One of my gsds hates labs with a passion.   We got him when he was almost 2 yrs old and he was already dog aggressive, especially towards labs.  We thought it had to do with his previous environment.  However, after reading this article, it makes me wonder.

http://sarahwilsondogexpert.com/why-does-my-herding-dog-seem-to-hate-labs/#comments

Why Does My Herding Dog Seem to Hate Labs?

July 16, 2013 by Sarah | 129 Comments

 If your herding dog reacts badly to sporting breeds, often Labs in particular, you’re not alone.

“Herding” can mean anything from gathering a few sheep in the Scottish highlands to managing thousands of sheep in Australia to taking on an uncooperative bull in Texas to acting as a living fence in Germany. The differences each of these histories makes in the behavior of herding breeds is for another day. For now, just think of herding dogs as canine ninja warriors: highly intelligent problem solvers who are alert to everything around them, mission focused and not afraid to use force if they feel it is warranted.

Often, herding breeds do not suffer fools gladly and many may consider the “hail fellow well met” attitude of many Labradors to be foolish.

Retrievers, for their part, were bred to sit in a boat or duck blinds for hours – often in the company of new-to-them dogs and people. Labs were not bred or selected for any sort of aggression. They are, in general, social dogs who wag harder when seeing a strange dog than most herding dogs wag at their best canine friends. They are frequently “close talkers” who bumble jovially into personal space with a grin on their face that a herding dog can be just itching to wipe off.
This picture, that I snapped in Kensington Gardens, London, England, is a typical example. You can tell from where the lab’s feet are that she is deep into the German Shepherd’s personal space. To the Shepherd, the lab’s proximity is like someone walking up to you and sticking their hand in your front pocket: so far beyond “rude” that you don’t have a word for it.

Here the German Shepherd roars at the Lab, mouth wide, ears sideways, hackles up, tail stiff behind while the Lab does a Matrix-like move to get out of the way. The Shepherd was simply warning – dramatically – and had no intention of actually harming the Lab. If she’d wanted to, she would have. She did not, electing to trot off seconds later.

From the Lab’s perspective, she was “just being friendly” and has no idea why the Shepherd took such offense. This “dance” happens in parks and dog runs around the world over and over again.

Who is the “bad” dog here? Neither. Both are being exactly who they are. Dogs of different backgrounds and temperaments will never understand that another has an entirely different world view. They are dogs. But, being a long-time German Shepherd person, I can tell you – that Shepherd is not a “dog park dog.” Have fun with your herding dog in other ways if yours takes such offense; skip dog parks that are often filled to the brim with energetic, adolescent sporting breeds.

Now you know.

 

This is something I noticed quite some time ago when I was training detector dogs (predominantly Labradors and Goldens) along side my GSDs. Yes, the GSDs would spot a Lab a mile away and go insane. I never had that problem when bringing in another GSD.

Melissa

Im sorry I disagree completely with the article.

I have had my GSDs and Malis around working pointers, retrievers, spaniels and setters with 0% issue in working environments and simply playing in my yard.

I think the lesson here is dont be ignorant as an owner. Handle your dog/dogs properly. And personally I take offense to this false propaganda as this is the reason that gsds and herding breeds are on banned dog lists in many places. (apartments,HOAs, cities, counties). Also it is growing to affect other working organizations. As some of the SAR organizations in my area are taking issue to people whom use gsds and malis. They are pushing for the use of more labs because of generalized BS stereotypes such as this to be more public friendly.






 

It's HOGWASH to think a dog can discriminate against another breed.  It is the individual dog and mostly stupid owners that would cause this any breed.  

As far as Labs being friendly - both my boys have been bitten by the so called friendly Lab.......... not the same dog nor the same breeding.

Yogie

very useful inofrmaiton. thanks a lot for this.

thanks
http://www.99th.in99thin

Ok, I guess I'm a stupid, ignorant owner then.... have had 50 or so labradors come through for detection and around the same ammt of GSD... my observations are just that, observations. It has been my observation that when a new Lab comes through the doors, the GSD go crazy... but could care less if a new GSD comes through the doors. To say a dog can't be predjudice against anything is hogwash.

.02
Melissa

I breed both German Shepherd Dogs and Labrador Retrievers,
I must say I agree with the article.
 I need to supervise my adult shepherds while they are interacting with my
adult labs, as the GSD seems to not understand why the lab is so easy going and happy
all the time,it seems to frustrate some of my shepherds.
 Although, for some reason, one of my girl shepherds has a special relationship with
my girl lab, she shows her much respect and is always kissing her face, that same girl
shepherd's mom bit that same labs mom in the face years ago, the shepherd didn't like how 
happy she was!

Right now my shepherd Tessie is nursing Della's offspring while Della is resting just outside
the pen!
Della needed surgery and is on antibiotics and can't nurse her pups, they are 3 weeks old.




  

I'll say it again.............HOGWASH

Yogie

I've have most definitely seen "breedism" from my own GSDs, particularly against labs, goldens and bully breeds.   My first GSD disliked all labs, goldens and bully breeds, yet would fawn over rottweilers and was giddy to play with spaniels and long or rough coated herding dogs (border collies, beardies, briards & bouviers.)  
My current old boy GSD was raised with big packs of labs and played several times a week with a friend's pitbull (they were just 2 weeks apart in age)  yet he has always had disdain for labradors and pitbulls or other bully breeds, even when he was growing up with them, he also hates great danes for some reason totally unbeknown to me (I really like that breed!)  Yet he is happy around other shepherd dogs and sighthounds...   (why sighthounds, again I have no idea...)
My dogs most certainly, consistently, treat different breeds/types of dogs in different ways, some positive and some negative...without having any known negative experiences with the breeds they seem to dislike.  

There are probably multiple factors involved when a dog "discriminates" against another dog.  I would not place blame, like calling the owner "ignorant" or "stupid," without knowing all of the circumstances.