Mine did. I was walking on our country road and there is a space of about a mile with no houses. A man in a pick up truck pulled up along side me and told me my dog was beautiful and asked if he was friendly. I said nothing and kept walking. He pulled over onto the shoulder of the road and cut me off. My dog (he is a 100lb German Shephard) read my vibe, I was scared to death. He was in total and complete control and placed himself directly between myself and the man and I have never seen him look so mean. I think it was the fact that he was not freaking out and being a lunatic that made him even more scary. His teeth were showing and his hair was standing up and he gave the most ferocious growl/bark....I didn't even know he could sound like that. The man took a step towards me and my dog lunged, then became a lunatic trying to get to him. He was leashed around my stomach and I also had my hands on the lead so he couldn't reach him but the man got back in his truck and pulled out so fast he sprayed gravel on us. What would my dog have done if he kept approaching? No idea really but he made it clear, she is mine and I will protect her.
He received a steak dinner that night. He deserved it. I don't want to think about what could have happened if I had been by myself. We used to laugh that he would welcome any intruder if they were willing to throw his frisbee with him but he knew I was scared and he did what he could to protect me.
Post by Leeham Rimes on Feb 27, 2024 11:47:16 GMT -5
That’s a big maybe. I feel that my 75 pound dog would—-? He doesn’t have too much of a protection vibe but when h and the kids play around, he will try and get h out of the way.
My Boston is 16 pounds so he’d be totally useless except for barking like a crazy person.
Last Edit: Feb 27, 2024 11:47:48 GMT -5 by Leeham Rimes
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My younger dogs probably would, but who knows. One is scared of everything but his bark is scary so that might work without much interaction.
My old guy surprised me. We were in the front yard and a german shepherd was approaching kind of sneakily - and my old pup (13 at the time - 14 now) TOOK OFF after it and ran it off. My husband and I were dumbfounded. If I hadn't been out there, he probably wouldn't have cared if another dog was there.
Mine has some leash reactivity, so if he was on his leash he would at least bark at strangers. He would be zero help at home: He believes everyone who comes into our house is his best friend. His greetings are loud and barky, though, so maybe they wouldn’t know he is absolutely no threat.
Post by starburst604 on Feb 27, 2024 12:11:42 GMT -5
My lab Dunkin would 100%. Though he is everything a lab should be in friendliness, I am his person and he has reacted even when DD was playfully hitting my butt and running off. He didn’t hurt her, but he knocked her down and wouldn’t let her up until I told him to leave it. There have been a few random occasions where he just doesn’t like something about a person approaching us and he’ll stop, stand in front of me and low growl with hackles up. Often it’s when someone has a hat pulled low and he can’t see their face well.
Our golden I don’t know. He kind of follows whatever Dunks does so he might join in on saving me but maybe not on his own. Kind of a derp haha.
I think both of mine would. Abbey is very submissive but I am 100% her person and she feels like she has to protect me from every other dog when we go on walks. Duke is a big dumbo but I also think he would freak out on someone if they were attacking me.
Post by penguingrrl on Feb 27, 2024 12:41:37 GMT -5
Absolutely. She already protects us from the mailman, the UPS guy, and any person who walks down our street (we live across from a middle school, so morning and afternoon she’s on alert lol!)
Post by BlondeSpiders on Feb 27, 2024 13:00:18 GMT -5
Cat person horning in on the dog people post.
Louis Cain, my 19# tuxedo, was a gentle giant. But later in life, he would protect me when my H would tease or tickle me. It was a warning bite, but the message was clear.
I always joked that our last lab would likely show the robbers where all the stuff was and then get his ball and be like 'will you play fetch with me?' However, I was home on maternity leave with one of my kids and we had a contractor there installing windows. I was holding my son trying to get him to sleep and the guy came in to talk to me. The dog placed himself in between me and the guy and had a low growl. So then I kind of freaked out wondering if there was something to be worried about with this guy. I think I made up an excuse to make them leave and had them come back when DH was there.
I always joked that our last lab would likely show the robbers where all the stuff was and then get his ball and be like 'will you play fetch with me?' However, I was home on maternity leave with one of my kids and we had a contractor there installing windows. I was holding my son trying to get him to sleep and the guy came in to talk to me. The dog placed himself in between me and the guy and had a low growl. So then I kind of freaked out wondering if there was something to be worried about with this guy. I think I made up an excuse to make them leave and had them come back when DH was there.
Its so funny. Our dog loves everyone who comes into the house - pretty much charges over, flops on his back and wiggles with his tongue hanging out. When we had our mini-splits installed this summer we had every Tom, Dick and Harry off the street in the house doing this and that and out of alllll the men, the dog only freaked out about one. There was nothing particularly unique about him either - height, outfit, hair, odd odor etc. It was JUST this guy - even when there were 2 or 3 other guys with him - just him. Of course I freaked out and convinced myself he was a serial killer.
The crazy thing is a few weeks later this was an issue with one of the insulated tubes and he came back, alone. And the dog LOVED him. So who knows!
Post by EvieEthelGarland on Feb 27, 2024 13:32:59 GMT -5
My first girl (cattle dog mix) was very protective. any guy I brought over she'd freak out on--until DH. she didn't much seem to like DS, but she would let others know that he was her boy if they got too close.
My rottie-shepard mix (who I was told was a lab) sounded ferocious and looked intimidating. He was tested when both my neighbors homes were broken into and security footage showed the intruder hopping into my yard. Another neighbor texted that day because he was barking like crazy and she was concerned. Our house was not burglarized.
My boy now? He won't even defend himself if another dog is playing too rough. Straight to behind my knees. He's an English lab and the laziest, chillest dog I have ever owned.
Post by doggielover on Feb 27, 2024 13:35:02 GMT -5
Mine definitely would. When we're walking and we stop to talk to a neighbor he'll get in between me and them. He's VERY protective of me and incredibly protective of the house. It's one of his downfalls. We've hired 2 behaviorist and we can't break him of his aggressive tendencies. He's a pitt/boxer/rottie/chow mix. DH and I rescued him when he was about 6 months old (he's now 8) but he was used as bait which is incredibly sad.
No, she would absolutely run. She's a scaredy girl, she was the most scared dog at the rescue where we got her. If there's a loud noise she bolts. Adding a pic because I took this last night and she looks so cuuuuuute. Her toy is a marshmallow from a cup of cocoa toy that you pull the marshmallows out of.
She is SO protective, especially of David, but is all bark. She doesn't like when we play fight and will bark and growl, but if it came down to it, she's all bark and no bite. She's more of a nervous mother, lol.
I would normally say my dog is too lazy to do much. When people come over he will give off a half hearted bark and sniff but he’s not very interested.
We had one circumstance were he did asset himself. I was getting private yoga lessons at home, so I was on the floor in vulnerable positions. He was pacing around and uncomfortable with a stranger standing over me. At one point she bent over me to adjust and my dog lunged at her loudly barking. I couldn’t really see what was happening to intervene early. He didn’t do anything but we found a new place to practice after that.
I always joked that our last lab would likely show the robbers where all the stuff was and then get his ball and be like 'will you play fetch with me?' However, I was home on maternity leave with one of my kids and we had a contractor there installing windows. I was holding my son trying to get him to sleep and the guy came in to talk to me. The dog placed himself in between me and the guy and had a low growl. So then I kind of freaked out wondering if there was something to be worried about with this guy. I think I made up an excuse to make them leave and had them come back when DH was there.
It's funny how there are people they just don't like something about! When I took Dunks to the vet yesterday I didn't recognize the vet that came in, turns out he's new to the practice. Dunkin fought every single touch and poke this guy gave him and wouldn't let him look at his teeth. So I went and picked up his gums so the vet could examine his teeth, and he was so surprised the dog let me touch his mouth. I play with his jowls all the time and I swear he's never acted like that at the vet before, not that we are there often fortunately. Something about this guy just wasn't right to him I guess!
I would normally say my dog is too lazy to do much. When people come over he will give off a half hearted bark and sniff but he’s not very interested.
We had one circumstance were he did asset himself. I was getting private yoga lessons at home, so I was on the floor in vulnerable positions. He was pacing around and uncomfortable with a stranger standing over me. At one point she bent over me to adjust and my dog lunged at her loudly barking. I couldn’t really see what was happening to intervene early. He didn’t do anything but we found a new place to practice after that.
This would set my dog off too with the kids when they were babies. She would go mama bear whenever anyone but me leaned over them when they were on the floor.
Post by wanderingback on Feb 27, 2024 13:50:15 GMT -5
I dont own a dog, but what is the definition of protect here? Like would the dog attack and bite and seriously injure someone if they were running at you with a knife?
(I didn’t answer the poll because it’s not a current pet.)
I had a dog when I was a young teenager that alternated between bumbling idiot and overly friendly. I wouldn’t have considered him a good guard dog at all, until he came between me and a black bear. He barked and snarled enough to give me time to retreat. All his doggy instincts kicked in when there was real danger.
I always joked that our last lab would likely show the robbers where all the stuff was and then get his ball and be like 'will you play fetch with me?' However, I was home on maternity leave with one of my kids and we had a contractor there installing windows. I was holding my son trying to get him to sleep and the guy came in to talk to me. The dog placed himself in between me and the guy and had a low growl. So then I kind of freaked out wondering if there was something to be worried about with this guy. I think I made up an excuse to make them leave and had them come back when DH was there.
It's funny how there are people they just don't like something about! When I took Dunks to the vet yesterday I didn't recognize the vet that came in, turns out he's new to the practice. Dunkin fought every single touch and poke this guy gave him and wouldn't let him look at his teeth. So I went and picked up his gums so the vet could examine his teeth, and he was so surprised the dog let me touch his mouth. I play with his jowls all the time and I swear he's never acted like that at the vet before, not that we are there often fortunately. Something about this guy just wasn't right to him I guess!
I think sometimes they can sense a change in you when certain people are around. My father and I didn't always get along and when he would come over our dog would stay super close to me and refused to interact with him. And when I knew he was coming I would get stressed out about it. I no longer allow him to stress me out and ignore him being him for the most part and Dozer has relaxed with him. My brother is a gun toting MAGA and his stupidity stresses me out too. He has always loved animals and has commented more than once, all animals love me, what is it with your dog? Well, he senses we don't get along. (He probably also senses his underlying, constant anger.) But I think they do read your que's for a lot of people. When my 82 year, seriously high anxiety aunt comes over he is the most gentle being you could ever imagine with her. He doesn't push a toy at her or assert himself trying to get her to play, he gently lays a paw on her leg and just looks at her. We all treat her differently as well, knowing she is somewhat fragile. He must feel that from us? Maybe your dog sensed a change in you when the new vet came in and it put him on edge?
I dont own a dog, but what is the definition of protect here? Like would the dog attack and bite and seriously injure someone if they were running at you with a knife?
I think it's probably more would they give warning enough to scare someone off. Especially if it's a big dog, even though smaller dogs may actually bite more, the posturing is probably enough, not that I think they consciously know that difference. But people don't often want contact with big dogs. Of course guns make that a scary moot point.
Twice in her life I heard deep growls and barks I never heard. She was part hound (maybe) and usually trilled and smiled. I don't know what would have actually happened had she been able to reach the threat, but it was enough to convince me I think she would have potentially harmed. She certainly snarled and hurled in a way I never saw before. She earned her treats.
One was a man banging on my car. One was men running through my side yard (on loud rocks) by my window with flash lights. Police my housemates gave permission to in chase of a shooter and decided ultimately not to tell me in case I was sleeping through it. Wtf. Good doggie.
Just like parents learn their kids cries (in other contexts of course), we know the sounds our animals make. That's how I answered this, from the 2 times she acted and sounded like I never heard before. Others may have a different take.
She certainly had the strength and size to do harm, but she'd hide from a broom or the much smaller cats, but in those 2 instances I had zero doubt.
Yes. Unfortunately, his style of protection is to sit on me while confronting the attacker (husband or son play fights). So, I will either die from the attack or suffocation.
Post by starburst604 on Feb 27, 2024 14:54:04 GMT -5
This post reminded me of a story I was told about one of the St. Bernards we had when I was a kid. After I was born the male was super protective of me. One day my parents had me in a playpen on the deck of our above-ground pool and my mom came down from there to greet some guests. One of them was my uncle, who proceeded up to the pool deck and picked me up from the playpen. The dog went absolutely bonkers. He wasn't able to use the ladder to get up to the pool, so he ran around to the elevated area on the side of the pool and was trying to haul his giant ass over the railing. My uncle put me down and jumped into the pool for safety until my dad came to get control of the dog lol.
No, she's the biggest chicken. She has a big bark, so would be useful as a watchdog but utterly useless as a guard dog. Also she's a ver soft mouthed breed so I can't imagine she'd be able to do enough damage in that situation.
Post by samanthamkm on Feb 27, 2024 16:31:57 GMT -5
If it was another animal, I think my two would protect me. Both get worked up at the dog park. If it was a person, I’m not sure. My beagle is pretty friendly and wants all the pets, but barks like crazy when we have guests usually. My basset mutt isn’t friendly towards people right away, but will also bark if we have guests, he will quiet down quicker than the beagle.
Funny-ish story from my childhood. My mom and I were protected by the dog when my brother would play fight with us. If either one would say ow he would start barking and nipping at your feet.