Fight or flight.

[claire_88]

Reading the body language of a dog contributes a lot to the behaviour presented within certain situations.

This is merely curiosity and a case of what you would do:

If,

1: A dominant, clearly aggressive dog that is not moving when confronted and that when presented with a potential threat (as he sees it) will attack and will bite..... If you are the threat, what would you do to diffuse the situation?


2: You are in a position where a dog is barking directly at you, but a bark that is somewhat uncertain or panicky. They are still not happy with your presence but are showing signs of backing off when you approach them.......?


I know what i would do, but let's hear your opinions and reactions

[sami]

Interesting Claire!!

I have stared a Rottie down and stopped it charging Leo by being firm and calm.

I have also stumbled into a stry gsd in Greece walking with its tail in the air, clearly very dominant, in that case I put my head down avoided eye contact and hoped it sodded off without bothering me.

The other thing is on the flight side, I cant run so thats out of the question anyway!!!

[wildmoor]

it depends not only on the individual dog but the enviroment as well
I have had a Dobe jump out of a car past its owner charging down the street to me in the dark barking - I squatted down to show I wasnt a threat it then greeted me and I took it back to the owner
same street different night a GSD with tail high hackles up barking I walked towards it and threatened it - it ran back in its garden
i let myself into a friends house with a key - they should have been at home as I shut the front door their white GSD grabbed my hand and started to pull me to the ground - I shouted at him to back off he did but stood in front of me growling I attempted to get to the garage door from the hall and as I went to put my hand on the door he lunged but I was quicker and once again shouted at him, by this time there was a trail of blood all over the tiles in the hallway, i started to go to the kitchen and he ran ahead to get to the back door I went to the sink and bathed my hand and dressed it, whilst I was doing this he came up behind and grabbed my jeans once again I shouted at him to back off - i then walked forward he ran to back door and I went in the hall and shut the door as he hit it the other side. I have never come across one as aggressive as this one, he knew me and I had walked him numerous times
I still have the scars on my hand his teeth met bone, my coat was also ripped - this was a dog you could not avert eye contact and needed to stand up to, once he realised i wouldnt back down was the reason second bit came from behind

That's meant to be a bad trait in a dog biting from behind, whether its another dog or a human.

[wildmoor]

Weak Temps Anni

I remember Storm escaping once because I didnt realise a mutt had followed me up the drive so he chased it off (as I opened door he shot out)- I called him back on his return a bloke tried to grab him he stood on his hind legs and eye balled the guy barked in his face, the guy froze and he returned immediately

with most dogs you can sense and a weak temp dog is more likely to bite than a dominent one

[claire_88]

I believed it to be a cowardly trait.

Could it also be classed as a drive?
I'v seen a dog chasing cows before and all was good until the tables turned and it was the dog being chased.
Would this be a similar scenario when a human turns their back on a dog.....The dog gets more confidence on its intended attack/bite?

[Stuart]

When I was in the Army, I worked with dogs for a time,..and we were told that if we were confronted by an aggressive dog, to go down on one knee, and cover your face,.. placeing the one leg in such a position that you could force yourself into a standing position if the situation called for it,...I have done it once in my job as a Postie and it worked.

I also have a border Collie on my run that threatens me everytime I deliver to the house, as I walk away it makes a lunge, I always turn into him and shout him down,.. it has always worked, and this has gone on now for over a year,..you just have to be a bit brave

If I was in the situation while with one of my dogs, I would give him/her the length of the lead, and be ready to release the lead if nessersary,.. a dog can only fight or flight, if you keep it on a lead it cant take flight, and so is forced to fight

if I was out with the three dogs,..then I havent a clue, not sure if I would want to release all three, but trying to hold all three in a fight situation wouldnt be easy, so I might be forced to let go,... unsure until the time arrives,...[ hope it doesnt ]

[claire_88]

Holding one is hard enough when they decide there going for it never mind three!