Good morning DS: Where in the world?

Question

did people get the idea that a dog, of ANY breed would defend its owner to death?

is it cartoons or movies? I have NEVER heard of this happening in real life...EVER

Unlegit: How bad does your weather suck today? Its in the low 30s now...raining...windy...and absolutely nasty outside :)

Answer 1

Eh, its the nature of the questions and answers in forums like this Bells. Dweebs ask, bigger dweebs answer, everyone is a trainer of course...

Dogs are THE most selfish animals on the planet, if they will do anything for us, its because they think there is something in it for them. As far as defending to death, my azz...You know what though, I have grown tired of trying to teach the ignorant who dont want to learn, its time to just have more fun and stop trying.



ADD: Cjrossi, if it was incorrect, I would not have said it. Dogs are INDEED the MOST selfish animals on the planet and I could sit here and explain, but, for what?



ADD: UHave2...opportunistic, another great word and I agree with your always right opinion. Now get Lassie back to me, I need to go out tonight and want a dog to protect me to death...

Answer 2

People hear a story of a life saving dog, and then they don't remember that those dogs are in the very small minority.



This winter has been VERY strange. It came really suddenly and hit us with a couple weeks of -20 to - 25, then, till a week ago we had beautiful weather, it hovered between +8 and -5 C.

This last week has been horrible. All week it was -30 C to -40 C.

Now it is back in the -10 to 5 C.

Answer 3

There are members on this forum who think they know what the Dobermann is and suggest in answers that is it by nature naturally protective, NOT so, and neither would any dog make a conscious decision to take a bullet, knife or sustain serious injury to protect its owner because of a strong dog/owner bond.



Temperament, drives, structure and training – few make the cut because dogs are held to a high standard to be suitable for training as personal protective dogs, yet some people unrealistically expect their untrained pet dog not to crumble mentally under the pressure of the high stress situation of a real threat.



People are apt to take what they know of the function/history of the Dobermann [in common with other working group breeds] and apply to all Dobermanns within the breed regardless of the breeding behind the dog. With a two a penny show bred Dobermann created to look the part but without the heart and mind of the breed there is a slim to none likelihood that it was born with the genetic potential to be trained and worked as a personal protection dog.



Unlegit: The weather was fairly mild for winter.

Answer 4

It's actually happened a few times, really rarely. There's a medal called the PDSA Gold Medal for pets that save humans at risk to their own lives. It's mostly police dogs or assistance dogs, but there was a PBT named Oi in 2008 who saved her family from a machete-wielding assailant, though she sadly died of cancer shortly after. There is a pretty interesting article on Wikipedia about it!



Weather here isn't too bad, a nice warm 46 degrees, but it's muddy as all get out. And I apologize if I'm butting in on a conversation here, (I have no idea who DS is!) but I thought it was interesting information that you might like!

Answer 5

I know where they get the idea, it is because so many mis-identify a lousy temperament/ poor behavior on a dog being "protective". Then you can use that fantasy to believe that your "protective" dog would defend you to the death.



UNLG: Its Cold-50 degrees at 8:00 AM and raining high today will be a very cold 54 and a low of 48 brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Yes Bells that is horribly cold for So Cal!!!! No work for me today with this weather.



ADD: Has anyone heard from Rotten Rotts? She has not been here in ages and not answered E mail.



ADD2************HEY- I just want to add that I live with LASSIE (see Avatar) so I know she would defend me to the death....................that is unless said perp had a hot dog, or she was too tired to defend me, or if the sun came up in the east..................



ADD759- WHY IN THE WORLD do you people choose to live where its so darn cold???



ADD837- Lassie Trivia- Lassie was always played by an over-sized Male Collie, this was because females blow their coat after every heat cycle so are really only in great coat about 4-5 months out of the year depending on their cycle. Also they needed a large dog to make the child actors look small.

Lassie was played by a Collie bred from the original Lassie (PAL) owned by the Weatherwax family until recently when Classic Media bought the "brand" and now uses non Weatherwax Collies. BLECH



ADD902- LMAO- Wow someone did make a LASSIE reference.

See I tole you LASSIE would defend me.



ADD1000- GREEK I believe that they are the most opportunistic creatures on the planet

(after 20 something, great looking women who marry really rich, realy old men)

Opportunistic more then selfish in my very humble- but always right-Opinion



ADDS- 1001-1500- To all you people that live in cold weather due to financial reasons, I get it!

I want to just add that I would have been the first one in the Donnor party to succumb to the cold. A jacket goes on anytime the temp is below 68.

GREEK its raining here and Lassie prefers not to go out in the rain so I am unable to send her. If you need her to protect you in the rain well I just suggest you have your life insurance policy up to date for your family. I appreciate your acknowledging the fact I am always right.

Answer 6

Aside from Disney movies? LOL



It makes for a good story in the movies, so people assume it MUST be true since they saw it on tv. They also see a dog fearlessly appear to "protect" the owner - even when the dog is just protecting his own azz.



Unlegit: We've got the rain alright, not so windy luckily and high 30's

Dogs of course loved it though....

Answer 7

While I have read reports of dogs putting themselves in harms way for the protection of humans , I have heard very few stories of a dog defending a human to it's death. That is not to say it doesn't happen, it just doesn't happen as often as people would like to believe.



It's MINUS 5*F and clear here. There is a very heavy frost on EVERYTHING and the whole countryside literally sparkles - wear sunglasses if you drop by - it's a wee bit bright and hard on the eyes. The dog loves it - he's had 2 snow bathes this morning.

Answer 8

Movies, the occasional story of some dog who died or came close to it while protecting their turf from some burglar and of course everyone and their mother who can't tell the difference between neurotic fearful dogs without firm consistent leaders and dogs who have been simply allowed to be possessive or whatever or whomever they want vs actual protection which is only a natural trait to very few breeds and otherwise has to come through proper breeding for temperament and drive as well as training.



The fact is anyone who expect their randomly bought/bred dog to lay down its life for them out of "love" is likely to be the dead one in a given scenario.



UL: 32 light rain, which means slush and ice everywhere from the snow the other day. Thank god this weekend is supposed to be somewhat nice. Hard to have a housewarming when the weather is depressing.



Uhave: HEY we were having a freak mild winter for a while. Less than an inch of snow majority warm days etc. Then mother nature remembered she hates New England and dropped the hammer.

Answer 9

IDK, but I think not only is it entirely unreasonable to expect that from an untrained dog, but I also think it's semi-selfish. I got a dog to take care of it's needs.. not so it can protect me until it dies, and then get a new one.



Unlegit.. weather is good here today, only -13 Celcius ( 8.6 F) which is fantastic since most of last week was averaging -35 Celcius (-31 F )





LOL, yeah it gets pretty cold here. This is what happens when my boy goes out for a pee in -40 C



http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g359/sennenhundberners/brutus.jpg



That's after about 15 minutes outside. And you still need to tell him to get in, otherwise he'd be out there in his glory playing in the snow.



@Bells so was The Littlest Hobo



@UHave2BKidding... we live here because both of us make a lot of money here. We used to live in NS, but made barely over minimum wage, by moving here and obtaining jobs that actually use our education we've gone from minimum wage to over 200K/yr That and I would rather -40 than +40 haha I can't take the heat.

Answer 10

Too many Disney/Lassie/Rin Tin Tin episodes?



However, my first GSD was somewhat protective over me. This dog loved my Daddy as well. But one time Daddy picked a switch from a bush in the yard and went to hit me with it, just playing. Belthar immediately jumped on him and took his arm. He never growled or anything, but he was serious about stopping that activity. I used to think Bel would protect me if needed. That was probably just delusion, but I was a teenager!.



This morning here was about 35 and light rain. Now it is 40 and overcast/damp.

Answer 11

I'm just here to complain about my weather I have no experience with a dog that would defend its owner to the death, in fact, my dogs would most likely bark 3 times and then cower. Weather here?....Typical of Washington, 37 and rainy rainy rainy and not even a good steady rain just dreary drizzle.

Answer 12

Yes, some morons believe that. They got that from other morons spreading ignorance.





It is 18 F today and cloudy. An inch or.two of snow. I am SO not complaining. Normally Jan and Feb are sub zero temps in ND. The weather Berner said. That's normal for here in Jan and Feb. I'm just glad I live in Fargo and on the opposite side of the state from Williston(the big oil boom). And most winters the snow is 6 feet high or higher. Sometimes as tall as houses.



Edit. Uhave2be. This is where I'm from. Most of my relatuves are up this way. When you grow up in certain areas, ut's what you're accustomed to. I lived in NC for 6 years and thought I'd die from the heat in the summer.

Answer 13

like most myths I guess it must come from a grain of truth that was exaggerated. A few breeds were intended to chase off wild life to protect the livestock, but I have seen dogs that attack the livestock. My dog would like whomever and try to play with them, he has threw his ball in the UPS truck to get him to play.

weather right now it is 40 degrees should get up to 54 today, first day in a week no rain. I live in northern CA.

Answer 14

IMO

Movies & TV shows. Disney especially does ...



UL: It's about 38 here and windy and cloudy. Our 7 inches of snow melted last night, there's still some patches of snow, but it's all slush. Suppose to drop to 31 by 5pm, and chance of snow later today.



Add: It's snow again ... Great

Answer 15

I guess it must have been from movies. I've never heard of it happening either...ever.



Well, it's about 40 degrees today in NYC, dreary and raining. I just hope it washes and melts the little bit of ice and snow we got over the weekend.

Answer 16

Good freakin morning, sorry I'm fcuking last lol. They get it from the old TV shows and movies like Lassie and Rin Tin fcuking Tin. People are ignorant sheep and won't accept that their precious fido won't defend them like they want to.



Unlegit: It's actually sunny LOL!!! A bit chilly here in Norcal, 55 degrees, but sunny nonetheless. I do NOT do well in the cold, I have circulation problems so I get cold very very easily.

Answer 17

Stereo types, in movies. My Pomeranians would only bark and if the person raised an item and shot a gun my Pomeranian mix would only just run away and save her self.



It`s very cold out and the last time I checked it was raining with a mix of snow.

Answer 18

People who have good dogs.



I have a Golden who I highly doubt would do anything to protect me. When someones at the door hes barely interested he doesnt bark or come to the door he just kinda looks over and does his own thing.



I live in town now and I have never seen a dog be protective here..but where im moving back to...you see it alot. The dogs are just mutts 99% of the time. But they seem to know they are needed to defend their family and property.



-When I was 9 I was taunting a moose...im not so bright and this stray dog I was caring for who was uninterested in the moose and was just playing across the street saw it charge me and came running over and nipped at its heels chasing it in the woods. The dog was a huge Great Dane X Alaskan Husky.



-I have a cousin with a Lab X that howls if you pretend to hit a kid..and the kid screams or says OW if you dont stop she bites. It is really weird we cant figure it out. Shes a sweet dog...never aggesive unless someone even jokingly gets rough with a kid.



-Knew a girl who in daylight was walking through town with her Lab and these guys pulled over and grabbed her and tried to pull her into their car. Her dog jumped up and attacked them and they drove off.







I think dogs can protect their owners..but you should not expect. If you dont feel safe carry a knife, pepper spray, and a cell phone. Relying on any dog for protection is stupid but your dog might suprise you...living in Alaska their are packs of loose dogs and tons of moose. I have NEVER seen a dog NOT protect its owner. They know they got the bark and the bite ;) Its bad people you have to worry about because people can be cruel while animals are more predictable and act on instinct.

Answer 19

No idea, would need to ask people who actually believe that although i cannot recall seeing an answer in here in a long time saying it would defend until death but i haven't been around so maybe i missed it.

It's about 5 degrees now and windy.

Answer 20

While I cannot qualify "to the death" - I think its entirely possible that an untrained dog will fight and/or defend their owner in extreme conditions.



Its not something I would test, and I would never advocate people expect it from their dog, and I certainly do not go out looking for my dogs to protect me - but I won't say never.



Dogs are not capable of being selfish - that is a human flaw that comes from having an ego.



And yes, I have heard this happening in real life. But its in my brain - not in the archives, and since I cannot prove it (with a source) I will just have to stand to be corrected.

*************

Um. Dogs most certainly are capable to being trained to defend against weapons. And they WILL fight. Of course a dog does not rationalize the danger or implications - it simply acts. Is every Doberman out there capable of it -no. Most are wimps - and most owners have such big egos they defeat their dogs from puppyhood and the dog is never encouraged to think on its own - let alone fight.



A little while ago a video was posted of a trainer with a sleeve on commanding his own dogs to bite him. (?) When I see videos here of games (sporting dogs) that people play with the dog literally trained to bite the handler on command I wonder what the heck the world has come to. This is perversion - it makes no sense, and it is certainly not training I would ever consider doing with my dog.



I don't need a dog to bite a ball or tug - that is not defending anything - and I certainly don't EVER want my dog to bite me - why people do it, or would advocate you train to do it is beyond me. I can certainly understand why THOSE dogs would not defend their owner- in fact, I am certain they would bite them in the stress of combat .



I watched that and officially gave up trying to figure people out here. Its like Religion - people kill each other in wars and they all claim GOD IS ON THEIR SIDE. How many sides does God have? Its the same with dogs. They ALL have the cadbury secret. Well, fine. If you say so.



I can almost know what people are going to say here before I read it. Anyway, no doubt I'm wasting my time, but interesting sidebar...the TV show "Weird or What" featured a fascinating example of what people are capable of under stress. A guy weighing in around 114lb looked out the window to see his uncle trapped under neath a car (the uncle was under the car repairing it when it collapsed on his chest).



The kid literally LIFTED this 3000 lb (or 2000 lb - it was an old chevy) car OFF the uncles chest - a lift of several inches.



They did all kinds of tests on this kid afterwards and nothing could explain his unexplained strength. It was simply impossible - the laws of physics were against it - yet it was witnessed, and there was no doubt it happened.



So why then are people so opposed to the possibility that in extreme duress, a handler can muster the mojo to summon whatever it is inside his dog to fight? Sure, the majority of us are cowards and what we send out is what we get back - cowardly dogs. But there are exceptions - and dogs WILL follow you into battle ...if you have the guts to try.



End of soapbox. Bring on the TD.



>>>>Its raining like cats and dogs here, the snow is gone, no ski-jorring and I got Netflix free for a month so I'm going to waste my free time watching a movie :-)

Answer 21

movies and watchin you tube bad videos of worse owners!



And in North East England around Freezing the past couple weeks if not a few below

Answer 22

Too much Disney I suspect. Not that I've ever expected that of my Bassets it has to be said.



After a fine morning, when I actually got my laundry out, it's now drizzing again, and I guess around 50F out there. But we do have the bulbs up - so there!!



Officially, well done with the TC Lorraine.

Answer 23

I have learned that antidotes trump any type of research or data in here. If someones uncle's neighbor's brother in law says it happened..well no matter how much hard data you put up, you're wrong and Uncle fester's second wife's brother with the missing fingers is gonna win BA every time..



Blowing snow and -14 here..thrill



I must be working myself up the ladder..I now have my own personal TD pet..awwwwww ain't that cute???

Answer 24

A: the same place they'd get the equally incorrect idea that "Dogs are THE MOST SELFISH animals on the planet"



Weather is right around 30F, freezing rain in the forecast, so it's pretty good for these parts. This same week last year I moved here through two blizzards and mountains of snow stayed on the ground thru April.



@ Greek: selfishness is a human personality trait, not to be confused with animal survival instinct.



overlooking that, the claim that dogs are THE MOST SELFISH animal on the planet .. there's no factual support backing that claim, no studies, and it can be pretty easily anecdotally refuted.

Answer 25

I most definitely think it's the movies and tv shows that give people that idea.





it's above freezing here so I'm happy cause it's melting all the snow we got last week.

Answer 26

I don't know.... but I wish they wouldn't think it of my breed and then encourage a dog to bite in their ignorance of thinking that's what protection is.



Add on -- thanks MamaBas for the congratulations on the TC.... gosh I must be being too nice !!!



Uhave to be.... keep wondering about Rotten Rotts myself. If you find out can you let me know.

Answer 27

This can and has happened many times, get with the program, I once had a Rottie that would of hurt any one that looked at me wrong with one word from me anyone would turn tail and run. His name was assassin he lived to be 12 yrs old, when at home he was a happy dog and very friendly to every one he was on guard when out in public but I never had to worry about him he was very well behaved and he would look to me as to question what was next I miss my dog. Did you ever watch Lassie that was a true dog and very well trained any dog can defend an owner just out of love if it has been given love