Size is not directly proportional to training

[CathyBogart]

Wilbur is very much like that. It's embarrassing, frankly, and it means he doesn't get as many walks as he should. My family has worked with Wilbur, and even hired a behaviorist to help, but it has only helped to a point, and he still loses it occasionally.

He has several problems resulting from a very old injury (before we had him) and some really bizarre behaviors that he displays, so we have wondered if he might be brain damaged in some way.

Believe me, it's really embarrassing to be holding the leash of the dog that loses his head. I don't take Wilbur to parks, or places where he is likely to run into large dogs (since his problem seems limited to dogs at least 3x his size), and I have to be on my guard CONSTANTLY when I'm with him.

My pet peeve when I'm out with him is bozos who think that just because they have a friendly dog that every other dog is friendly too, especially the little black mop-dog. One day a man let his three HUGE dogs (two shepherds and a disgustingly obese lab) drag them over to me and Wilbur, and when I snapped at him all he said was "well, they're all friendly".

That's great, but what are your friendly dogs going to do when my 15lb dog latches onto their nose? Defend themselves maybe? I couldn't blame them if they did, but the results wold likely be catastrophic for my little guy.

Here's the problem child:

[caseysmom]

Cathy,
Your problem child looks a bit like mine. I know what you mean it is embarrasing.
I have had Bubba since a pup and it happened gradually, I would take him to the dog park and he would mostly hide under my chair, then the snarling started toward big dogs.
He wouldn't dream of trying any of that with his sister.