i have a black lab that i trained from the time i got him to be my duck dog - he was the best dog ever for the first two and a half years i had him - he was steady, loved to hunt, was obedient, everything. then i had a so called buddy come to my house and he walked up to his pen (that he only stayed in while i was at work) and shook the pen and kicked it and was taunting my dog . . .i came out side and stopped him and let the dog out and he bit the guy - ever since he hates every person but me - he wont let anyone get near me without trying to bite them and therefore can no longer hunt - i've tried reteaching him to be around people but it doesn't work???? any suggestions would be great ., . .thanks

Beat your buddy's ass.

get his address and ship him a months worth of your dogs shit

You must stay committed. It may take a while to get your dog to adjust back to being around people and trusting them. Having a good friend help on a regular basis if possible would really help also. You and a buddy spending time with your dog doing normal everyday activities should eventually show a possitive result. Again, stay committed. The process may be painfully slow.

well lets just say its gonna be hard to find a hunting partner now lol

Man,,

I hate hearing that, but in reality....i had three labs, one for 14yrs. Only problem i ever had was the ole one and the one i got now is dog agressive, they both minded people specially men real well.....

However, the worste i have ever been bitten by a dog was from a lab. It was my ex brother in laws lab and he was just a very territorial and mean dog...he ripped my finder nail off and split my hand open when i was putting him in his kennel...

Ultamately he he ended up having to get rid of him!

Years down the road he admits he let the dog control him and he really never put the dog in his place! Maybe that Ceasar Milan shit is true....who knows..

I can tell you, once you establish you are the man, you can tell...This dog however, made me his bitch....i even knocked the shit out of him and i mean flattened him...well he got up and wanted round two! I tapped out...

hey thanks for the replies, i have been working with him for awhile around people and he'll seem to get better then he'll go on attack mode . . . but i will keep trying


and as for establishing dominance i have done that from the begining and he has no trouble doing what i say or not being agressive with me - he just plain hates everyone else ha

thanks again for the response

I think putting the dog down should be the last option on your mind and I'm sure it is. With an aggresive dog you do have to be more careful and protective about where your dog is and make sure that you don't let him get in a situation where something bad could happen. It sounds great that he is making progress. Stay with it and be patient.

I would let a friend sit him for a week or so. This may help break the bond with you a little which may help open him up to others.


I love my lab the same as my kids, But if she bite someone I would put her down. These dogs are smart and they realize if they get away with it once they can do it again.
Good luck

You are going down the right path by establishing dominance over the dog
When say he is trained is he trained by a professional? If he was i would put him through the forceing him to a pile of bumpers than let people come over while you are working him. You can also work him on a lead with a strong sit, here, heal. I have dealt with dogs like this and id fix it but you are gonna have to stay on top of him. If you have questions call me and will expand on the subject. Www.texasretrievers.org

Man I feel for you...........you have gotten some good advice here.........it seems he understand dominance from you but not from others.
I hate to say this too...........but you will have to make a decision about risk versus reward.........there are just too many good lab opportunities to hang on to one that is aggressive...........you will feel horrible of your dog hurts a child........and children love labs, so again risk reward.

Dogs go through a stage of responses to things they dont like or situations they find themselves in.

Stage 1 can be whining, barking, growling...
Stage 2 can be trying to retreat from an annoying thing (like a kid or a drunk dude)
Stage 3 is when all else has failed and whining, barking, avoidance has left no other option but to bite.

When it discoveres that biting stopped that annoyance - they no longer go through the stages - they go directly to biting - as it proved effective.

You need to re-teach your dog to tone down to stage 1 again. He just automatically assumes that stage 3 is his only option to get things to go his way.

Lots of treats, shock collars, and time will fix this.

Good luck.

thank you all very much for your suggestions - i will be trying to apply all of them and see what happens . . . i can't bear to put him down . . . i spent hours upon days upon years with him and i can't do that to him especially since i am the only he trusts. thank you all again and i will be trying everything i can to solve this

Find a friend who will help but he can't show fear to the dog I had a German Shepard with same problem once my friends stop showing they were scared his attitude changed u may have to start with one person and maybe get a protective MIT but once u get it where they can approach dog try finding others to socialize him with and if that doesn't work well u ain't got much choice just remember don't beat the dog it will make it worse try to calm it down and if allows someone else to pet it treat it and show it ur happy this goes along way with a dog if they know ur happy their happy