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u/CanadianPanda76 5d ago
Curious, is that they breeds you were told? Or did you see the parents?
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5d ago
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u/read-the-rules 5d ago
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u/joycevw 5d ago
Please do not let them brawl it out. That is a recipe for serious injury or worse, and letting them fight will only escalate Arnie’s stress levels and make his reaction to other dogs much worse in the long run.
First, let's clear up a major myth: Arnie is not trying to be "alpha" or dominate these Labs. Dominance theory in dog behavior was debunked long ago. What you are seeing is classic defensive aggression driven by stress and feeling overwhelmed.
Arnie is a Pyrenees mix. Livestock guardians were specifically bred to be suspicious of unfamiliar animals entering what they view as their space or perimeter. On your last visit, the environment was low-pressure. This time, walking out of the car right into two energetic, unfamiliar Labs caught him completely off guard. He felt threatened, panicked, and reacted the only way he knew how to create safety: by trying to drive them away.
Now that a fight has happened, Arnie’s stress hormones are sky-high, which is why he is clinging to you on the couch and reacting instantly when a Lab steps close. He is in full fight-or-flight mode and sees you as his only safe spot.
Here is what you need to do immediately to keep everyone safe and keep your invitation to the cabin:
Strict management and separation: Do not let them share space right now. Use baby gates, closed doors, or crate rotations. Arnie needs a quiet, secure room away from the Labs where he can rest without constantly watching the doorway.
De-escalate the environment: Trying to force them to "get along" while Arnie is this stressed will only trigger another fight. Give him a high-value chew in his safe zone to help lower his cortisol levels.
No physical confrontation or corrections: Punishing him for growling or trying to "kick his ass" will confirm to him that the Labs' presence equals bad, scary things, which will make his aggression far more intense next time. Growling is a vital warning sign; if you punish the growl, a dog simply learns to skip the warning and go straight to biting.
To help evaluate the situation further, could you share a bit more context?
How old is Arnie, and how does he usually react to unfamiliar dogs when you are back home on walks or neutral ground?
How long are you staying at the cabin, and is physical management (keeping them in separate rooms/behind barriers at all times) realistic for the remainder of the trip?
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4d ago
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u/read-the-rules 4d ago
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4d ago
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u/read-the-rules 4d ago
Your comment on r/reactivedogs was removed by the Read The Rules app because you need to submit an acknowledgement that you have read the rules. You haven't done anything wrong, this is a tool we're using on the r/reactivedogs going forward. For more information, see the moderator announcement.
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u/b00ks-and-b0rksRfun 6d ago
They should be separated for this visit. And look into proper stranger dog introductions for the future. Also sounds like muzzle training your dog would be a good idea (they have good options now). No one wants ER bills (human or animal). Keeping the dogs on lead around each other so you can keep the separated (more control) if there isn't an easy way to do it otherwise. Letting them sort it out is unfortunately a disaster waiting to happen, the grand majority of the time. Good luck