Breeder dogs?

[JudyN]

I've not had to worry about Jasper snarking at young unneutered males for several months now - I assumed he had more sense than to try to put one in its place now he's so frail, and he usually settles for a hard stare that says, 'I could've had you once', or possibly 'I could if I wanted to, but meh'. But this afternoon, a young (but fully grown) entire lab came up to him (a bit lively, but no contact) and Jasper had a pop at him - I was amazed he managed to stay on all fours, and he quickly decided it wasn't a good idea.

The lab wasn't fazed - he was the easy-going type - and the owner was fine, though of course I apologised. When I said that he's not done that for a long time, and her lab must be particularly 'manly', she replied that the lab was a breeder dog and Jasper could probably tell.

I assume a breeder dog is a stud dog, but haven't heard the expression before. If a dog regularly mates with females, does this alter his smell/chemical balance in any way?

 

[Hemlock]

I've never heard the term either, and I used to own a stud dog.

I expect the lab sensed J was ageing and therefore weak, and there was some body-language going on as J said, in effect, "Not that bloody weak".

My stud never did anything like that, so it isn't a given.

 

[JudyN]

Thanks Hemlock. It could also be that J was feeling particularly vulnerable and thus more defensive - his back end has got less reliable over the past few days - it went from under him yesterday and I had to help him get back up again

 

[excuseme]

That's a new one to me, I've never heard that before either.
Maybe his owner was new at the game themselves and didn't know what the correct word to use was.