Far far too often you hear about cases on the news about dog attacks or hearing stories from people you know. I can honestly say that I'm proud that I grew up around aggressive dogs and I had volunteered two years of helping aggressive dogs heal.The events that took place on Sunday made me very thankful for my experience in this field.
  Sunday night a bunch of friends and family friends of my husband were having a bonfire. They also have two dogs, a German Shepard and a poodle mix and since Dodger's friend is moving away I thought it'd be good for him to make some new friends. We went to the bonfire and as we were introducing the dogs, things took a turn for the worse. Dodger was just being his normal friendly self. The behavior and reaction were strictly coming from the other dog. I followed every possible way I could to smooth it over, to help the other dog adjust to a new dog coming onto his turf. I offered treats, I had a friend take Dodger away from the scene, we walked and separated only enough that they could see each other, we tried backing off and reintroducing, nothing was working. It came to the point where I had to step in between them to prevent a dog fight from breaking out due to too many people trying to force the friendship and not listening. Whether it was territorial, too much excitement, or was just extremely picky about other dogs, it's hard to say, but either way he didn't want Dodger or me there on his turf.
  So, please learn to realize the signs of a dog becoming aggressive so you can prevent a dog fight from breaking out and you or your dog getting hurt. Here are some of the signs: becoming very still and rigid, lunging forward, growling, showing of teeth, quick nip that leaves no mark, pricked ears, blocking your path, etc... These are all signs that a dog is starting to get aggressive. protect yourself and your furry family members by noticing the signs. Stay safe!