While I agree with Julie's advise about reasons for breeding, I am less concerned about your dog's attitude to the Pit. This dog is known to be aggressive and I imagine your dog knows that she is aggressive. I don't know if your dog was protecting you (and she did draw blood and caused you to yell) or if the pit actually challenged your dog directly or made a move toward one of the other dogs. I would put this event down to your dog being in some way protective.

Golden with a correct temperament have the right to protect themselves and others in their family against direct aggression. In addition, your boy did not harm the Pit, which indicated to me that your dog was standing his ground and issuing a warning.

A year and half ago my Golden female knocked a Standard Poodle who was harassing our cat arse over tits as they say. She came full speed from around the corner and launched her self at him and hit him with her front paws. She stood over him with her mouth just above his neck until the cat got away. Other than being sore from being knocked down, the Poodle was never in any danger. That is correct temperament and I challenge anyone to say it isn't. She sees the Poodle frequently and has no issues with him and the Poodle, being a little dense, doesn't seem to remember what happened.

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Carolyn (A.K.A. Aunt Care) and

Creekwood Tanglefoot Selchie CD, RN, AX, AXJ, CGC, CCA, (A.K.A. Selli-Belle) Golden

Valentine Byrd McDuff (A.K.A. Duffy) Golden/Sheltie

Tanglefoot Autumn Dexter CGC (My Heart Dog at the Bridge) Golden

Thanks, I agree. I think a dog should be able to be protective is the need arises without being violent. If this is a case of him being protective ill feel relieved. The only other time he has been protective was several months ago his good doggie friend the male vizsla knocked over my 1 yr old and he went to jump on her when she was down and crying. Simba stepped between them and showed his teeth. They both romped off playing a minute later.

He has 3 good doggie friends he plays with frequently. I'm gonna take him on a play date ASAP.

Please let me reassure everyone I will not be breeding him just to do it or if he's not a good stud dog. He has a long way to go before my husband and I make the decision if he's a good candidate for this. I'm here trying to see about his behavior because I want to do the right thing.

Would it help to have a 1 on 1 trainer come out? He could help me with behavior and I could see his take on everything.

I love my Simba. He's doing great in crate training now thanks to everyone's great advice.

It seems to me that the aggressive female was an issues that day and your dog knew it, when she got to be too stimulated he corrected her. If he had intended to do damage he would have. We miss a lot of dog to dog communication that if we could rewind and watch it we would probably be able to see where the dogs were clearly communicating before the aggressive incident.

Keep a close eye on your dog, but I don't think this one incident means he has become generally aggressive. Have some low key visits with dogs you know well that he gets along with already and see how he does.

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Teenage dogs are such sensitive creatures. I find that it's a time that everything about them gets exaggerated be it excitability, impulsiveness or anxiety. At the same time they are still needing to mature and can sometime missinterpret other dogs and act themselves a bit conflicted. So you sometimes get responses that are unlike the puppy you knew. At the same time, if a dog is going to become reactive (I'm not saying your dog is) it usually starts at this time.

In light of your post on your dog having extreme separation anxiety I wanted to suggest that perhaps you touch base with a professional. Pennsylvania is full of excellent dog professionals. I can give you some recommendations if you want to PM me.

I see going to a good professional like going to a Wellness Coach or Counsellor for people, not because you're crazy but because you want to improve yourself. Same for dogs, I learn all sorts of things about how I can bring the best out of my dog by hearing trainers I trust comment on him - things I might not necessarily see.

Hope you stick around. Would love to hear about the areas in which you compete or hope to compete!

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Jacqueline

"I have just met you and I love you" - Dug (Up!)