Is it a dog's nature to protect you?

Question

I have heard this statement about 50 times today, and its 11am ONLY.

I call bull on this. I think Kaper made a very valid point...with the infinite numbers of back yard bred German Shepherds and Rottweilers (both of which are actually HERDING dogs)..Your $50 German Shepherd look-a-like does NOT have a natural instinct to protect YOU. It might bark...it might snarl...it might hide under the table...it might lick you to death..

Opinions? Do you think an untrained dog has an instinct to protect its owner. If so, in which cases?

Answer 1

REAL incidents of dogs protecting their owners and I mean protecting the owner and not themselves, acting out because its untrained, running off a rival predator or protecting its territory are few and far between.



whenever I see someone say if you love your dog enough it will protect you I have to make sure I am not drinking anything so I don't choke on it. Having had a rott through my teenage years I can honestly say Empress had next to no protective/guarding bone in her body. Decent watch dog, emphasis on WATCH, but did I ever have delusions that if while out walking her that if I ran into trouble she was going to protect me? HELL NO.



Here's the extent of her "guarding" Dogs are out but in the back yard, UPS guy comes, new guy since everyone else knew driveway gate closed = dogs are out. Comes in gets all the way to the front door drops the package and turns around. There's Empress. Sitting down WATCHING HIM.

Answer 2

Do I think MOST dogs will protect? NO. But I believe many do have that temperament. Just not MOST. However, I don't care to sit here and explain why, blah blah blah... let people believe what they want. If they want to believe Fido or Fluffy will protect them, then so be it.





Are GSDs HERDING dogs? NO. I could care less what the AKC labels them as. Max Von Stephanitz himself knew that herding was largely a way of the past in a modern industrial world. Max himself approached the German army about using the breed. Max himself created schutzhund to test the breed's capability and worthiness to, well, BREED. And the closest thing in schutzhund to herding is tracking... not very close. So that's using a void point to defend the argument.





As far as schutzhund? 50-60 years ago, SURE, a schutzhund dog could be a great protection dog, because the whole original purpose of schutzhund was testing the drive and temperaments of the dogs. For example, a dog scared of everything could not protect. It would p*ss and run. An overly aggressive dog would just disobey commands and eat everyone's face. It takes a dog smart enough and level enough to distinguish between threats, dominant enough to stand it's ground in the face of danger (between fight and flight, most animals pick flight), and stable enough to listen to and obey commands. But like everything else now-a-days, schutzhund has turned into nothing more then a large sport. So that sport dog will "eat" the bad nasty man with a stick and sleeve on, because it's a game and he knows he will win in the end. HOWEVER, that schutzhund III dog could be attacked on the street tomorrow, and someone SERIOUSLY coming after him and SERIOUSLY threatening his life could easily make him tuck tail and run.

Answer 3

"My dog would naturally protect me" = Wrong...don't care what breed you have.



"I trained my dog myself" yeah...you trained it to be afraid and vicious...you can read all you want you'll still never be able to recognize drives in a dog and learn to switch dogs from one drive to another without working with experienced trainers first. This type of dog might bark, might bite, but he's gone as soon as he feels threatened to a point he decides trying to help YOU isn't in HIS best interest!



Anybody's dog might bite, whoopty doo. MOST dogs will bite if given the right set of circumstances. Biting a person and FIGHTING a person are two different things.



Even a dog with the correct genetics has to have confidence in his ability to end a fight, if not, even he will run. Plenty of dogs are born with HEAPS of confidence, but this kind of confidence MUST be gained via training.



If you had a time machine...you could take the most confident man in the World, give him an M-16, show him how to use it over a couple of days, and drop his butt off in Vietnam. But if you did he'd freak and you'd be looking for him as he ran in the opposite direction as soon as the poo hit the fan. Send that same man to bootcamp where he's trained correctly and he'll have the confidence to do his job. When you show a dog all the different things that can happen in a fight, and how to overcome them and win, he builds a confidence that's beyond genetic.



You will have the random genetic FREAK who can do the work, no training, sure, but we're talking win the lottery odds...then again, a lot of wishful thinkers play the lottery every day...but that won't get you killed, being a wishful thinker thinking your adopt-a-day special GSD will protect you might....

Answer 4

i will just look at the headline and answer



really all depends on the type of dog , of " mix that it is " you cannot depend on any dog that is untrained.



Opinions? Do you think an untrained dog has an instinct to protect its owner. If so, in which cases? <<

well yes if it is treated as part of a" pack /family "

if it just been left out in the garden , its just people " mean"

Answer 5

My question is if dogs naturally protect without training, why do people bother training them.



I completely agree with DEeDawg. But the likelihood that your average owner has a dog like that is rare.



As for Schutzhund, you are right not is not geared towards true protection work it does show those basic drives and temperament for protection training but it is not.

In true protection training a lot of work goes into avoiding sleeve fixation and to work in different areas. Dogs are so hyper specific and aren't dumb. He does the same exercise on the same field every day. He knows the game. To most it is fun. Most aren't biting the human they are biting the sleeve.

I bet if you sent them down the field after someone without a sleeve a good number wouldn't bite.



@Kevin the americann and FCI standard (the international standard from the SV, the original GSD club) are the same. 66-88lbs for a male.

Answer 6

I think there are some dogs that will protect instinctively.



My rough collie did, on a couple of occasions. My rat terrier will go after any dog that gets aggressive with me. Most of my dogs show no interest in watching out for me. :o)



But dogs are not capable of really comprehending the human world, and an untrained dog can easily misinterpret a situation, and react inappropriately. So relying on an untrained dog, even one that has the instinct to protect, is basically playing Russian roulette.



I would rather have a dog that just LOOKS mean.....like my old Rottie.

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure my dog would protect me. Whether it's to protect himself at the same time, I don't know any dog that instinctively wouldn't. I wonder...how should a stable dog react when their owner is attacked? Do they have to show submissive body language to be stable, or can they growl, bite?



By an untrained dog, if you mean those $50 byb dogs put in backyards to replace an alarm system, no I don't think they are protecting it's owner.



I've seen my dogs protect each other. My JRT mix once stood up on her hind legs and pushed an aggressive dog away who wanted to attack my other dog. She got right in the middle and did that. She hadn't been involved, and she didn't growl or bite, but she stared and stood her ground in front of my other dog. After she did that the aggressive dog backed off (who was much bigger than her) How is that not protecting another life?

Answer 8

I think loyalty is natural instinct but not protection. Protection is a learned reaction, in the grand scheme their are few dogs of any breed that have the natural ability to think hey I should attack this person.



As far as Schutzhund-- it is a more extensive type of training for certain breeds like agility or any field trials. It has very little use in the Protection Dog training. I did it because I wanted that type of training and my dogs had the drive and attitude for it.

Answer 9

Well, I have an untrained (in protection, anyways) poorly bred BYB shelter mutt who has protected my house before. She's great around all people, but if you break in she will not just sit there and lick you to death. She didn't take the dude down because at that time she was still underweight from kennel stress, but she held on to him real well till he ran off.



But no, it's not in every dog's nature to protect their humans. For example, my grandparents had a Dobe who was afraid of it's own shadow. Protection breed? Yes. Protective of it's owners? Absolutely freaking not. They have a different dog now, a heeler, who will actually kill you if you break in. She wasn't trained or needed as a guard dog and she's super old now, but she will die for my grandparents.





It should be a dog's nature to protect their humans, but with all of this crappy breeding, that nature is vanishing. Sometimes you get lucky and find a dog who will die for you, just like you'll die for them. 99% of the time, you just end up with a dog that will only ward people away by it's looks.

Answer 10

I think so,with some dogs. My GSD is naturally protective of me,my other dogs and my cats. She is a great watchdog,as she alerts me to any little sound she hears that is not a normal everyday sound. I think she would bite someone if they tried to hurt me. My mother had a little Chihuahua that was highly protective of her and would bite if he thought she was threatened. But a lot of dogs are like "Everyone is my friend."

Answer 11

I agree with you on the GSD backyard bred dogs. Those traits may have fallen to the way side.

I was once told that Dobies are not used by military and police because if put into a situation of me or you the Dobie will pick themselves. Also the GSD's that police and Military tend to use are actually the smaller, 70 lbs or less, not the American bred 90 lbs ones. I have a pink papered GSD 5 months old and she is just starting to show "protection" traits. But she has not

been in a situation where she has had to do anything.

Now my question for you, what are you thoughts on Schutzland Training? Her Sire was ScH 3 and Dam ScH 2. ??

Answer 12

Neither. we've more desirable with all different life. All life is nature. If we are nicely tailored to the atmosphere we can survive and propagate. If we poison our atmosphere we greater advantageous ascertain we are able to outlive in it. organic forces can shrink the various injury we do, yet are all understanding efficient skill to break can exceed organic forces skill to make the earth livable. you need to take some convenience in the probability that life ought to restart and evolve into bigger beings that would not wreck their very very own residence.

Answer 13

In general, I would say no. Most dogs wouldn't even attempt to take on an attacker to protect themselves.. they would just run or hide or try to find a "safe" spot where whatever the threat was couldn't get to them.



My dog? She would react to an intruder / a person in public approaching in an unfriendly way by barking or growling or lunging. Could that behavior possibly protect me from harm if the person was scared off by it? Sure, of course. But to me thats not really a "protection dog".

Answer 14

i think a properly bred protection breed MAY have instincts to protect.

i think the actual chances of an untrained protection breed protecting are slim to nil.



i think a poorly bred protection breed, or a breed who is NOT a protection breed will look to protect ITSELF- and if any of those are exhibiting "protection"-like behaviors, it's resource guarding, not actual protection. it's not "don't hurt my mommy!!" it's "that's my bltch- don't touch".









ScH isn't protection- and will likely "overtrain" a dog, so as to possibly render him confused in a real life PP situation.

ScH dogs are ScH dogs, and PP dogs are PP dogs- although some dogs can do both (kudos to both the breeder and the trainer)







my own dogs are territory guarders- and they should be, they are guard dogs. when inside THEIR area, and locked up, they will engage an intruder. two of them, once outside of that area, could care less about anything- they're not working anymore.



Dallas (APBT) surprises me every now and again. a teenager RAN at us (not to hurt us, trying to catch up to friends) and almost hit us, and Dallas jumped, and acted as if she was ready to play with him- she wagged herself so hard i thought she was going to fall over.

however, a few weeks ago, we were coming home from a walk at night, and one of the drunken revelers from the muster was stumbling along the sidewalk, mumbling to himself and swearing into a cell phone. she put her hair up on her back and snarled like the hound of the baskervilles. she wouldn't let him near her, me or her pups (who are 2 years old...) the funny thing is that Dally has been to many parties. drunken, raging, crazy parties. she's used to drunk people. she's played beer pong, she's licked people's faces when they fall out of their chair. but this one guy was walking in a belligerent way, and she picked up on it. but she's not a PP dog, and would only be protecting herself if she engaged. i just thought it was interesting that she knew the difference between this guy and all the other drunk people she's hugged.

dogs have sense, all right, but not in the way people think they do.

Answer 15

Fly by night experts are no good and experts to the uneducated are no good. It does not take an expert to answer this but the only two experts in this field have departed from any questions not worth answering. No untrained dog should be relied upon for protection unless it was specifically chosen by a knowledgeable person.

Answer 16

I think it can be in a dog's nature to protect someone they care about. For example your parents or family, its in their nature to feel protective of you. So i would assume dogs feel the same way.

Answer 17

Honestly I think it depends on the dog.



I have a mutt I got from some random guy giving puppies away 10 years ago. Can I trust him to protect me? No. Has he? Yes.



I'm guessing most dogs probably wouldn't do much unless they were specifically trained in personal protection.

Answer 18

Bells your not gonna like my answer but 2 of my GSD would protect till the death.These dogs were trained by me and one word ATTACK.had them at your throats.They were not trained by a professional but me everyday and they did their job well.One GSD I had with no training& attacked and protected my 5 yr old daughter 40 years ago.These men pulled in my driveway and started to drag my daughter in the car,my dog went nuts and I opened the door to let him out and that dog jumped into the window and grabed the driver and would'nt let go.So I say it all depends as some have it and some don't.I could walk down the street and these dogs were friendly if I wanted them to be but if I felt threatened or saw someone else being harmed I gave the Command,,,

Answer 19

For what most people deem a dog as trying to protect...possibly. IMO the dog is typically acting out of pack drive, fear, possessiveness etc. They will buffalo and hope like hell they acted scary enough to scare off the threat but WILL run if things get hairy. In *most* typically situations this may be enough so the dogs actions may have awarded the trying to protect status. However, trying is the key word. Gotta give a dog credit as they all have a lot of heart.



Take my AB pup for instance. 6 mos old. Good girl, pretty bold, but pup yet. Would she protect me? Nah. Human threat? She would think they were playing LOL. If things looked bad I know she would run. Even during play, if things get too rough she submits to humans...as I have taught her! This dog is afraid of pigs...ironic but works for me as I did not want a dog thinking pigs were fair game. She will lay on the porch if our pigs get out or scratch quite frantically at the door if they come close to the house. Pup still, of course, and she has some confidence to gain. I had 2 sows with litters that needed to go back to the barn. Despite Geminis apparent fear of the pigs she wasn't gonna let me go it alone but opted to stay behind me. WIth a half tucked tail and an OH BOY look on her face. Right before the gate one of the sows whipped around and WOOFED at me. OK Gem could have run but she got in front of me at this point, barking mad. Her hackles were up, teeth barred but tail still half tucked and she was shaking like a leaf. Her appearance IMO was simply fear trying to buffalo the pig away from me (her leader) Many people may mistake that for protection, I did not, I knew she was scared as hell! The sow, who is nice and gentle turned around and went where I wanted her. This instance, has given Gemini a bit more confidence around the pigs, which I am sure she will learn with time. In her mind I am sure she was trying to protect me but if **** hit the fan (ie pig charged HER), she would have run away as fast as she could! That is not true protection. However, for most typical threats it does work in the dogs favor.



In short, a dog does attempt to protect its human pack. But will never TRULY protect as it is typically a fear response. I dont care how tough people think their dog is... not many, if any, untrained dogs, will take a beating, risk their life etc to literally protect their human. People don't seem to understand this is what sets PPD dogs apart...they are slowly given confidence by mock situations of increasing difficulties, allowing them to WIN. In this, confidence is gained (with the right dog) Most dogs are not the right dog to gain this confidence as their breaking thresholds are very low.

I have a friend who has a toy poodle. She claims the dog will protect her because if anyone trys to slap her in play the dog bites them (AW how cute!!! teehee) I proved one day when I had someone the little spoiled ankle bitter did not know pretend to assault her...he ran! LOL. The basic principle is the dog learned that those other people WOULD leave, coupled with the fact he was allowed and encouraged to treat his owner as his b itch. Sad, strange world we live in.

Answer 20

I wouldn't say protect I think it is fear aggression, the training between a professional trained guard dog and one kept closed in the backyard is far apart.

People often mistake fear aggression with agressive behavior, so all the "Beware of Dogs" will probably protect themselves before their owner.

Answer 21

Meh, I'm kind of iffy on this.



It will try to, um, "protect" [NOT the word I am looking for, so bear with me.] but it WON'T be effective most of the time. Today I answered a Question regarding a Rottie as a Guard Dog, [UN-Trained.] and that's just miserable. -_-



The dogs DO possess instincts, but it's not like.. Batman instincts.



ADD-



Hmm... :D



Well! Um, okay, -thinks-..



Underdog instincts! XD



ADD-



Regarding DeeDawg's comment about UN-Trained "protection breeds"...



True. I used to have a dog, who wasn't necessarily a protection breed, but still "protected" us but we also didn't train him. Like I said, IMO, it's iffy.

Answer 22

Wild dogs were domesticated by cave-men wayyyy back for protection and hunting. Dogs were made to protect their owners. No, I do not agree that German Shepherds and "Pit Bulls" will protect you. They will do what they were bred for, unless profesionally trained differently.

Answer 23

Not only would my dogs not protect me, they'd sell me up the river for a cookie. I don't believe protection is an instinct in most breeds, even those that are typically trained to do so

Answer 24

6 years a go a member of YA was walking her male adult Doberman that she purchased from a good breeder when she was attacked and BRUTALLY raped while the dog watched the whole thing and when he had enough simply left.

Yes, there are a few breeds that through extraordinary social aggression instincts will protect because that is how they are genetically programmed, but, those breeds are not something 99% of people could live with for one reason or another.

As far as the rest of the people who claim their dogs would die to protect them without being properly bred, selected and trained for it, well, try it...go find yourself in the wrong part of town at 2AM and see how far that "love" will take you.

Answer 25

It becomes a Natural Instinct once they Have something to protect. Dogs Are Man's (Or women's for all you liberal ladies) Best friend, because they are a loyal pet. Once the Dog knows you are the Hand that Feeds it and basically Gives him/her what they need,they will then protect you. You need to be super close to your dog in a loving way. It doesn't just happen over night though. Another thing that is very important is not to punish your dog in a cruel way.



Hope he becomes a Body Guard

Best Wishes

Answer 26

NO!

It *is* instinctual to scream for the boss to come & deal the boogie-man!

Answer 27

dogs are innately loyal to good long-term owners who take care of them well

thus, this loyalty causes dogs to want to protect there owner, no matter what type of dog they are