Is this normal for a female lab.

My girl Lyse, 2 years old was at the park the other day in a group of dogs
(~5-6). A lab mix was there also. Lyse is totally focused on her tennis ball
while at the park and has very little interaction with the dogs, she wants me
to throw it in the water as often as I can. (she plays fine with other dogs,
just prefers to chase the ball. Her interaction with her brother is
excellant, in two years she was never done anything to him in anger)

The lab mix was growling at other dogs constantly and getting in there faces,
including bumping up against them. most ignored it. I was looking around for
its owner, when the lab mix ran up to Lyze as she was getting her ball. He
ran up growling and barking at her. She moved her body away and went to grab
her ball, he went for the ball, growling. she moved away and he stood over
it, she went for it again and he growled at her. At the point she started
growling at him and barking. within a few seconds they were at each other
growling and barking in each others faces up on their hind legs, but NO actual
biting or body slamming, just a god awlful noise. I ran to them called her
aloud and told her to come to me, she broke off and walked away. I threw the
ball and she was back at playing as if nothing had happened.

Is this behavior totally out of step with a Lab behavior? is it of concern?
On the one hand I was shocked at what happened and concerned, on the other
hand kinda of proud she stood up to a bully.

I have seen this behavior at the park...they can be possessive of their
balls. And they are well socialized it seems...no blood-letting. I have
seem my guys on their hind legs but it is posturing...who will intimidate
the MOST. I wouldn't worry and I think it is pretty good that no one got
too weird at the park....we have a very active park here in Seminole with
lots of pretty aware owners that I haven't seen in other parks. Penny
"colin_lyse" <colin_lyse.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4061d7ce$0$16321$45beb828@newscene.com...
> My girl Lyse, 2 years old was at the park the other day in a group of dogs
> (~5-6). A lab mix was there also. Lyse is totally focused on her tennis
ball
> while at the park and has very little interaction with the dogs, she wants
me
> to throw it in the water as often as I can. (she plays fine with other
dogs,
> just prefers to chase the ball. Her interaction with her brother is
> excellant, in two years she was never done anything to him in anger)
>
> The lab mix was growling at other dogs constantly and getting in there
faces,
> including bumping up against them. most ignored it. I was looking around
for
> its owner, when the lab mix ran up to Lyze as she was getting her ball.
He
> ran up growling and barking at her. She moved her body away and went to
grab
> her ball, he went for the ball, growling. she moved away and he stood
over
> it, she went for it again and he growled at her. At the point she started
> growling at him and barking. within a few seconds they were at each other
> growling and barking in each others faces up on their hind legs, but NO
actual
> biting or body slamming, just a god awlful noise. I ran to them called
her
> aloud and told her to come to me, she broke off and walked away. I threw
the
> ball and she was back at playing as if nothing had happened.
>
> Is this behavior totally out of step with a Lab behavior? is it of
concern?
> On the one hand I was shocked at what happened and concerned, on the other
> hand kinda of proud she stood up to a bully.
>
>