I have a one year old black lab who has a wonderful nature.  He is well socialised as I walk on the common everyday and he does alot of meeting and greeting and until recently plays well (no biting, snarling or any other signs of aggression).  Out of nowhere last week I was walking, met a puppy black lab and he just launched at him, snarling and biting.  It was in no way playful and definately aggressive- I had to physically separate him from the puppy. I immediately put him on a lead  - and in shock took him straight home.  Two days later (having thought the incident was a one off as he plays with all ages of dog so well) we met another black lab puppy - he tried to attack again. 

I now have to put him on a lead whenever I see a black lab puppy in preparation for his aggression.  Please help as my fun loving dog who will play normally play with all ages and breed of dog quite happily has taken a dislike in a big way to these two and I find it very worrying and completely out of character.

He does not in anyway see himself as leader of the pack at home and is usually so wonderful and this change of character (just with these two dogs) distresses me greatly.

Please help
Bex

Are you sure these are 2 different lab puppies?  I don't want to sound stupid but could it be the same one with a different person walking it?  The reason I ask is that I think dogs are sometimes a little like people, and we can't be expected to get on with everyone!

If these are 2 different ones then I don't have an answer for you but if it is the same one I'd just accept these two are not going to get along!

I do understand your distress and hopefully someone will be along soon with some advice!
Maria

Definately two different puppies unless the owner uses different names!!  good point but but I am positive on this occasion.  I just find it strange that he gets on with any other dog / pup of all breeds just not his own kind (these are the only black lab pups he has met).  Hoping someone out there has the answer!
Bex

It may possibly be because the pup is black, a lot of dogs are wary of black dogs, purely because they can not see their eyes and body language as well due to the colour, it is something that is quite common.

Though just to really contradict myself, one of my mum's Cockers, (the orange and white) who is by far the friendliest and most laid back of all her Cockers and greets every dog in a friendly manor, also once took hinderance to a 4 month brown lab pup who we met on and off for a while, she actually snapped at her too and growled when she came near, I have never seen the like of it from her ever, but she did this 3 times, so I would walk at different times when I had my mum's dogs,  however we met the grown up brown lab a few months later and she was ultra friendly with her, I can't explain it, she has never done it before or acted that way with any other lab pups since.

In your instance hopefully it is the colour, (even though it is his colour, but he can't see that! ;-) ) try to introduce him to as many adult black dogs as possible that way he should not feel threathend by the colour.

I thought of that but he plays with a black labradoodle pup quite happily and goodness knows how many other black adults.....  could it be that as he is entering the teenager phase?  Is he just trying to dominate something easy? 

As I said before his behaviour is extraordinary and it is so out of character but I take heart that from what you have said he might grow out of it as the other pups grows up.  Fingers crossed

Also I think that keeping him on a lead when we do see the pups it does give me the chance to say 'No' as he is on the lead and to take him away therefore staying in control of the situation. 

What do you think?