[Alan]

Have you ever noticed any of your dogs trying to be an enforcer for you? I dont know if it is good or bad but Ive seen almost all of my dogs do this at one time or another. Let me give an example of what I mean.

We have one dog which we let off lead only if we are outside with her because all of the yard is fenced in except the driveway. I was walking another one of the dogs, on a leash, who hates cats. I have a cat which stays in the garage and the door was open. This dog started to drag me in the garage where the cat was. I firmly told him no. As I corrected him, I saw my other dog which was following us get that devil look in her eye and start to charge him. I told her no and she was fine. She never messes with the dog I was walking but because I had repremanded him, she was going to enforce my repremand by takeing a chunk out of his behind. I have to watch repremanding one dog in front of the other because this type of reaction is normal around here.

After it happend today, it made me wonder if this could have anything to do with some of the dog attacks we see. I had never thought much about it before and I admit it does sound like a stupid question. I just wondered if anyone ever corrected a child and that caused the dog to respond. Ive never seen my dogs do this with a person but I never correct people around them either and I dont have any small children.

[Michele]

I just wondered if anyone ever corrected a child and that caused the dog to respond. Ive never seen my dogs do this with a person but I never correct people around them either and I dont have any small children.

I have never seen this happen, but i'm sure it's possible.

[debo-dumbo-ears]

I've witnessed a similar, but different response in Debo. I have 3 cats: 2 are brothers & only came to live here a year ago when they were 2yo. The 3rd cat has lived w/ me & Debo since she was a kitten (she's 2 now). Debo & the female cat get along great. The other 2 tolerate Debo, but don't like him. Debo tolerates them, but doesn't show any signs of not liking them. The older 2 male cats & the younger female cat DO NOT like eachother at all. So, I have two pet camps here: Debo + the female cat & the two male cats. Sometimes when the female & one of the males start growling & hissing at eachother, Debo will run up & get in the middle of it. He has NEVER growled, shown teeth, barked or done anything remotely aggressive. He just gets in the middle & stands there. Since the two males don't like him, they just run off. This is the difference though: Debo will only do this if he thinks I'm not around or not paying attention. If I'm sitting right there, I'm usually the first to yell "HEY, Knock it off!" & he just watches. Even if I don't yell, but I just look in their direction, he won't move. The only times I've witnessed him getting involved is when he didn't know I was around or awake. Sometimes he'll do it after I've gone to bed, but my BF is still up watching tv. I guess he knows the BF doesn't really care about the cats fighting???

I've sort of struggled w/ this. The way he runs up on them looks sort of scary. But I'm also really glad that he does do it when I'm not around. Otherwise, the males will pick on the female any chance they get (she's not perfect either. She starts it half the time. Usually when she knows I'm right there to make sure she doesn't get attacked. sigh). I just hope Debo never takes it to the next level & actually attacks a cat. Because I don't really know how to feel about this behavior, we've never scolded or praised Debo for it. If anyone has insight into this behavior, I'd love to hear it.

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by Michele I have never seen this happen, but i'm sure it's possible.

I agree....I think that is possible because when people/parents are correcting children in front of the dog...it may tell the dog, that they are equal...as in child and dog...instead of child alpha over dog. Now I am not saying that children should not be corrected in front of dogs or they should be but away from them...I dont agree with that....
I am just simply saying that it MAY have a certain affect on SOME dogs to react the way they do...but i also think that the ones that would attack a child for WHATEVER reason they deem fit....were going to do it anyways....
No dog should ever attack a person of any age, for any reason, unless instructed to by their master....
To better support my thoughts here....
I sais the above because, I know when I was raising my neices and nephew, my dog would react SOMEWHAT to my getting on to them...regardless of what they were in trouble for. Usually the dog was around when they were kicking him, hitting him, pulling his tail and such, I would get on to them, (of course this wouldbe in front the dog...)
this would also lead to...when I wasnt looking, the dog would get onto them, when they did such things...not attacking of course...but a snap..never bitten...or a growl, or a bark...when they back off, he lays back down and ignores them as usual.
I do belive that if I as never around to stop this behavior or at least control it, that it very well could have gotten out of hand. (I am not speaking of an APBT either....small terrier breed)
I do think it could possibly play a role later on, if the dog was never corrected for it from the past.