Social aggression question - Page 4

What does teaching him who's boss have to do with letting some big dude fondle his head? Riddle me that. It takes all kinds, I guess. 

I'm sure you're right; maybe they were both a bit apprehensive with each other so each acted like............guys. <running for cover>

Ruger, you say Prince had settled himself 'on one of your friend's lap' ?
And the guy he muzzle-punched approached him ?  [Them].
Sounds like a Dominance issue to me.  He was comfy,  he's got this
mug who is acting subordinate by letting him sprawl on them, and here
comes some other big punk who might break up that party, ...or 'attack'  the
Prince's 'friend' (possessive tense) with the lap ... or challenge Prince for that
lap to sit in.  The fact that all the 'big punk' wants to do is pat Prince's head
would not register, dogs can't really 'predict' what humans want. [However
much loving owners tell you that their pooch always 'knows' what they are
going to do before they do it.]

IMO if you wanted to do this experiment in social relations, you ought to have
been very clear at the beginning that EVERYONE present should have LET
THE DOG COME TO THEM to say Hello, rather than going towards him;
and that NOBODY should have got into a position of having the dog SIT WITH/ON
them (on furniture, or the floor).

You KNOW your boy is a bossy character who tries to take over;   makes him a
liability in social situations.  So you should always set the ground rules.

Hundmutter is exactly right re Prince imo.

Muzzled and loose around guests isn't a situation that I would put Bosco in. Bosco is leashed and put in a platz next to Martin when we have people over for the evening. Bosco is relaxed and understands the rule- he can lay there and watch but not interact. People know what to expect before they are invited in and understand to leave Bosco alone. We have one person who absolutely refuses to understand that he cannot dominate Bosco (deliberately looms over and stares Bosco dead in the eye for prolonged periods, has tried to swat Bosco in the head, etc.) so Bosco has to be kenneled or the person would be bitten. Probably more than once.

Let me guess its a parent or in law?..LOOOL
I have a brother in law like that, thinks he knows it all, the good thing is once my dog shows teeth he is done and gone....i just dont want my dogs to think that showing teeth is acceptable practice, so once she does it she slithers away to her bed knowing that I do not tolerate that.....w my dogs if you give them an inch, they will take a mile...much like kids...i really get irritated when visitors tell me, "oh, just let him come and oh, can i give him piece of this" its like..NO..."you are a mean mommy"...I am NOT a mommy and NO you do not give my dogs off your plate...my dogs know what they can do, i spend more time barking orders at visitors and family members than my dogs...so for me its easier to just separate the two groups (dogs and people) and not deal with control issues, showing off, small man syndrome, motherly smothering and try to control dogs on top of it all.

@LadyFrost - Not MY relative. :)

LOOOOOL...gotcha!