Labs prey drive behaviour with kids

helimachoptor

The house mate is away and i'm looking after her dog for a couple of weeks (choc lab pup about 7 months old). Had a lab before so i know how boundless they are, non stop energy. Brought him for a short run Fri and Saturday, brought him to the local field for a game of catch.

Sunday brought him up to Killiney hill, he's fine with other dogs playful and not aggressive but sometimes he puffs out his chest and lets out a very loud bark at men, specifically men who may be 20/30 metres away minding their own business. However as with the good weather there were a lot of kids around yesterday and he seemed to go into stalking mode and as we got nearer was getting ready to pounce and then when i stopped him he proceeded to bark a couple of times at the kids.

Frankly I'm a bit worried, he's quite big for a lab already, he hasnt been socialised really (i.e. no puppy classes), the housemate treats him like her baby :rolleyes:. I have done some very basic training with him he's good on recall, will sit, lie down on first command etc but after seeing him yesterday with kids it got me thinking. After having a massive GSD for a a few years who was a big teddy bear i'm not used to these agressive dogs!

Oh and he's not neutered.
Any ideas? I've gone blue in the face suggesting puppy classes to the housemate.

PaulB91

hey there - my only suggestion would be to try and get him used to kids, but kids can be funny things, very unpredictable, my lot love the 4 year old down the street, and play with her whenever she comes up, no aggression what so ever, but she's used to dogs, at the same time if i am out with them (all on leads) and a kid runs past they do tend to bark and pull towards the child, i put this down to a combination of the child making sudden movements unearving the dog, the dogs natural protection of itself and me and the natural instinct to prey - i.e. the child moving speedily away when close to dog triggers the dogs prey mode.

any hew, if you know of any kids near you whom are used to dogs, see if they will aide you, keep a close eye on the lab though

Ave Sodalis

Heya, have a chocolate lab meself in a house with 4 children.

Was it possible that the dog saw the children playing and wanted to join in? He is after all still a puppy. Or was it aggressive when he was approaching the kids? i.e. ears back, teeth bared?

I agree with Paul, get him used to kids. If it is aggression, I would start with older kids who aren't nervous. Always with a muzzle. Personally, I don't think puppy classes are necessary but that is just my opinion. Some people swear by them, some don't.

If the barking at men is a problem, neutering should solve that. I know a dog whos afaid of strange men, just men. He's okay with his owner but that's one of the only men he trusts. Funny that.

helimachoptor

Thanks guys, it seems to be just young children, relatives of mine have been around and rolling around the back garden with him and he's very playful.

Will try and speak to the housemate about getting him socialised a bit more.

lorebringer

All it really sounds like is a socialisation problem, and he's coming into the "teenage" phase so it really should be addressed soon. Neutering curbs quite a lot of aggression problems (not that there are any actual problems, from what you said, probably just some dominance issues) esp in younger dogs before the habit is ingrained.

Classes are not a must, but taking him out to very child active areas would be a good idea. Let the kids pet him etc. if they want to (while he is controlled on the lead) so that he gets as much positive reinforcement as possible. Generally, trying to get him out and about in public areas, with loads of people of different ages and sizes, is probably what he needs.