How protective of you is your dog?

Magenta

How protective is your dog? Would he defend you tooth and nail, say if you were mugged out walking, or is he/she the type who would lick Jack The Ripper?
I know one Jack Russell who barks when the phone rings and another who didn't make a peep when burglars broke in and stuck him in the bathroom!
And we've all seen the little Poms and the like who snuggle away in their owners arms and growl if you get too close!

lrushe

Lets just say no one will ever sneak up on me without me knowing when my dogs are around, of course the smallest one is the loudest one!!!

TooManyDogs

Mine are the same, create an awful racket whenever there's someone around. I've seen them defend each other if a strange dog starts picking on one of them, suddenly they'll all appear and the stranger dog realises there's 6 of them! Generally their numbers changes the other dog's mind.

I've never had to test how protective they would be of me, but I reckon they'd defend me if needs be.

peasant

All three create a massive racket at the fence when there is someone coming and I encourage that.
However, when it comes to assessing a situation, to make the decision whether or not aggression is required, they look to me and I also encourage that.
Our dogs have not yet been put to the test and I have no intentions of using them as a defensive "weapon" of sorts as this usually only ends badly for the dog. Them being vocal is good enough for me.

I'm pretty certain though that if there ever was a situation where out of "fight or flight" fight had to be chosen (and I was doing the choosing) that they would back me up.

fatmammycat

Magenta wrote: »

How protective is your dog? Would he defend you tooth and nail, say if you were mugged out walking, or is he/she the type who would lick Jack The Ripper?
I know one Jack Russell who barks when the phone rings and another who didn't make a peep when burglars broke in and stuck him in the bathroom!
And we've all seen the little Poms and the like who snuggle away in their owners arms and growl if you get too close!

I don't actually think those little poms are being protective at all, they are nervous anxious wrecks indulging in resource guarding and being allowed act in a dangerous uncontrolled way by their owners. Horrible. People should be able to approach you without being attacked or warned by a dog. I had a dobermann and there is no doubt that if a peson had physically attacked me he would defend me, but anyone could come up to me or talk to be or shake hands without him snarling or yapping at them.

iw82

Mine are protective without a doubt but not in an aggressive manner but just in subtle ways... No matter where I go I am accompanied by at least one of them, alway by my side. If anyone comes into our garden/yard they get between whoever it may be & me.

They alert us straight away to anyone even walking past the house. I live in the country & am definitely happier to have the company of one of them when I go out walking

bongi69

My dog is extremely protective of me and the rest of the family, although this can be put down to his breed (Staffordshire Bull Terrier).

He's grand when people come into the house, provided that one of us is around to make introductions, but god help anyone coming over the back wall, or into the house with the intention of causing mischief. I think you'd leave minus an arm or leg, without the valuables.

I have only one example to draw on. One evening, I came home from work, everyone was out and I had forgotten my keys. I hopped the back wall, and as soon as my feet hit the ground there was fierce barking from inside the house, and he came barrelling out the back door (its regularly left unlocked if we're out for only a few mins), and ran towards me. He copped on that it was me, and cue the usual licks and tail wags.

And before I get the usual bull about staffies being vicious etc etc etc get to know one. My own dog, and staffies I have had before have been nothing but big softies, and would hurt no one. However, as I explained above, they will protect their family, even if they get in harms way

TooManyDogs

bongi69 wrote: »

And before I get the usual bull about staffies being vicious etc etc etc get to know one.

It's nothing to do with breed, my bro in law came over to visit and found we weren't there, rang us and discovered we'd be home in 20 mins but decided in his wisdom to climb in one of the open downstairs windows!!! My lab x had other ideas and wouldnt let him in the window but greeted him like a long lost friend when he came through the front door with us 20 mins later.

I think it's more the dog knows its ok for people to come through the door but not over a wall into the back or through a window than anything to do with breed.

olaola

Normally our dog will not make a peep, but when we were on holidays with her - she would growl if anyone approached us. And she's a *little* bit racist. NOT my fault, I swear!

peasant

olaola wrote: »

And she's a *little* bit racist. NOT my fault, I swear!

It is actually ...sort of

Dogs growl at what they don't know and what they haven't been made familiar with during their socialisation phase.

So ...if you happen to have socialised your dogs in a small rural village, it is highly likely that they will show you up for a "racist" and generally "politically incorrect" person by acting weird towards black people, people in wheelchairs, on crutches, people wearing burkas etc. when they first encounter them

But don't worry ...you're not alone in this

mysillyusername

my little sis had a jack russell..it used to love sitting on her lap..if anybody and I mean anybody came up and shook hands with my sis or rub her hair the dog used to gone nuts and attempt to bite the person.

On more than one occasion the dog actually went for someone face :eek: ..

mysillyusername

oh and the dog we have now is a friendly fool....everybody is his best friend...

Steve30x

I dont know about my two yet because theyre both puppies still. Bonny is a four and a half month old Cavalier King charles which I have with eleven weeks and Frank is a four month old Border Collie which I have with six weeks. Frank is already protecting the house since three weeks ago. If he hears anyone come near the back of the house surrounded by an eight foot wall he will bark his head off until they go away. He is quiet 90% of the time though.

Attached are my two about a month ago. Frank is a good bit bigger since then and Bonny grew a little bit since then.

EGAR

Not one of the Staffies or APBT's who were here are any good at guarding .

Whispered

When I was a kid we had a lurcher, a huge fella, who was very protective of me. He used to try herd me away from "trouble" by shoving me. He was the most fantastic dog I've ever had.

My dads uncle is an elderly man living alone and he has always had a dog as a companion. He had a fella called beau, a tiny tiny little jrt, and when I was about 13 my dad was messing with me one day. The dog jumped from the back of the chair, onto my dads back and attacked his ear

My boy now doesn't seem to have a protective bone in his body. Everybody is potential friend material. If they're not friends - then he ignores them in a sulk (or makes a pest of himself trying to make friends).

olaola

peasant wrote: »

It is actually ...sort of

Dogs growl at what they don't know and what they haven't been made familiar with during their socialisation phase.

So ...if you happen to have socialised your dogs in a small rural village, it is highly likely that they will show you up for a "racist" and generally "politically incorrect" person by acting weird towards black people, people in wheelchairs, on crutches, people wearing burkas etc. when they first encounter them

But don't worry ...you're not alone in this

She's a rescue dog, we've only had her one year out of her 6 or 7. So I'll still reject the responsbility there!

peasant

olaola wrote: »

She's a rescue dog, we've only had her one year out of her 6 or 7. So I'll still reject the responsbility there!

alright then ...ego te absolvo :D:D

DBCyc

bongi69 wrote: »

My dog is extremely protective of me and the rest of the family, although this can be put down to his breed (Staffordshire Bull Terrier).

Never heard that about a staffy before. Ours is not protective at all and she would make a terrible guard dog. She would just wiggle and lick whoever came into our house

YOURFACE!

Kula, the German Shepherd is an incredibly protective. If she hears a strange noise she barks, if someone comes to the door she barks. She wont sleep anywhere else at night but on the floor beside our bed. If I'm in the shower, she's right outside the door. She's basically my shadow and I really like that. German Shepherds utter devotion to their owners is incredible and one of the many reasons why I have always wanted one. I'm pretty sure that if I was ever in trouble she would protect me, unless the robber / attacker / whoever was wrapped up in tinfoil, then she would run away because for some bizzare reason she is terrified of it
Monty, the Pointer X is more interested in sleeping or playing fetch than any of that.

I'm fostering a staffie at the moment (fantastic little dogs) and I'd say she would give anyone wanting to do her family harm a good run for their money or she might roll over and ask for a belly rub!! LOL!

Magenta

YOURFACE! wrote: »

Kula, the German Shepherd is an incredibly protective. If she hears a strange noise she barks, if someone comes to the door she barks. She wont sleep anywhere else at night but on the floor beside our bed. If I'm in the shower, she's right outside the door. She's basically my shadow and I really like that. German Shepherds utter devotion to their owners is incredible and one of the many reasons why I have always wanted one. I'm pretty sure that if I was ever in trouble she would protect me

I have heard this about GSDs, and if I ever live alone I am going to get one.

lrushe

Magenta wrote: »

I have heard this about GSDs, and if I ever live alone I am going to get one.

This is so true about GSD, mine was exactly the same. She was so amazing in fact I haven't been able to bring myself to have another one since she died 3 years ago, it still feels so soon:(

Magenta

Are female dogs as protective as male dogs? I read somewhere that male dogs are more protective over women but that's a massive generalisation.

star-pants

My two Lhasas (both female) go a bit mental if there's someone at the door or a noise that's really not right (like on the roof etc). And if someone they don't know comes in they'll bark and bark until you (the stranger) gets down and lets them sniff you / you pet them. Even then they'll be wary for a while.
They always bark when the postmans at the door, Kevin stuck his head in one day to say hi (see if it would help) and they scarpered barking lol.

BUT... that said, a male friend of mine came over before, and stupidly barked at Lily, she went ballistic! (He's very tall and broad so he'd be a lot bigger than she's used to seeing- as we're all around the same size here). She wasn't happy with him at all, growled at him. Then we were going to just sit on the couch and have tea and she followed us, keeping between me and him, and even sat up beside me, her back pressed into me watching him the whole time. So I guess she was being protective of me.

lrushe

Magenta wrote: »

Are female dogs as protective as male dogs? I read somewhere that male dogs are more protective over women but that's a massive generalisation.

I have two females and a male and I would say the females would be slightly more protective than the male, I don't know if its the mothering instinct in them to protect. Like all males I think my male only barks cos he likes the sound of his own voice

kildara

See, I dunno. Our two will bark when the postie arrives. When there is a knock on the door. Any strange noises will set them off. The girl, since she was neutered three weeks ago, will bark if you fart, its getting ridiculous!
I try not to tell them "NO" as this could have implications further down the line if, say, someone was trying to break in during the night and they've been chastised for barking at noises so they stay shtum.

But I don't know if they would really "protect" me. OH reckons that the boy would stand and protect her, but I'm still not sure.

A dogs instinct is fight or flight, so unless we get into a situation that requires action, then we won't know if the dog will stand and fight to protect us.

I know a girl who has a German Shepard Dog. Just the two of them in the flat. The flat was broken into during the day and the dog put in the kitchen while the place was ransacked. The dog never barked once while they were breaking in - the neighbors heard the hammering etc while the burglars broke in but thought she had builders in; if the dog was barking it may have raised more suspicion

As said before though, I hope we never need to find out - hopefully the warning bark will suffice and deter anything further.

star-pants wrote: »

...or a noise that's really not right (like on the roof etc).

This was on December 24th, right?

shanagarry

When I was little I had a boxer who was unbelievably protective of me, he followed me everywhere. He was ultra friendly if everything was ok, but do something out of line and he was on guard. I've no doubt he would have protected me to the hilt if he had needed to. I even remember one day falling and bawling my eyes out and dad picked me up but the dog didn't recognise him for a second and went ballistic. If it had been anyone else trying to run away with me...

I can also relate to their attitude about doing things the correct way. With the same boxer, he would be out ever day when the postie would come, no problem at all, whole back end wagging etc while the postie petted him. Then one day the postie decided that rather than go all the way out our neighbours long drive and back in ours that he would hop over the hedge instead. The dog went mental! By the time mum went out he had the postie backed up against the neighbours gable!