Who's the Boss

One of the most common questions asked of dog owners when someone first meets their dog is "Does your dog bite?" Well, of course he does, but hopefully your dog has enough manners not to. That answer can never be a simple yes or no. Your dog has moods too, and not every stranger is going to appeal to him. A dog who has the most mild temperament could one day surprise you.

But the experience won't be so surprising if you know a few ins-and-outs of dog behavior, such as why aggression occurs in the first place, or why it occurs only sometimes.

With some dogs, you can grab the food right from their mouths and they will stand there with a baffled expression that begs, "What'd you do that for?". Other dogs are not so accommodating, as they will snap and snarl to protect what is theirs. Can you blame them? We all have some degree of "what's mine is mine, now back off".