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WildRose

Seymour Texas

MH
Posts:471

04/09/2009 2:28 PM
Posted By pixie bee on 04/09/2009 10:30 AM quote: If a dog isn't protective of my home, property, and family I have no use for them Sorry to hear this. I'm a little embarassed to say but both my dogs wouldn't protect me against another human and would hold the door while you emptied the house. I'd be embarassed too. If your dogs won't protect you they don't think as much of you as you do of them. We give our all for them. We feed, protect, train, and spend enormous resourses taking care of them. The least a good dog can do in return is bark and growl at potential threats.

There's a reason I like dogs better'n people... .

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4448

04/09/2009 4:35 PM
Ah, yes, potential threats. I have never had a potential threat. I count myself lucky. Most of the posts are about the dog's percieving a threat.There was no real threat. This behavior is a danger. I don't want my dogs barking to alert me. I don't want my dog backing someone up against a wall. I don't want any of it.- UNLESS - there is a real danger.Barking is one thing but I don't want a dog that will bite people. There is a line that is crossed in dogs once they feel biting people is okay. It takes a lot for schutzhund trainers to get a dog to bite. Since my dogs have had no resaon to PROTECT I really don't know if they would or wouldn't. And I am just as happy never having to find out.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7835

04/09/2009 8:53 PM
pixie - So we agree to disagree, but I will tell you that as a female who lives alone in a big city I like my Belle being watchful and protective. She has never bit anyone or attempted to, only using her size and low grumble voice they back off and she stands there on guard until I call her off. This was not a trained behavior for her (it developed naturally) and I do not discourage it as there have been some seedy characters wander into the neighborhood where I live (most were trying to sell stuff). My neighbors also like her watchdog abilities and have told me so several times. I don't doubt for a minute that she would protect me, but I likewise don't doubt her control. She is also a therapy dog of special note that has been specially assigned to work with troubled kids at the state school because of her temperament and solid nature. Not many dogs get this assignment because most can't handle it, but she excels. So, in this instance as I said when I started off I will respectfully agree to disagree.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

WildRose

Seymour Texas

MH
Posts:471

04/09/2009 9:18 PM
Posted By pixie bee on 04/09/2009 4:35 PM Ah, yes, potential threats. I have never had a potential threat. I count myself lucky. Most of the posts are about the dog's percieving a threat.There was no real threat. This behavior is a danger. I don't want my dogs barking to alert me. I don't want my dog backing someone up against a wall. I don't want any of it.- UNLESS - there is a real danger.Barking is one thing but I don't want a dog that will bite people. There is a line that is crossed in dogs once they feel biting people is okay. It takes a lot for schutzhund trainers to get a dog to bite. Since my dogs have had no resaon to PROTECT I really don't know if they would or wouldn't. And I am just as happy never having to find out. Who said anything about wanting their dogs to bite someone???

There's a reason I like dogs better'n people... .

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4448

04/10/2009 6:05 AM
TB- I know where you are coming from. I was single(once) and had a dog for the same reasons. She was a great watch dog but lacked in the solid nerve department. Mostly, dogs bark or react protective,when there is no real,apparent danger, because they are not confident. They have learned that this behavior makes the fear they percieve 'go away' and so have become accustomed to this behavior. Dogs who behave this way out of lack of confidence may bite. In NY if someone breaks into my home and my dog bites them I have a law suit on my hands. A dog that will bark or growl and not back it up with an attack is useless if the threat advances and intends to do real harm. In the German system I am going to take the VGP test this fall, if a judge walks by my car and my dog growls,barks,whines or any such similiar behavior you can bet your botom dollar that it will be marked unfavorably on his pedigree. Anyone can say what they want but I know 99% that neither of my dogs would bite a human.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

carlower1

Kansas

MH
Posts:1253

04/10/2009 6:23 AM
I have been in a situation where there was a potential threat and Wachter had the guy running! In both cases someone was trying to break in through the back of my house, one person was waiting in the dark just outside the reach of the porch light when he alerted me to a presence. The guy apologized and got out of town but not before I had the zero all the way down on the cell phone (most mobile phones in America are programmed to speed dial 911 when zero is pressed). Wachter is also really good in alerting me when my youngest (who is on the autistic spectrum) is about to have an episode. Since we have learned to read his responses, I have been able to proactively work with her and her case workers on an action plan of what she is to do when the dog starts reacting to her, as a result we haven't had an episode in almost a year! Carrie

Ellegirl

JH
Posts:25

04/10/2009 6:49 AM
My oldest dog sounds very similar to Belle's temperment. My Husband sometimes leaves a week at a clip for work and it's nice to have a dog I can trust. She is not an excessive barker but she lets me know when there is someone in the backyard, or the front porch (in our territory). When I hike alone with my dogs I like the comfort of knowing she will protect me. She is the smartest dog I have ever owned. She is also a Therapy dog and wonderful with kids and people in general. She has never bitten anyone and I honestly believe the only time she would is if someone was physically harming me or my husband. I have two females, Elle,4 and Abby a few weeks shy of 2. Here is an example of the two different personalities. The other day I had a plumber come over to fix my kitchen sink. Both dogs barked when he came to the door. Abby wanted to watch and kiss him to death and Elle sniffed him and laid down in another room but had her eye on him the whole time.

Marie

Wisconsin

MH
Posts:2721

04/10/2009 9:51 AM
In one chapter of my pet therapy training is, if someone asks you, Does your dog bite?? Answer: Any dog no matter what temperament who has a full set of teeth in a threatening situation can bite!! After all they are animals and it is the handlers reponsibiltity to read the dogs sign of stress, walk the dog out of the hospital or nursing home if any signs of stress are seen on the dog. Of course, the training book had another page of examples of situations for your and dog and to avoid while visiting in facilities. In conclusion I learned, after my pet therapy dog training, Any dog who has a full set of teeth in a given situation can bite!! It is my job to recognize situations that will threaten my dog and do all I can toavoid them.

Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231

Ellegirl

JH
Posts:25

04/10/2009 10:12 AM
Marie- you are so right. Any dog has the potential to bite, you have to be able to read your dog before it gets to that point. When I used to evaluate i'd make sure to tell the teams not to push there dogs and even the most docile dog can bite in the right situation. Elle and I have not been up to the nursing home we usually visit in about a month. I try to get up there once a week but it's been a busy month. Anyway, when we got there things were fine but after the second room visit I knew she had enough, so we left. I never push her to do anything that makes her uncomfortable. I think this thread has gone off track...sorry...so to any the original question. Elle does not really bother with other dogs, she'd rather find birds, or any other small fury creature and she focuses on us. Abby is very social, loves people and other dogs BUT I do have to watch her with other dogs because she can be a little dominate with certain dogs. Let me just say she never starts a fight but she will end one. I have worked very hard with her. She gets overwhelmed at dog parks so we don't go. Does fine one on one, and is fine on a leash. Hope that helps....

Bxr-Linda

Oregon

MH
Posts:171

04/10/2009 12:01 PM
I don't mind it going off track... Marie, I completely agree with your comments. Once I took my boxers to a charity "dog wash." My oldest, largest boxer was being washed and dried by some volunteers (he had never been blow dried). One girl asked, "will he bite me?" I said, "I don't think so." She gave me the queerest look. He had never bit anyone before, and was always very friendly, but.... honestly, I couldn't say with 100% certainty that he wouldn't in the right (or wrong) situation.

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