active aggression - Page 3

active aggression is another one of those terms that not everyone will agree on its meaning.  you have to understand what the person using the term means when they use it

i , for one, presume it to mean that the dog is willing to start the fight.  i.e. the dog is actively showing aggresion to make the man/decoy move so he can bite him. 

this would be the oppisite of the dog who needs the decoy to move or make attraction (usually a whip) to get the dog to bark or show some type of interest in the object.  in this instance the dog is reactive.  he is responding to the situation around him.

john



active aggression is another one of those terms that not everyone will agree on its meaning.  you have to understand what the person using the term means when they use it

i , for one, presume it to mean that the dog is willing to start the fight.  i.e. the dog is actively showing aggresion to make the man/decoy move so he can bite him. 

this would be the oppisite of the dog who needs the decoy to move or make attraction (usually a whip) to get the dog to bark or show some type of interest in the object.  in this instance the dog is reactive.  he is responding to the situation around him.

john

Ditto- that is exactly how I perceive it.

I was getting a kick out of how no one answers stuff like this, but everyone will jump on every other thread on here all day long. It's always funny to me.

In my opinion, a dog that has active aggression is a strong dog that doesn't need stimuli to make it look like aggression, such as a whip across the feet, or extreme defensive situations to make them feel they need to step up resulting in a fight or flight type scenario. They are not reactionary. They are strong dogs that walk into a room and say "The fact that I am here means negotiations have ended." This is a dog that exhibits action rather than reaction, and in their work regularly displays aggression through their barking, gripping, body posturing, or just overall temperament, acting offensively (forward), not defensively. In their everyday life they are probably best suited as true-need-protection and police dogs with the occassional sport/breeding home based upon what kind of total dog they are and what kind of handler is present for them. The good ones can be very valuable for breeding because on a genetic level they really can bring a lot to the table. They tap into something that has watered down in many, and inject a little bit of the "lion back into the lamb." Genetically, we need dogs like this in successful breeding programs for good working dogs.

Is a dog with true active aggression best for a home with 5 small kids running around? Not always. Does it mean every dog with active aggression is a criminal that can't be safe? No, it doesn't.

This is not always so easy to list things in black and white wordage and it's easy to overlook something sometimes or word it poorly when you're tired. I'd rather we were all training, and I could show you two dogs and work them and say "See? That dog has active aggression."

                                                             Nate
                                                             www.sportwaffenk9.com

Nate

Nice description.  I remember seeing Stuka at 12 weeks.  Very impressive and scary at the same time.  I remember the lazy, bald and blind helper (MD) playing with a rag and recommending to put the boy up for a while.  Very serious.  I'm not trying to blow smoke up your behind, but Stuka is a nice example.  When people ask for stud recommendations, the boy is always on my list.   But you don't need me to tell ya.  How many times has he been  the "Helper's Pick" at a national trial? 

Like I said on the other thread, the champ is not always the best dog for breeding, but the best dog that weekend.

Don,

Thank you very much. Very nice things to say.

You're correct. I wish I had those times on video. I still clearly remember one day walking into our training barn with this small puppy on a harness just to let him watch some protection, and seeing him act like he'd maul the helper if he got to them. Mike postured up on him jokingly, and when Stuka acted so strong against him, he gave a little run-by with a bare arm presentation and we all laughed as this small puppy lunged out neck stretched and clacked his teeth trying to grip the arm. I already knew he was truly special, that day he convinced others of it as well.

Again, thanks for the kind words. Take care,

                                                  Nate
                                                  www.sportwaffenk9.com