Do you think your dog would protect you and your property?

[rcoulas]

Proper protection training yields a steady animal without the fear issues. Most people don't realize the can of worms that is opened up when you start protection training a dog. If it is done wrong, and I have see this many times it eventually ends in disaster and the dog will suffer most in the end. I do realize that there are many dogs with fear/ aggression issues with no training and it usually stems from poor or no socialization at the correct period in life.

[JBen]

Not disputing that In essence we are saying the same things.

Greyhounds for example, as a breed are "typically", 80 pound couch potatoes. I worked with him for quite some time, but his fear aggression was "strong". Had to pull him off my ex FIL after my ex FIL made the mistake of giving my at the time 5 year old daughter a hug.

"protection"?

Had anyone broken into my house, I wouldn't want to be that person.

For "true" protection, very few dogs will/do, but don't discount "fear aggression". Your entering their space, their "home", whatever it is that breaks their "comfort" level threshold. We humans when pushed far enough will protect ourselves out of fear to.

Question was will dogs protect people/proprty/personal space.
Some will.

Im not arguing disputing, Im trying to say the say things. Its a very fine line between protection/agression/fear aggression.

[rcoulas]

OK but re read you own post protecting you or your property is not the same as biting because you are scared and backed into a corner, it is fighting for your own life. I disagree also with the fine line between the 2 it is far from a fine line. Non of my dogs would flip to fear biting. You will never be able to train a dog that's fear full to have good nerve either. We are saying some of the same things its the fine line wording I don't agree with.

[last5oh_302]

Not disputing that In essence we are saying the same things.

Greyhounds for example, as a breed are "typically", 80 pound couch potatoes. I worked with him for quite some time, but his fear aggression was "strong". Had to pull him off my ex FIL after my ex FIL made the mistake of giving my at the time 5 year old daughter a hug.

"protection"?

Had anyone broken into my house, I wouldn't want to be that person.

For "true" protection, very few dogs will/do, but don't discount "fear aggression". Your entering their space, their "home", whatever it is that breaks their "comfort" level threshold. We humans when pushed far enough will protect ourselves out of fear to.

Question was will dogs protect people/proprty/personal space.
Some will.

Im not arguing disputing, Im trying to say the say things. Its a very fine line between protection/agression/fear aggression.

If trained for protection, do you believe the dog may be able to take on a GHO? LMAO

Sorry JBen, I couldn't resist. I'm still laughing about how long that owl thread went on for...lololol

[JBen]

If a dog does display or has "fear aggression" and numerous things can trigger it. In some it's not so bad and they won't do much more than raise hackles/bare teeth, in some they will bite. If you come into my home per the topic of the thread, and the dog feels threatened, is it not "protecting" me...?? Was my GH not protecting my daughter? I guarantee you if you came into my home and raised your hand as though to wave at my girls. He'd have gone after you. In the end we had to admit we had to do what we had to do.

its a fine line.thats all I'm saying
i totally agree with you that not recognizing the signs/differences can land many people in hot water and sadly it's the dogs that usually pay the price.

[skypilot]

I had one decades ago that had been professionally trained, extensively used then pulled after years of service due to being "indiscriminately vicious," per his service record.

He was with me 24/7 and excellent in every way with the exception that he was always in the hot standby mode unless I told him different. He was a significant responsibility when in the general public or with visitors.

Today the lab and the Shih - poo are aggressive up to and until a dog bisquit or a piece of bacon appears.

[JBen]

Lol Lastoh..Cant blame you, I had similar thoughts Dog behavior is dog behavior….Sadly me to There was utterly no need.

Fear aggression is as rcoulas pointed out and rightly so, something people almost always mistake as a dog being protective.
Problem is, in a human we'd call it a "disorder" and when its bad enough as it was with the GH we rescued it's unpredictable.
I worked with him and with professionals to try and break it down. It was bad enough he was muzzled most of the time, anytime we'd have company, a hug, waving at the door, even standing over one of my girls.

And sadly its almost always the dogs that pay the price if/when they finally do bite.

[welsh]

You definitely don't want to own a fear biter. A fear biter is basically a tragedy waiting to happen, either for some kid or for the dog itself. Besides which, a fearful dog is a useless dog for just about any purpose you'd want to train a dog to.

As for a trained protection dog ... I would say that most people don't want one, even if they think they do.

[last5oh_302]

Yes, unfortunately there's no working with a fear biter. It's part of their temperament and a product of bad breeding.

[skypilot]

I agree. I know someone who has a fearful dog. The pooch is so bad you can't walk the dog in parks etc. She says the other dog owners in the park know her dog by name.....

Hard to enjoy a dog like that.