Hi folks, I'd appreciate any insights about this little tale. Today my daughter took Freya for a walk - up though the village to the pocket park into field for a good run about. Met other dogs and no problem, as usual. Suddenly a black lab plus owner appeared and lab wandered over - no threat, waggy tail etc. Freya took off like a rocket. Daughter drops coat etc and chases before quickly calling us - we look out and Freya is on the doorstep - 3/4 mile away. As she ran back Mads was told Freya had whizzed past folks across the road(mercifully empty.) We are really confused as she loves other dogs, has had no incidents and has never taken off before. We are also totally amazed she found her way home as this is not our usual walk. Any ideas why she freaked when there was no threat from the poor lab? Apart from panting for a while she has been fine since coming home. Ailish

Ben shows odd behaviour to some Labradors (Black or brown). Usually he's friendly with them but every so often one will walk up wagging its tail and stare at him from close quarters, this will cause him to growl and I always pull him away before any conflict occurs. I think that some Labs are just confrontational but in such a way that dog will sense but not a person. I think that it's a kind of quiet assertiveness.

I may be barking up the wrong tree but thats the impression that I get from these situations.

We had a Saluki once, mad thing, never ever again! but she was a one man dog and if I took her out with the others over the fields, let her off, she would go home.

Does your daughter usually walk her? perhaps she didn't feel secure and want her Mum or Dad for reassurance?

It was a black Lab, yes? Other dogs can find it difficult to 'read' a black dog. Perhaps it's harder to see facial expression.

I find that my Deerhounds get hassled more by black Labs than any other breed; goodness knows why. They come zooming up with their birse (look it up, Hairybeasty!) up and all guns blazing.

Sid wrote:


I've looked up "birse" on google, wiki and the dictionary. It's a construction company, railway company, civil engineering company, nuclear company, family name, village near Aberdeen, Castle, Wood. Surely you don't mean any of these Sid? At this rate Hairybeasty (and me) will be searching the Internet all night.

I'll give you until tomorrow morning, chaps.

Not looked it up but I figure on one of two things...
1. Hackles
2. Dandy...attitude..fire..etc
OK one of four things..

hairybeasty wrote:


Hackles is correct. Give that man a coconut.

HB,

When you get your big nut from sid, remember to take the shell off before eating


The major has two evil black labs who shoot out his driveway and have a go at every dog that passes. They ripped lumps out of a very plucky Border Terrier, but shy away from contact with my four and when Bryns sister Fala is passing they can be found silently watching from a safe distance

Bryn is a real wimp, but he gets all butch when passing their drive and fair enjoys giving them his manly deep bark (as long as he's got Cara and Bess for backup)

It's a black lab thing

Maddy walks her often and with no other incidents. She is on lead until the pocket park(old railway line) and in the field. Normally she comes when called unless she is on her mad circuit of the field when she only returns at the end of numerous figure of eight runs. We recalled last night that she was hassled by our friends black lab - he is just a really annoying dog - not aggressive just pestered her. She gave him a good barking off when she had enough and her pal Murphy backed her up.(actually we put both of ours in the car in the end so we could get peace to eat!) Perhaps it is a lab thing as they set Murphy off more than any other dog. Maddy is certain that Murph reacts to faces - we tried her theory out in France and sure enough he growls at all bulldog and boxer types but tail wags for those with "happy" faces like Bichom Frise and spaniels
We'll take the girl back up the same walk later today and see if she stays calm! Thanks for advice and I'll be watching the hackles of labs from now on!

Have heard of a lot of lurcher owners say there dogs dont like black labs either,
one group walk we did once, one of the lurcher owners screeched lab at the top of her lungs
on seeing it and promptly grabed her dogs, it might be the way labs interact with other dogs.

chook wrote:


This is exactly my experience of Labs. They definately give signals to DH's that they mean trouble. They approach very directly and appear ready to spring. It maybe just their way as many Labs that Ben's had trouble with are said by their owners to be totally benign. So it's either bad body language or they just hate DH's and Lurchers.

Wow, you learn something every day - we now have racist Deehounds!

My Border Terrier had lumps taken out of him too when he was about 10 months old...also by a Black Lab...only fight he has ever lost...will go out of his way now to attack one if he see,s it...

feldandjack wrote:


Shucks Anne..hadnt thought of eating one...I usually sit on them for a couple of weeks..or until I get a numb bum...then lose interest..does anyone know a better way to soften them up before hatching?

hairybeasty wrote:


Yes, but I couldn't possibly post it on the forum.

Thankyou Sid..you are always a mine of helpful information...

Perhaps it was because she did not have her terrier mate there to protect her. At least she got home in one piece and did not hurt herself either.

eek don't tell me this about black labs am about to bring a dh in to a house with a female black lab...oh what have I done

Dylan wrote:


It's not all labs just some in my experience. If it's a male DH then trouble is less likely. Probably they'll get along just fine after a gentle introduction.