This for me is MY next level of education as I learn to distinquish between these two behaviors which will make such a difference for the rescue dogs I will be working with in the future.

I also look back to the training I went through to be a volunteer rescuer for abused women looking to flee their home, home much this behavior is reflected in humans as well. While those experiences are examples of extreme agression by people (men or women) who have never learned how to safely and appropiately vent their anxieties, one can see this being acted out by humans in much smaller ways anytime there is power of one person over another. One can frequently see the 'victim (weaker energy) provoking the stonger until the energy is vented and a kind of "honeymoon phase" returns piece to the household. In my self, this has been one of my strongest battles inside my self, to learn to acknowledge when I am increasingly "on edge" by ever rising stresses around me, that I need a "vent" just to stay functional. It is at this time that I am most likely to be pretending (to myself above all) that everything is just fine. So the weaker energys around me will act out in a "redzone" manner which I now have permission (needing to respond) to react to, allowing my own tension to be vented.

The more I learn how to recognize and react appropiate to these dog's behaviors quickly, quietly and effectively - the more I am able to remain calm and balanced to these stresses because ~ as part of the problem, I must step into the role of becoming part of the solutions...lettting go of my own anxieties, fears and frustrations~ to simply be in the moment of now instead of the future of uncertainty.

AS a aside bar, the more the dogs (and myself) are exercised through walks, treadmilling and obedience drills, the less likely the energy is to manifest in them when I am my self tired and more vulnerable to my own weaker self's acting out!

I really enjoyed watching Cesar work with Rufus to bring out the natural love that is inside Rottweilers (along with their protective natures). Watching the interaction among Cesar and the veterinary staff was wonderful too, since I fully believe he is as much a human psychologist as he is a dog psychologist.
His shows just get better and better as he expands his repertoire of cases and educates his audience about the many different types of situations dogs and dog owners find themselves in. I loved his method of approach -- similar to the one he used with Banjo last season -- by showing his back and actively posing no threat.
Another nice treat was seeing Daddy still helping Cesar out!
My hope is to someday open a sanctuary for geriatric and problem dogs and I learn so much from watching the Dog Whisperer that I think I can bring with me when the universe lets me achieve my goal!
Bless you Cesar, and you to CMI and Nat Geo!

I only have been able to find a clip of the show, I hope you were able to save the pit:( as you sat next to him and he wagged his tail, I cried. I rescued a pit 7 years ago. After nursing her back to health, I tried to adopt her out, but the only people who were interested wanted her for a guard dog so I let her stay with us and our 6 other rescue dogs and 2 cats. She is by far the smartest, silliest dog I have ever known. She adores all of us, human and creature alike and if I were ever to stop picking up strays and have to look for a dog, a rescue pit would be my choice. I can't thank you enough for what your are doing for the breed.

My daughter just bought a rottie puppy, and he is 3 months old, his mother and father are very aggressive, as the owner never let the dogs around other people. Is my rottie going to be aggressive. She already gets grumpy and growls, if we kiss her on the head , not gently enough?
We take her on walks, and she interacts with other dogs, she also has two black labs to play with.
What do I do about the growling when you just try to hold her?