Guarding Instincts?

[NeoBull]

I'd be surprised if my Doberman didn't bite... he certainly puts on a HELL of a show! Barking, growling, and lunging... he certainly looks like he's trying to get a bite! He's a pretty big asshole so I really think he would... but the "show" would be enough for sure!

As far as not even barking, no problem with that here at all, I swear a raccoon can fart in the park by our house and set him off lol! He's hyper alert, like a car alarm that goes off just by walking to close by lol.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

LMAO!!!! NeoBull

I wouldn't think most criminals would bother a place with the common guard dog breeds, a GM not so much. Darn you SD * shakes fist*

 

[NeoBull]

SD? Scooby Doo?

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Yeap, I get the comment also so many people think they can just walk right up to him. Luckily he is friendly but you'd never know the wrong person can come up and he could turn into a Cujo.

 

[Tiger12490]

Lol neobull I agree with DD no one in there right mind anyway is going to try and run up and try and rob you with a Dobie. I think 96% of dogs are fakers mastiffs seem to be bad about that, if there defense is low sometimes they won't even budge to bark

Tapd on my skyrocket

 

[chuckorlando]

The show is 99% of the battle. If someone gets past the show, the probly have a gun or mental issue.

 

[AKBull]

i swear a raccoon can fart in the park by our house and set him off lol!

lol

 

[BradA1878]

My thoughts on barking a lot comes back to that saying "quiet dog bites hard"... Blue barks like a freak at things, but I don't know that he has that much interest in really biting. Parka on the other hand doesn't bark much at all, but mos def will bite an intruder.

 

[chuckorlando]

The problem with a non barking dog is it may be to late by the time one knows the dogs there. Lets say 2 burglers are at your door. The dogs at the door just waiting. No answer. One goes around back and breaks in. Now you have a grown man trapped inside with your dog. Now your dog is certainly in dnger. I dont care how bad ass your dog is, a calm headed grown man can choke the dog out or beat it with your own lamp or what ever is handy. It's one thing when given a chance to avoid a dog or even run from one. Whole new world when flight is no longer an option. I also dont think bark and bite are realated. I just think the majority of dogs bark alot and the majority also are not killers. Kona barks more than I would like, and I'm pretty certain she'll take a chunk out of ya

 

[BradA1878]

The problem with a non barking dog is it may be to late by the time one knows the dogs there. Lets say 2 burglers are at your door. The dogs at the door just waiting. No answer. One goes around back and breaks in. Now you have a grown man trapped inside with your dog. Now your dog is certainly in dnger. I dont care how bad ass your dog is, a calm headed grown man can choke the dog out or beat it with your own lamp or what ever is handy. It's one thing when given a chance to avoid a dog or even run from one. Whole new world when flight is no longer an option. I also dont think bark and bite are realated. I just think the majority of dogs bark alot and the majority also are not killers. Kona barks more than I would like, and I'm pretty certain she'll take a chunk out of ya

Oh yea, I agree. I prefer my dogs to give plenty of warning before they bite - which is why I like LGD breeds. Also, it's why we usually will work a dog like Blue with a dog like Parka. Blue gives a lot of warning, but we know Parka is there to back it up.

 

[metaldad904]

Greta started showing guarding instincts within the first month of getting her. We were on one of our usual walks and a jogger appeared about a block away (keep in mind this was her first jogger to see so i imagine she was like "wtf?"....the person was moving pretty quickly and Greta immediately got in front of me and between myself and jogger, stood tall, uttered a low growl and started barking up a storm. Since then she's gotten a lot better about recognizing that a jogger isn't something i need protecting from but she still watches with the "stare" when things are coming towards me. Even if someone crosses the street a block away, she will watch them intensely. When out and about like at petco or somewhere similar if someone comes up to me she can be friendly, sometimes aloof and sometimes full-on guard mode. All seems to depend on the person, she's loves children and the majority of women but most men she's a bit shy, and if they're big guys she will stand between us and if they approach without my approval she'll bark really loud and sometimes even give them a low growl. She keys in on my attitude towards them quite a bit, if i show them friendliness and a positive tone she perks right up with happiness but if its someone that I don't like she knows and will let them know immediately. She's extremely protective of children, my own and others. One time we were at the park (not even the dog park part) at the playground. My daughter was playing with a friend while I was just standing around with the other child's mother watching them have fun. A very large (built like a tank) man popped out from his truck and yelled out "Is that a pit?!?" and i admittedly got a little nervous. I'll give you a little background information to explain this reaction from myself. For years, whenever i walked Dharma (My APBT) i would have random guys come up to me, start asking about them and then ask if i'm going to fight her and that i should....of course i would react very negatively about this (Obviously) and let them have it verbally. Living around Atlanta I get that on occasion, i'm guessing b/c dog fighting is still very rampant here (I wanna say i read a statistic that its one of the popular locations for it) so I've gotten to a point where as a reflex i get nervous when random guys approach like that b/c of the negative history i've had over it. Turns out this guy was totally cool and really nice but when he approached Greta flipped out. Started growling, barking and would not let him near me (he was a good 15 feet away and that didn't seem like it was enough for her). Once i realized he was a good guy I explained to him the breed and how their protective instincts (he totally understood) and after a few minutes of chatting she cooled down and I went to shake his hand, she became very friendly and even let him pet her. Nowadays I try to be more aware of what kind of "energy" i'm giving off when people come up to us and she's been just great. She still is very watchful of everything and anything and has no qualms in letting someone know to watch out if they try to sneak up on us or something. I'm not sure whether she would go as far as biting and i won't be pushing that anytime soon, right now she's still a baby and its all about building up her confidence but i have no doubt, she will protect me and my daughter at all costs.

 

[allsierra123]

The problem with a non barking dog is it may be to late by the time one knows the dogs there. Lets say 2 burglers are at your door. The dogs at the door just waiting. No answer. One goes around back and breaks in. Now you have a grown man trapped inside with your dog. Now your dog is certainly in dnger. I dont care how bad ass your dog is, a calm headed grown man can choke the dog out or beat it with your own lamp or what ever is handy. It's one thing when given a chance to avoid a dog or even run from one. Whole new world when flight is no longer an option. I also dont think bark and bite are realated. I just think the majority of dogs bark alot and the majority also are not killers. Kona barks more than I would like, and I'm pretty certain she'll take a chunk out of ya

Im with you on this one chuck. Im not afraid of dogs at all if i know I had to I could take your dog out. I usually like the in pairs for that very reason. And I like them to make a lot of noise.

 

[chuckorlando]

Yea I've told many clients with" agressive" dogs that their dog just aint big enough to scare me. Thats not to say it aint big enough to hurt me, but it will absolutly not win that fight. If the "Show" dont scare a person off, well you likely got some big issues.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Im with you on this one chuck. Im not afraid of dogs at all if i know I had to I could take your dog out. I usually like the in pairs for that very reason. And I like them to make a lot of noise.

Actually me too not just for companion reaons but for this as well.

Yea I've told many clients with" agressive" dogs that their dog just aint big enough to scare me. Thats not to say it aint big enough to hurt me, but it will absolutly not win that fight. If the "Show" dont scare a person off, well you likely got some big issues.

So true if a dog at least attempts to bite, I'm more than pleased.

 

[bullyBug]

Mason is 8 1/2 months old and still a mush ball. I have noticed that he's just the slightest bit less prone to waggly-rush "unsavory" types now.

 

[dogman#1]

This is why it is so important to get an acurate tempermanet test that not only test temperament but also nervous system...I have seen many "maniac" dog barking and lunging from their fence and as soon as the fight comes to them they piss all over themselves and run the other way...I have even seen one literally scream as it if it just got the hell beat out of him when the whipped "cracked". I keep saying it over and over a good temperament test is worth is weight in gold and could easily mean the difference between life and death in a situation. At least if you know your dog cant defend you will have a back up plan handy. I remember buying back a 4 mth old pup (guy had several surgeries and could not take care of the dog) and it took me about 4 hrs to be able to get close enough to the dog and get it in my car...that same pup, 1 week later, was going to his new owner...the guy came to my home and the pup was going nuts, I told him, dont worry he will calm down in a bit... I went to another room, pup followed, and I didnt know the guy was following too...the pup nailed him on the thigh. Mind you this is a pup so how bad could it be, right? the guy got a lil scared and the dog released him , came back to me and kept barking... took a few hours but he finally got him in his car. Now this is the exception and not normal for a 4 mth old fila but some of them do come in REALLY early while others take some time. usually by 6 mths they are showing something though.

 

[chuckorlando]

I can agree with that. At least if you really pin some hopes on actualy being protected. I've had two rotties, 1 chow, 3 boxers, 1 rotti mix, and many pitts lay down. Owners all thought they were big bad dogs. I come through the gate, show no fear, and the dog gets scared. You act affraid and the dog would like become bold. Non of these folks really needed the dog to protect. But if they did, they would be sadly let down. But again, it's all about the show especially behind a closed door. Unless you have 10lbs of dope in there and theres an armed squad coming to kick your door in, all you typicly need is the show. If the dogs going crazy behind a fence, you only have one option as a thief to find out if he's bout it. Thats jump the fence. Takes one hell of a motivater to go up against a 130lb pissed off dog. So very few would ever attempt to break in on a showy dog, when right next door theres no dog. Unless they are highly motivated.

I also think alot of us live in a fantasy land where we think are dog's will stand in the paint with no protection training. I dont mean the Fila owners with proper temp. But even many fila owners. Once apon a time all these breads would do their job. But so much messed up breeding has often times left many many breeds un reliable short of either testiing for temp or training to protect.

But this is why I would never train a dog not to bark. If they get in your house cause your lazy dog wont bark. Then the dog stands up and barks, hair stands up, but dont advance. That tells me loud and clear this dog is scared. A scared dog aint gonna do nothing but run out the door they just came in. So best to make a show behind the door, and let the punks move on down the block. Just like a cheap car alarm. Sure a good thief could get around one. But easier to skip it

 

[Tiger12490]

I can agree with that. At least if you really pin some hopes on actualy being protected. I've had two rotties, 1 chow, 3 boxers, 1 rotti mix, and many pitts lay down. Owners all thought they were big bad dogs. I come through the gate, show no fear, and the dog gets scared. You act affraid and the dog would like become bold. Non of these folks really needed the dog to protect. But if they did, they would be sadly let down. But again, it's all about the show especially behind a closed door. Unless you have 10lbs of dope in there and theres an armed squad coming to kick your door in, all you typicly need is the show. If the dogs going crazy behind a fence, you only have one option as a thief to find out if he's bout it. Thats jump the fence. Takes one hell of a motivater to go up against a 130lb pissed off dog. So very few would ever attempt to break in on a showy dog, when right next door theres no dog. Unless they are highly motivated.

I also think alot of us live in a fantasy land where we think are dog's will stand in the paint with no protection training. I dont mean the Fila owners with proper temp. But even many fila owners. Once apon a time all these breads would do their job. But so much messed up breeding has often times left many many breeds un reliable short of either testiing for temp or training to protect.

But this is why I would never train a dog not to bark. If they get in your house cause your lazy dog wont bark. Then the dog stands up and barks, hair stands up, but dont advance. That tells me loud and clear this dog is scared. A scared dog aint gonna do nothing but run out the door they just came in. So best to make a show behind the door, and let the punks move on down the block. Just like a cheap car alarm. Sure a good thief could get around one. But easier to skip it

Well written post Chuck and I agree completely

Tapd on my skyrocket

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I encourage Thor to bark when he's sees someone from the house but I try not to overdue it since I live in a unit.......

 

[dogman#1]

Chuck I agree, that is correct at least 95% of the time. the other 5% is when the people are armed or are just high on drugs... they could give a crap if you have a dog barking or not especially if they are targeting your home for a specific reason. Now ofcourse if they got a gun they can always shoot the dog but that may take more than one shot as the dog is moving towards them very fast and at the very least would buy me some time to get my own piece. If it is a crack head then they wont leave with everything they came in with.