Do Relatively Unprotective Dogs 'step Up' If Necessary?

[sandgrubber]

Dogs will threaten people entering their territory without owners permission (as they see it). And some are very convincing - as for would they go through with the threat? Well guess that depends on the dog and on the persons reaction to the threat.

With Labs, threaten may amount to bring the intruder a tennis ball and look longingly at them, begging them to throw it. Some of 'em are a little protective.

[Bjelkier]

My Lab has been known to step up and defend when needed, he actually looks very nasty when his back is up and he has that huge deep snarling bark.

However Lestat is not your normal Lab and if someone told me he was a x somewhere back in his lines I would believe it.

One that did surprise me lastnight was my male Sammie, Mistral.

He is hardly known for his bravery and the breed are not guard dogs (although used to hunt polar bears when needed and kept the wolves at bay from their tribes they do not make useful guards), he would ususally be more likely to invite an intruder in and have a coffee with them

But I went outside with him last night on lead and my neighbour was walking up our driveway (being in the country there are no lights so it's pretty dark). The min Misty saw him he jumped infront of me and snarled, barked his head off, I had no idea he could even make sounds like that

He stayed in front of me the whole time, not moving a muscle and as soon as I said to be calm he settled and greeted the neighbour as the friend he is.

He's a good boy, but I really think if anyone raised a hand to him Misty would be off like a flash. To be fair though a dog of his size (and a wolf like look) with the coat all puffed up and going crazy looks pretty scary.

Edited February 25, 2010 by Wolfsong

[laeral]

Can I jump in and ask a question here.

I have a GSD who will bark a lot if there is something like an animal around. However the fool doesn't bark when someone comes over, or a car pulls up in the driveway. I live alone on a property and while I don't feel nervous about it, or think that I am ever going to have any problems, I would like to teach her to bark on command. I wouldn't use her to protect me in any way or expect her to, but I would like it if I could get her to bark say if someone was outside that I didn't know or something. At the moment she just squeals with excitement if someone comes over

What would be a good way to go about it? Should I wait until she barks, then give a command and reward each time she does it? How do you teach them then to stop barking as that may be an issue once I get her to bark

[Bjelkier]

Can I jump in and ask a question here.

I have a GSD who will bark a lot if there is something like an animal around. However the fool doesn't bark when someone comes over, or a car pulls up in the driveway. I live alone on a property and while I don't feel nervous about it, or think that I am ever going to have any problems, I would like to teach her to bark on command. I wouldn't use her to protect me in any way or expect her to, but I would like it if I could get her to bark say if someone was outside that I didn't know or something. At the moment she just squeals with excitement if someone comes over

What would be a good way to go about it? Should I wait until she barks, then give a command and reward each time she does it? How do you teach them then to stop barking as that may be an issue once I get her to bark

The way we taught it was to hype the dogs up and get them barking.

The min they did we used the command word and treated them, it only took about 10 goes before Mistral picked it up, we then put a signal to it too and he will work for that better then the word. It's not his favourite trick

Lestat is still trying to work it out

[Pete.the.dog]

Can I jump in and ask a question here.

I have a GSD who will bark a lot if there is something like an animal around. However the fool doesn't bark when someone comes over, or a car pulls up in the driveway. I live alone on a property and while I don't feel nervous about it, or think that I am ever going to have any problems, I would like to teach her to bark on command. I wouldn't use her to protect me in any way or expect her to, but I would like it if I could get her to bark say if someone was outside that I didn't know or something. At the moment she just squeals with excitement if someone comes over

What would be a good way to go about it? Should I wait until she barks, then give a command and reward each time she does it? How do you teach them then to stop barking as that may be an issue once I get her to bark

Yes, I have always discouraged Pete's barking (used to bark at the neighbours dog whose feet he could see under the fence) I'm afraid if I studdenly turned around and rewarded barking he would see it as a free-for-all

[becky thatcher]

This has been an interesting discussion. I was bitten by the white puffball (hope you don't mind that expression) of a neighbour when I went to tell the that their other dog had got out. These people are very careful owners and I don't blame them for either incident.

[Maxiewolf]

...Im sure Brutus would step up to the 'plate' should a cat attempt to break into the house... *rolls eyes* I had to buy the loveable fool a huge studded staffy collar for walks just to give *me* a bit of confidence. Though One hopes.. that deep down somewhere in that crazy doberman brain of his ... lurks that 'gaurding" instinct that I hope will never be needed. Cos all he has going for him right now are "looks".

Though he has been known to plant the paws and stand still when strange people walk by. Once they are gone we may resume walking.... hmmm

[Pete.the.dog]

Though he has been known to plant the paws and stand still when strange people walk by. Once they are gone we may resume walking.... hmmm

That's pretty good!! Pete just sniffs happily in their direction

Although to his credit we haven't ever walked past any 'scary' people

[Bully]

Jessie, Bull Terrier now at the "Bridge" was great when unwanted callers came to the door. She'd alert bark and if I told her "enough" she'd shut up. If I wanted to deter the caller I'd say something like "Quiet, please be quiet etc." sounding like I had no control, while at the same time giving her the "speak" command and a nod and a smile which was a keep going signal For good measure I would tug on her collar (as if I was trying to control her) but it was really a signal to rev her up which I used to rev her before an agility run. What looked like an uncontrolled and irate Bull Terrier was guaranteed to send unwanted callers running Then I'd say "enough" and make a big fuss of her and go and play tug or get her a treat

[Pete.the.dog]

Jessie, Bull Terrier now at the "Bridge" was great when unwanted callers came to the door. She'd alert bark and if I told her "enough" she'd shut up. If I wanted to deter the caller I'd say something like "Quiet, please be quiet etc." sounding like I had no control, while at the same time giving her the "speak" command and a nod and a smile which was a keep going signal For good measure I would tug on her collar (as if I was trying to control her) but it was really a signal to rev her up which I used to rev her before an agility run. What looked like an uncontrolled and irate Bull Terrier was guaranteed to send unwanted callers running Then I'd say "enough" and make a big fuss of her and go and play tug or get her a treat

That is VERY clever!!