Ok, here's the deal. Because Earnest is half Lab, I participate on a Lab board and have a lot of friends with Labradors. They have certain viewpoints on behavior that don't always match mine, but I'm beginning to think it's the difference in breeds that causes the varying ideas. I'd like to compare their view with the "big dog people".
Here's the scenario, on our camping trip a few weeks ago, it started to rain and we decided to pack up. As we were packing a family came and decided to wait for us so they could have our site. Both dogs were staked out near the picnic table, and I was loading stuff into bags and packs to be taken to the car. The Dad (a friendly stranger) offered to help us bring things to the car. When I agreed, he first took the two tents, which I handed to him. When he came back he reached for MY big backpack, which contained all the cooking stuff and first aid stuff, as well as my personal stuff and extra boots.
Phyfe, who is Mastiff and St. Bernard, jumped up from where he was laying, gave the guy a big "WOOF" and a throaty growl (no teeth).
When I said "It's ok, I told him he could carry it" Phyfe backed down, but kept an eye on the guy and what he was carrying from then on.
Here's the question- was Phyfe being a bad, aggressive, alpha dog or a good, protective watchdog doing his job?
