew all of it. And given the history of Taji being dominant/aggressive, maybe there is energy there that Hank is picking up on. Taji certainly came out with confidence, but didn’t have any aggressive or dominant posture to speak of.

[@marleri]

Take a look at the big dog's tail. It's up. it's not neutral. I wonder if Hank was there to witness the attacks mentioned that happened when the big dog arrived for training previously.

[@YochevedDesigns]

Taji looks like a giant puppy who just wants to play, and can't understand why the other dog isn't interested.

[@kelleywyskiel3478]

Literally my three year old Anatolian. I was thinking this dog acts just like mine. Goofy, playful, but would hold her own if she felt she had to. She’s never had to, I refuse to put her in that situation. She’s so big and I know her strength so I’m just very vigilant about her body language and move away.

[@LindyBoyle]

I have a purebred Catahoula male. The only two scuffles (one step up from a verbal disagreement) he’s been in was with a 120lbs low content wolf x shepherd and separately a 120lbs Anatolian shepherd mix! I walk 15 dogs per day off-leash (I’m a dog Walker) with my Catahoula for the last 4 yrs. So I just happened to find this coincidence with Hank & Taiji interesting

[@chikyuskincare4675]

When my German Shepherd was 3 months old and my son brought a Rhodesian Ridgeback in my home (he was looking after it), my dog went ballistic i.e., aggressively barking at the dog. I've never seen a puppy react the way he did. Needless to say, I immediately hired a trainer. Nine years later, while my Shepherd is highly obedient, incredibly intuitive and intelligent, and gets along with dogs in his pack, he wants to be left alone while out and about, especially when I take him to the beach to run and play fetch. He sets a 4' perimeter around he and myself, and doesn't want anyone dog near us or he will try to chase them off. The one behavior he dislikes the most is when a dog charges towards either me or him. Regardless of how obedient he is, I am always watching his body language. Thanks for another great video Stonnie! I am continuously learn from you.

[@suzanneemerson2625]

Four inch perimeter? That’s not much.

[@chikyuskincare4675]

LOL! I meant feet. @@suzanneemerson2625

[@lindsayravenell5365]

Tajie is big and has the experience and confidence that lets Hank know he needs to be weary. My Black Mouth Cur/Catahoula mix is very similar. They're smart survival dogs that don't take unnecessary risks. Mine is usually very friendly but had a very aggressive reaction to a guy walking near us. I completely trust her in that reaction and while I obviously didn't allow her to engage with him I did let him see that she was ready if needed. My grandpa always said "Everybody and for everybody"and that rings true for dogs as well

[@sarastrohmeyer7632]

Followed for years and we have socialized our puppy since day one, taking her everywhere. She goes on puppy sized adventures all the time. We build up her confidence like you showed in the protection dog or scared dog videos. She loves dogs just like you see in the beginning. However, there are certain dogs that irk her the wrong way and she does the same thing Hank is doing, mainly on a leash or behind a fence. Two of the neighborhood dogs ended up trying to bite her. One was trying to fight her through our fence (we have now had to put up a fence inside a fence to protect her) and the other when the woman let her dog come right up to her on a flexi lead growling and snarling. The other two were under socialized as puppies, don’t get near enough exercise and have a lot of frenetic energy without manners. Would love to know how to make my puppy more confident so she doesn’t feel the need to “go to pieces” when she meets a dog she doesn’t like. We’ve been very careful trying to get her around only good mentor dogs, but some neighbors have the poorest socialized dogs and think it’s appropriate to bring them up to our dogs or our fence line with the intent of fighting.

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

You could test one of your hypotheses by having George take your place for a lap around the course. 🙂 Congrats to George on his championship!

[@tiffanyfrehleyyeshuaismy0153]

…For viewers watching this video, check out the Shorts Videos for another short video of the large dog, Tajie. A closer view of his height and face. 😁🐶🐾

[@TheWatchMker]

It’s very interesting you post this, my dog went after another dog recently and he’s met hundreds of other dogs and been nothing but nice, this one particular dog. He was not liking. I guess dogs have personalities and are allowed to not like a particular dog.

[@Donzaloon]

Hank said “I heard about you. you not about do me how you did them other 3 dogs. You got Stonnie fooled but not me”🤣

[@sheilamarkland6071]

Great video, as usual! First I would like to say kudos to you for taking the time to think of things from the dog's perspective. Thank you too for being so thoughtful as to the cause of the behaviours. Next, I would apologise for the length of my comment, but I have a ton of questions! I noticed right off the bat that the catahoula was staring at the direction of where the sarabi (I think that's what Taiji is?) is coming from. what caused that fixation from the get-go is my 1st question? was Hank's reaction different because he came out with all the other dogs vs being on territory first and having another dog introduced after? would his reaction have been the same had they all come out at the same time? would his reaction have been the same to any other dog being introduced this way? His instinct was to go toward the "intruder", not aggressive per se, but alert, aware, and vocal. Had he been permitted off-leash, would he and Taiji simply have sniffed each other out, circled a bit and started to chase and play? Is Hank old enough to understand that kind of more complex communication? Is he reacting to something in Taiji's body language that we cannot see off-camera initially? Certainly Taiji seemed playful and surprised at Hank's reaction to him. Is that just breeds not recognising each other's play styles? I always think it is like some breeds speak different languages and things get lost in the translation... At 5 months, Hank is probably not neutered yet, I didn't look for it in video. but could it be the usual sort of iffy interaction between a neutered and unneutered dog? or perhaps they are both unneutered? The status of their hormones will play a large part in their interactions. Could it be, as you say that he senses danger? Dogs think with their noses, so maybe Taiji is emitting odours that are sending out dangerous messages that we just don't even begin to pick up on. at certain points, Taiji did seem to be a bit provocative, albeit in a playful way to my eyes. But maybe that's not how Hank smells it... Did Hank see or hear Taiji's jumping on the other dogs? Does that leave odours on Taiji that are dangerous? did other dogs communicate their fear of Taiji to him leading up to this encounter? Is he simply, as a puppy and as a dog growing into his size, having a developmental cognitive reaction to being dwarfed? Does he find that intimidating? Overall, I am so happy they are with you for this important socialisation. I think it is imperative that the handling of this be done by an experienced person such as yourself. Because no matter the reason for Hank's reaction, it needs to be addressed. I know you will bring Hank to where he trusts you to be making the right decisions so he can relax

[@Katydidit]

You have so many profound questions... you should collaborate and write a book!!

[@sheilamarkland6071]

@@Katydidit thank you! Honestly, I would be over the moon just to get down to the Bluegrass and meet Stonnie and learn from him!!! I dream of being able to do some kind of internship there

[@ajyyoung3263]

My Catahoula does this! Thank you! It all started when we went to the dog park years ago - a guy showed up with three huge mix breed dogs who weren’t monitored by their owner - and one did try to attack multiple other dogs and the other two acted like pack dogs and started attacking too. She’s never tolerated the dog park with other dogs well since. Catahoulas never forget!!!

[@grousehunter67]

Two of my nephew's just got 2 Catahoula's and have young kids in split family's i had seen your videos on the bread earlier i just got told yesterday they had each got one , buy your videos it really hits home that not every dog is right for a lot of owner's and I've always believed that

[@vikkiwilson5069]

They will need to raise them separately to have a chance (littermate syndrome). And have total commitment to structure and training. There *are* inappropriate dogs and you can't love away genetics. But it *can* work. I knew I couldn't whup a Cane Corso and had never trained a dog. Not promising. I was determined to obtain total mind control :) I learned through KZbin. Luckily for me she turned out perfect!

[@grousehunter67]

@@vikkiwilson5069 Both of my nephews are adults and have there own places , i don't believe these pups are right for either one of them to long to go into for why but that's my opinion on them , i couldn't believe the coincidence on watching Stonnies video's on this breed and finding out days later that they had these pups , and a prime example of people choosing the wrong breed for themselves !

[@RobertR1200rt]

Good stuff ! That's a big dog !!! I had an acquaintance in a group of friends. That I had issues with. I had an American Bull dog. He was socialized an good with people. Not so much with dogs but was controllable great dog. But when ever he was around he let him know I'm watching you. They feed of your vibes. And always pay attention when they go on alert.

[@rickklein7792]

I have a 6 year old male Red & White Irish setter. Recently we lost his big sister who was a Red Setter. She was always protective of the younger one. She only became aggressive with a few dogs in the neighborhood protecting us. Now you wouldn't think a Red Irish could hold there own against other large dogs but don't be fooled. A Border Collie came aggressively towards us at a run and Big Red intercepted the dog and had it pinned with her jaws around his neck. The owner screamed at us that my dog attacked hers. I said Lady mines on a leash. Anyway I got big Red calmed and the Red & White just cowered behind me. Now that Red is gone I have noticed a change in the other dog. Normally he is good with other dogs but a couple of days ago he got agitated with a Great Dane that got too close. I think after watching the video it explains the behavior. He was sure the Dane was a threat to us and was doing his job now that his sister is gone.

[@sirtainlee8725]

How society works, and how people or other animals maintain order is by showing everyone each other that they know "the rules", and will adhere to them. Your guard dog/favorite needs to know that that other dog knows the rules, and will adhere to them, so that yours can relax. Otherwise, he's going to have to teach him right there, on the spot, or even fight him.

[@psychedforlife7176]

I trust my dog when she alerts. She has kept me safe from weirdos on the trails and downtown. She also kept me safe from raccoons, skunks, and charging dogs. I didn't train her to do it, she just has this natural instinct to be on guard. None of my other dogs were like that. I just make sure people respect her bubble.

[@randywilliams4325]

If those dogs get their differences worked out please post another video of them .

[@roma8eight8]

I have a 70-LB Malinois and my challenge with him is reactivity against other dogs. I think he's just very protective.

[@tracymcgrath1192]

I live in Boston and there are so many dogs we see multiple times a day. My beagle is good with most dogs and people. Male dogs that are bigger are fine until they try and get a pat from me. He warns and runs interference the first time then he really gets pissed on the second try. He’s 7 now and I’ve only seen him start barking and growling a handful of times at a person across the street a handful of times. If there’s a fight on tv, he growls. A televised funeral, shakes and has a low growl. I appreciate the warning walking late at night when I’m not so aware of who’s walking nearby.

[@connoro331]

Granted, I’m an idiot, but here’s what I noticed: Stonnie had Hank on an elevated platform when Taji came in, which I imagine was done on purpose. I’ve been doing IGP with my dog for less than a year, but I know elevating dogs like that can be constructive when working on a dog’s confidence or ability to handle pressure. One, because they just feel taller in respect to their external ‘threat’, but also because they are usually backtied, so they don’t have the opportunity to leave. The bad guy only goes away when the dog has created space through barking. Or in the case of a very confident dog, brought the bad guy in with the correct barking behavior to get the fight that they want. In Hank’s first barks, I did not notice avoidance behavior. There was immediate tension put in the leash by Hank moving towards Taji, not away from him. I don’t necessarily think this certainly means that Hank isn’t fearful, but it at least points in that direction. I also haven’t heard Hank bark before, but they seem to not be stress/avoidance barks. Some good deep tone. I think that maybe Hank has an honest dislike for Taji, and it’s something that perhaps could be worked through with time. I’d also like to see what the interaction is like when they are both on the same level surface in an introduction. I suppose I didn’t really provide an explanation for why Hank dislikes him, but I think I can say that at least Hank is a confident dog, and learning to like Taji can probably be accomplished with a little time and effort.

[@StonnieDennis]

Very interesting points.

[@kellerayra7363]

That ending is funny. “What are you gonna do if you get that big dog?” Put them up before something goes wrong. I’m getting Too old for this stuff. You’re funny Stoney.

[@Serpenzeye]

The back-tie, without a route of a escape, can actually cause a dog to be less predictable in the future. If you force them to have a reaction in order to relieve the pressure and they don't want to bring the fight by choice, then you can create a defensive dog that has learned to bite to release the pressure. The pressure in the future could be a kid bothering him. I always thought the elevated surface actually gives less confidence innitially, because it's not an ideal solid spot as it is a platform, and overall less stable and leaves their feet and neck prone, but the end result is that it can build confidence working through it. Just my thoughts, not fact.

[@connoro331]

@@Serpenzeye Thanks for your input. I think I disagree with your points, but I’ll tell you why, and you can let me know what you think. I think that by now most of the people who have anything to do with training dogs know that the cause of unwanted biting or inappropriate aggression usually comes from insecure/fearful dogs. A dog that has been given the opportunity to flee from pressure could potentially be dangerous when he’s put in a position where fleeing is no longer an option, or rather, when they have a very low threshold for withstanding pressure. The whole point of the back-tie is exactly what you said: It removes the dog’s option to flee. You would not want to present the dog with pressure, allow him to flee, and therefore have a repetition of rehearsing the behavior of running from pressure. You want to introduce it incrementally and build your dog’s confidence. Eventually, the amount of pressure you used on day one to get a reaction from your dog won’t be anywhere close to a level that they can’t handle. If you’re hitting them with too much in their first session, you will consistently lower it until you reach a level where they can overcome it, get a win, and then slowly work over many sessions to get them more and more confident. You’re not teaching them that the path out of pressure is always biting. You are teaching them to be OK with pressure in general, but also to love the engagement with the helper/bad guy/sleeve/toy. After this drive to engage is established, secondary obedience is put on the dog before they leave the back-tie/table. Obedience under extreme drive is created in the same place where we create the drive. Obviously not 100% of this is done on the table, but the first steps are created in a spot where we can ensure that the dog won’t have any repetitions of losing/having to shrink away from the pressure. These dogs come away with a very clear understanding of when biting behavior is appropriate, and when it is not. Also, they have a very high threshold and can stand a ton of pressure. Much more than a child annoying them could possibly produce. They would be much safer with your child, than a dog who hasn’t had this work and has an incredibly low threshold, and feels trapped very easily. But also, every dog is different. And the kind of dog we would do table work with (high drive sport dogs working K9s) should definitely never be left unsupervised and uncontrolled around children anyway! To make my point even more, my own dog started off a lot more fearful and insecure than the other dogs in my club. And yet, the one person who has done all of the table work and has created all of the pressure on him is the only person besides me who is able to hold my dog’s leash without my dog having a problem. Although from our perspective we’re putting pressure and creating a fight, the dogs very quickly get past this and begin to view it as play and fun. As for your comment on elevated surfaces, I think for the most part dogs feel more confident when they are elevated. You also shouldn’t elevate them onto a surface where they don’t have good traction, and feel comfortable for the reasons you listed. But despite that, there are almost certainly some dogs who dislike the elevation, because once again… Every dog is different.

[@Serpenzeye]

@@connoro331 All good points. I guess I should explain what I mean about the risk of back-tying. I am specifically talking about sport dogs and dogs working in protection, not Fifi down the street. Some kids and some adults even who don't know any better and just want to interact with the dog and don't know how to read behavior and may not listen to the owner, can still put the dog in a bad situation if at the end of the day, he has learned the only way to leave an uncomfortable situation that he can't escape is to bite, because that was what he was taught. My club was different where we would have a dog on a long loose leash during testing, and during initial testing phases he was allowed to avoid/sniff ground, as we were trying to get a baseline for when he was interested, and IF he was interested and ready to maybe bark or notice the helper. Once that point happened, then we could see what we had to work with, and we would come back and test at later dates, not try to drag it out of the dog. If the dog was not very interested in engaging, even when they were old enough to no longer be avoidant, then we might start by trying to do some prey drive and play. Of course, with puppies, we would always do play and pray anyway with things like the flirt pole. If the dog was too timid to even engage with very little pressure overtime with prey drive, then we wouldn't try to force it out. In stark contrast, another club I watched them want to force a malinois that was younger, and was not ready to bring the fight, and was showing at that time he would rather avoid. They wanted the handler to essentially be the back-tie so that young dog couldn't leave, and the dog wanted to go after the person who was holding him there because he wanted to get away. Another time I watched an adult female that they had been trying to slowly add pressure with for a long time and they back tied her so that the only way out would be to bite. Even the helper said she could no longer be a reliable dog. What I am trying to say, is that in a sport like Schutzhund/IPO/ring etc, were you expect the dog to eventually bite at the sleeve/suit, if you have to back-tie to prevent escape to force engagement and a bite, then maybe that's not the right sport for that dog. Most are bred to eventually bring those drives anyway. If they are not interested, then they are not interested as each dog is an individual, and maybe that particular dog would need a different job. Schutzhund should be to test a dog's success in obedience, confidence/protection, and work ethic, and if the bite-work needs to be forced by taking away the option to leave (instead of the dog showing desire/confidence or prey-drive after a lot of work building to that), the dog might be better suited for something else. Bites shouldn't be forced, in my opinion. It's no longer working fun for that particular working dog at that point, and he can become a liability, because kids/insert-whatever-is-bothering-the-dog can still cause pressure, and if the only thing that that dog has learned to relieve pressure that he can't escape is to bite, then there can be a problem. Some kids and some adults even who don't know any better and just want to interact with the dog and don't know how to read behavior and may not listen to the owner, can still put the dog in a bad situation.

[@samanthachrestman9730]

I have a large older great Dane Pyrenees mix. She has never played rough or been aggressive in any way with people, dogs, cats, chickens so I don't understand why the neighbor's dog reacts aggressively toward her but not my other dogs.

[@TomsWhip]

I think another element in this particular video is also being on the leash. From Hank's perspective he is literally trapped, and cannot move away from mr. big, so the only way for him to create space is to let the other dog know to stay away. But yeah Stonnie, i think you might be a little in over your head with that dog, if he already had a go at 3 of your other dogs. That's a lot of liability right there, not gonna lie. I'd be interested to know what made you take him, since i know you already said a long time ago that you don't take big square headed dogs past a certain age, etc. Thanks for the video, looking forward to the update!

[@dogparty-tt8qw]

You really think Stonnie is in over his head ? I kinda doubt that.

[@damaristighe3227]

I totally agree about the leash increasing the tension. So, when I got my Cane Corso puppy, we socialised her off leash wearing an e-collar so we could close her down in case of disaster. We were able to observe her behaviour without the leash factor. She was great, she's remained dog-social even with little ones. We can take her anywhere. She has protected me a couple times and she did that by running in-between me and the threat and body-slamming the GSD that was jumping on me. She ignores strangers and is tolerant unless they're approaching the house (then she's terrifying). Her aggression is completely situational.

[@myhounddog]

Absolutely, mine is a different dog on lease he's in working mode.

[@colleenseeley8344]

Okay, after watching this video, I'm about to let my dog geek flag fly. :) I watched the video twice. The first time with sound and the second time without the sound. I saw a completely different picture without the sound. Without the sound, I walked away with the impression that Hank(?) is much more unsure than he is aggressive towards Taji (?). You can tell where Taji is in the yard in relationship to you and Hank (without Taji being in the frame) just by Hank's body language. As Taji moves away, Hank's tail returns to a more neutral position. He always has an eye on Taji, but it's not necessarily "stink eye," but more keeping tabs on Taji. After the second viewing, I see Hank's response as a request for space from Taji. Taji is giving every signal that he means no harm. His body is loose and bouncy, his eye's are soft, and his tail is nothing but wide sweeping wags. Yes, the tip is high, but the base is mostly neutral. (Good boy Taji for learning Uncle Stonnie's lessons, because he never took offense to Hank and never escalated the interactions!) So, this leads me to wonder if being at your place isn't his first experience with giant breed dogs. You also mentioned that the first time Taji came into the yard, he went over top of a few dogs and tried to shake them . If Hank saw this, he's a wise pup not to forget that experience. (A dog would have to work to earn my trust after that.) Given the Taji I saw in this video, I have to wonder if Taji - also being a young dog - wasn't as socialized as he needs to be and upon meeting these dogs for the first time, decided that a good defense is an even better offense. (Pure speculation on my part.) The last thing I noticed is that when Taji wasn't in the yard, the yard was filled with a lot of soft, bouncy puppy energy and calm adult dog energy. Taji came out and that energy and the dogs went away. There is safety in numbers and with Taji coming out and the other dogs going away, I wonder if Hank might not be feeling added pressure. With the introduction of Taji, the numbers went away, the adult canine supervision and backup also went away.

[@couespursuit7350]

I have been around labs since I can remember. Over the years have hunted, trained, lived with or been around mine or my parents labs to the count about 12. Over all that time I have seen some instances where even tempered typical easygoing female labs have gotten into near knock down and get at it tussles. The common thread was one dog would be by their boat, decoys or gear and another dog would come around and the female lab would go total territorial. It always impressed me that the one thing that triggered them was the encroachment on their hunting gear. Take them away from what they perceived as "their gear" and hey got along with man or beast just fine. You ever seen or experienced such?

[@dadams239]

Would love to see a video on how to deal with this when on walks, and dogs on leash. I have 2 medium-sized rescues, from a dog hoarder situation, who are the most docile, sweet dogs I ever had ( my first non-labs). But some dogs just set them off when we are on walks. I try to keep them going forward and paying attention to me, but it would be helpful to see what you would recommend.

[@armandhammer2235]

Going forward and getting attention to you is exactly what you should do.

[@ixaeon]

Thank you for showing some of the more difficult and realistic parts of dog training and ownership :)

[@jerrybobteasdale]

I think the big boy gave off a vibe of not being too concerned with considering being submissive to ANYONE. He sort of ignores the usual rules of politeness. Not being aggressive, but also not giving a dang about anyone else's hierarchy or agenda. And he's BIG. It's like when the 6'10", muscular man walks into a room, steps in front of you, and just nonchalantly picks up your most expensive camera. You naturally get on edge.

[@MsBrehay]

It was actually very respectful, and not pushy at all, backed off while being offleash, the elbow licking is submissive behavior, as were the play bows. Your comment is the complete opposite of the behavior of what the larger dog was potraying. Wondering if we even watched the same video.....

[@jerrybobteasdale]

@@MsBrehay Failing to display polite manners to other dogs is not the same as to being rude to them. He was not rude. He was not aggressive.

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

My LGD female bows up and is very concered about large dogs.. bunch of dogs, she picks the big one to be concerned about. This poor lil Catahoula knows that big boy can kick his lil hiny. He's the only dog there, all his friends went home....he is scared but determined to put up a good front. Brave lil dog. BIg LGD is being kind. He knows the same thing, thats a pup and no serious threat to him. Dogs get that stuff figured out pretty quickly. 😮

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

My LGD is the same. Big dog is the always the one she picks out to bow up over.

[@frazbmw]

I've enjoyed some of these knowledge drops during the catahoula videos.

[@kellybowyer8321]

Stonnie, you make so much sense:)

[@kishores419]

Watching this video feels like watching a mirror reflection of my own 3 year old Catahoula! At first, I couldn't quite grasp his selective behavior, but as time passed, I began to understand him better. He's incredibly mellow and loving with family, friends, and kids. However, around strange men who are taller than 6 feet, he becomes very suspicious and alert. He's friendly with calm mature dogs but becomes enemies with high-energy goofballs. This video perfectly captures the essence of my life as a Catahoula owner, confirming my understanding of his unique personality traits.

[@animallvr4]

We had a shephard mix that loved people and dogs with the exception of a great pyranees, her hackles would go up, she would growl, and go into full protection mode, the GP never reacted or showed any interest. We never could figure out why, but she was a smart gs so I trusted her instinct.

[@carolshang]

I have a GP. Very calm and friendly to everybody. All he wants to do is to make friend with every dog he sees so he never bark at any dog. I never figure out why some dogs don't like him and barks at him like they want to kill him😢.

[@julianvega2677]

Our catahoula was dog reactive as an adolescent but seemed to grow out of it. Great with family and any other pet, birds, cats. Weary of strangers of any age. As an adult she is actually very good with other dogs. No more reactivity. Curious to meet them, but doesn't really want to play. Greets appropriately and backs off if prudent and does not respond in kind to others dogs aggression.

[@807amBreakthrough]

Your videos are always a pleasure and so educational. I always try to confirm my dogs in such a situation - and thank them for the reaction and confirm the source (the cat in the filed, the person etc.) and let them know I will take care of it. A bit the same with barking at passerbys or postmen or other cross country runners.

[@justinv4036]

I think threat perception is, the answer for what's most responsible for this reaction. Factors in addition to the giant size and breed type that differentiate taji from the other dogs are the cropped ears (which are unnatural and weird to dogs) and the high tail posture that shows a ton of confidence and moderate-high arousal. Id be interested to see Hank's reaction if the rest of the pack greeted a big new dog like taji first and remained accepting and calm. It would also be interesting to know if any of the other dogs in the pack were also intact males... I have an 85lb intact kmpv line dutchy x mal that's pretty scary looking if you dont know him. He's super confident but also has excellent maners and is very "appropriate" with other dogs: ranges neutral to friendly based on how interested the other dog is in meeting him. Hes never had a problem with another dog, but 100% of the dogs that have had problems with him / tried their best to pick an unwinnable fight were young (>2yrs), dumb, and smaller (>50lbs) males.

[@janeteckhart4886]

Great video. Great information.

[@paintproduct2332]

The breed is consistent, it’s been said time and time again. They pick who they like and who they don’t like. It’s on the owner to know the dog, not the dog to know the owner. Side note: catahoulas are also very vocal so a lot of people think they are combative. It’s just them going “hey hey hey what are you?!” Also when they pick their person that pup will do whatever it takes to protect you.

[@Flippokid]

Let's see if my thoughts align with yours. 1: you don't get along with everyone. So why would you expect your dog to get along with all other dogs? 2: They don't like competition for (future) mating. So males don't like intact males around, and females don't like other females around (not sure if intact matters with them). 3: Staying intact means more hormones, which make them more dominant. That can result in friction with other dogs that are also more dominant. 4: they have an unsettled matter or a grudge with/against the other. I personally have seen that play out between several dogs. One dog does something that the other doesn't like, and corrects the first one for it. If it doesn't listen or understand it that can escalate. 5: And of course the overarching reason: because either one or both of them weren't socialized enough.

[@RIIrishgal69]

This is my first time watching you and you are incredible man

[@warchikk]

I have a male irish Wolfhound the size of Taji, and this absolutely happens with random other dogs. My dog is friendly and has never started a fight, but he's had to finish quite a few. And mostly without a scratch on the other dog, but pretty scary for them. But it makes me sad, because he loves other dogs and wants to play, not fight. Maybe he's overly confident and ignores signals? Mainly I've been able to figure for the reason is that it is a combination of him being intact, and huge. Maybe it is that, that dogs identify him as a threat based purely on size, the "what if he goes all Kujo" scenario. I do find the dogs that seem to hate him the most on their own ideas are herding dogs or huskies, and the ones that hate him based on their owner's reaction are male German Shepherds. Oh yeah, and every dog thats attacked him has also been male.

[@kpfly1]

Love the vids Stonnie

[@StephanieBeal-xz7lw]

This is fabulous and fascinating to me because my Catahoula/Aussie will be fine with anyone in the day, but when dusk hits she is more on guard with me. My dog is VERY social and loves other dogs and people, but there have been a couple times she will growl out of the blue and I pay attention and distance us both from the situation. And if we go to a dog park and there is a particular dog being a bully to other dogs she will get in their face and tell them a thing or two. Also, I was just camping with some relatives and they have a small dog. We were all walking past another family with a bulldog like dog (sorry I am not good with most breeds) and my dog was fine passing it and even thought about a meet and greet, but as soon as that other dog approached my relatives small dog she growled and launched at the other dog to let it know to stay away from her small friend. Just like what you said, my dog knew (or thinks) she could take the other dog, but knew that small dog (who is her friend) was no match. I have loved watching your videos on Hank especially since I have a half catahoula. You are so accurate about their temperaments and characteristics. Thank you for these great videos. I know I am tuning in late, but am enjoying them so much.

[@almacharles8746]

Very interesting, I have a Westie and this is how he is with certain dogs, usually big male dogs. I know that he feels threatened by them, if he was of the lead he would even run at them and he would come off worse. What annoys me is the owners that say ‘it’s because he’s on a lead’, or ‘he feels your fear’ as if they know my dog better than I do. If the owner is a good owner we will stand and chat and let the dogs get to know each other, and that works. Some owners are just down right rude, and there are 1 or 2 dogs he will never take to, usually because the owner is not willing to help and thinks my dog is just being aggressive , when he is actually just anxious 😮

[@kathybrem880]

I love the way your pack is following you around

[@stevehilliard1495]

State champion dad at work 😝

[@Mereshort]

I enjoy watching the other pups just hanging around. Such a great video.

[@Itsacrazyworldwelivein]

I think Taji is a Turkish shepherd. A dominant independent protective breed. They are also both males, that may also be a factor. Oh just saw the video on Taji and he’s a CAS. They are no joke and not for inexperienced owners. Hank has reason to be wary of him.

[@christopherlamb8297]

I have definitely seen this mixed behaviour with my dog, an Anatolian, and other dogs at the dog park. Dogs can be triggered at the moment but also have very good memories of past behavior. Hank was remembering what Taji did in the past. My dog is always wary of white dogs, probably from some encounter in the past. Definitely interested in advice on how to address this behaviour and make both dogs feel safe.

[@josetalavera1275]

You have insight into these dogs personalities. You are right to keep an open mind with the dog's instincts and perceptions.

[@jennywight9119]

What he said about Australian shepherds is so true!! I routinely walk my Rottweiler around my neighborhood. She doesn't get reactive with most dogs. However, there is a yard we walk by with 3 shepherds and they always go off on her, and she goes off right back. In fact, my dog did her normal response to these dogs the other day and they weren't even out in their yard!!

[@ImCreepingDeath]

Aussie's are the best and yes mischievous!!! Beautiful work Stone and thanks for the laugh!

[@SmileyTheAxolotl-hl8kg]

Great informative video! Thank you!

[@StonnieDennis]

Thanks for watching!

[@OG_Beckie_Leigh]

I’m sitting outside with my dogs letting them play before bedtime, and all 4 of them took off running when you whistled. 😂😂😂

[@jakejohnson6120]

Incredible video Stonnie! Animals (dogs especially) have amazing instincts and intuition. You may very well be right that the Catahoula senses that this dog can do some serious harm. And that it is important to listen an watch what your dog is doing and not quickly dismiss their behavior.

[@scottallen8067]

Good video. loved it. You shared a good perspective of two different dogs. Thanks Scott Allen Marysville Washington

[@Bells403]

My WCS is the sweetest dog. We live with 2 other large dogs, she goes on group walks, and goes to a day school training and has never had any issues. However, she has 0 tolerance for unknown large "friendly" dogs running at her off leash when we are outside. She has been taken out a few times by dogs 5x her size so she's learned to give a good warning when she doesn't want a dog in her space. Over the years I can tell from a mile away which dogs she won't want to interact with and I will make sure to protect her.

[@judet3026]

That was amazing to see the change in body language in pup when the other dog emerged even at some distance. I have seen this reaction in both my dogs and yes it is to particular dogs not all dogs. Being older with some health issues I now wonder if this was protective reaction - not so much of me but of the dogs as they did not have confidence in me. In the last few months I have been working on my own calmness and assertiveness in my handling and I have found an improvement in both my dogs but not fully resolved as some dogs still trigger them. I suggest this is alerting behaviour - same as they bark when someone comes on your property etc. I wonder if street dogs do the same?

[@jakedewald]

What I usually try is bringing the reactive dog onto the others turf. In this case let hank in the yard while uncle Stonnie is already holding the leash and running the course with Taji. Kinda reduces their need to defend against intruders if it's not their turf.

[@marianom9729]

Great video as always uncle Stonnie!

[@beam3819]

I always pay attention to whom my dog dont like, be it a person or a dog. I know how emotionell intelligent she is and I follow her instincts and get away from danger.