Looking for true social aggression and protective instinct - Page 5

I understand the "social aggression" to be much as Hexe described... "I would expect a dog with 'true' social aggression to comport him- or herself with a level of confidence, aloofness, steadiness, power and control that the animal is able to claim his or her 'space' without having to become actively demonstrative about it.  These dogs are not hard to recognize--they aren't throwing themselves at gates or fences challenging anyone who passes by, but they will watch you, assess your measure, and decide whether you bear further observation or if you're of no consequence to their life or resources."

As long as the dog is handled fairly and clearly... handler aggression is not an issue, imo.

I know, or have heard stories by the owners, of 3 grandsons of Stormfront's Brawnson that I would consider of this type. All three dogs are described as good with children (edited to ad.... because children are not any kind of threat to a "sane" dog's social standing), safe in social setting.... but very much a line-in-the-sand kind of dog. They meet a threat with almost a joyous You Just Made My Day attitude.
Thus my recommendation of Mike Diehl or Nate Harves.

---Mary

Mary you also said,

As long as the dog is handled fairly and clearly... handler aggression is not an issue, imo.

Then could you also recommend this dog type per your description, to the novice handler?   Certainly not all dogs read children as a non threat. I've personally seen how a meek child can be dominated, as well. How would you tell, as children come in all flavors?

Children are a non-threat.... to a SANE, thinking dog. A socially agressive dog (by the definition I am using) is not threatened by them. Just as male puppies are accepted, but an adult male dog may not be. There is zero need for a dog like this to "dominate" a child or puppy.

No, I would not recommend a dog like this to a novice handler... or any handler who has issues with setting clear and consistent rules.

Mary, you are absolutely correct in your description. Beetree, as long as there are questions like this, there will always be someone looking to poke a hole in them...maybe because they dont like this type of dog, maybe because they dont think it should exist...
There are people who love that type of temperanent, myself included. I have raised 2 young children from birth with Malinois and Filas around them that had these qualities and I never had a problem with any of them.
As far as novices...see, this is where I have a problem...people need to do their homework when they are looking for something, be it a dog, a car or a toaster. KNOW what you want, how much you can afford and how much you can handle, BEFORE making the purchase.
This "watering down" of dogs temperanents has spelled the end for many breeds and there are still people who do not want that social sport dog that everyone can handle.

"......and there are still people who do not want that social sport dog that every one can handle."
Unfortunately, the people who want a dog that has the innate instinct, and strength of character to act appropriately in a threatening situation, are few and far between. That could be why the demand for "watered down" GSDs is greater than the demand for "real dogs".

I got one. Feel free to meet him. Not a very easy dog; and sometimes I just wish to have that "social sport dog that everyone can handle".

Too thrue, Elkoor...
You always need to be on the alert...
But only SOMETIMES...

Elkoorr....BTDT..they are not the easiest dogs to live with, but, when the need arises for one, you are glad they are there...I still maintain that that the correct temperament dog that has a lot of social aggression is not a problem to live with, as someone else said up there.

Hired Dog, I don't have a problem with a dog that you and Hexe describe and that kind of dog is not what I was referring to, others have a different interpretation of social aggression that I believe makes the dog fall outside the breed standard.

Pm box dixie25