Do dogs protect their owners?

by **RachelKT** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:19 pm

I've heard that dogs just 'sense how you feel' and that they aren't actually protecting you.

Just wondering.

I always thought dogs protected their owners, but the other way makes sense.

Any truth or proof to that?

What do you think?

Has your dog ever protected you? Any stories?

:)

Yesterday, while waking my dog, a lab mix was barking like crazy at us through a fence. The dog got out somehow and came running towards us, he acted scared until I picked him up. Then he was growling and snapping at the dog.

I couldn't figure out if he was protecting me or just himself..? Haha.

And I was scared to death, shaking, heart pounding.

The dog was nice though.

So that's what brought on this question. Could he just pick up on my fear and then growl/bite to protect himself or was he protecting me?

Hmm..

by **emilie373** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:24 pm

Well twice he's jumped infront of me because of aggressive dogs, one was a rottweiler who nearly bit me, and Toby went crazy.

Yet on about 3 other occasions, when we've been faced with one loose dog & two other aggressive, he hid behind me, needless to say, I was happier with him hiding behind me! I picked him up right away.

His behaviour confuses me. Maybe he thought the Rottweiler & staffy were easy picks HAHA. Both of these things are from fear. Not protecting.

Add: I'd say when you picked him up he felt bigger haha. My Maltese does it & when you put her down, she shuts up.

by **BassetPuppieslandpiranhas** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:25 pm

Not normally, unless they are trained to do so.

Some may exhibit "protective" behavior, but it is generally fear-based, and when confronted the dog will generally run away, or hide behind you.

Although SOME dogs do protect their owners without training, such events are rare, which is why it's news.

I would certainly not rely on my dogs for protection, in fact I think it's my job to protect THEM.

by **GerbilExpert904** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:25 pm

My brother and his friends were messing around and they pushed my brother into the pool and our yorkie jump in to "save" him. He hates water. He'll also jump in every time someone goes down our water slide.

by **CC436** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:26 pm

Yes, my APBT protects me, she is protective and friendly.
SHe protects when on a leash but she is very friend.

One time I was walking the street with my Patterdale Terrier, and some guy walked too close to me. Well I think the dog got a bad vibe, and he turned around a barely nipped the guy on the heel. The guy turned around and he pulled out a chain like he was gonna hit my dog. My mom ran out and the guy look terrified, he was up to no good.

by **bela429954** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:28 pm

They absolutely protect you, especially if you let them live with you in your home you become a pack and dogs protect their pack normally the humans are the pack leaders and they follow you and look for you to protect them however one time I was home alone with just my two yorkies and they sleep in my bed with me and I was totally out and my boyfriend came home he tried to be quiet , well to my dogs that is not normal and they ran out of the bed room and went to him barking and growling so it wasnt what they sensed of me I was fast asleep as soon as they realized it was him they stopped and went back to bed.
I love my yorkies they are so loyal and brave.

by **bells3011617** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:30 pm

No...I think if you are being attacked the dog might bark and growl out of fear (his own fear)...I dont think that my dog or any other untrained dog, for that matter, would protect its owner.

by **JadedByAWorldOfLostDogs** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:30 pm

Yes, they protect me. We were in a drive through at a smoke shop and the guy walked out to my car to bring me my drinks. He saw my dog and thought it would be funny to run up to the car screaming like an idiot. If she wouldn't have had her leash on, i wouldn't have been able to stop her, and she would have done damage. It so would have been his fault. Scared the crap out of him too.

by **SADIE** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:33 pm

my bluetick hound and pitt mix saved our lives acouple of weeks ago. microwave malfunctioned and cooked baked potatoes till they ignited. we were at the other end of the house. the dogs just kept pacing and barking till we got up to let them out. as we walked down to the kichen there was smoke two ft. from the ceiling and starting back the hall. the microwave was in flames. they are our heroes! if i knew how to send their pic out there i would. i truly believe they saved our lives. we would have been trapped in the back of the house if not for my girls, SADIE and MYA.

by **Melly440** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:36 pm

Sometimes depends on the breeds. Sometimes depends on their bloodline and how they were raised.

I actually had a dog protect me and my little corgi from a pit mix. My granddad's neighbor had a big mutt mix ( Dooly ). &I had been around him since he was just a pup. When we got my corgi ( Rose ) we had started taking her around there. Even though he was giant ( around the size of a mastiff ) and she was little, they absolutely loved each other. One day, his neighbor was babysitting his nephews pit mix ( Shy ), I had walked over. She didn't like me to much so she kept her distance. My little corgi had slipped under the gate door and was yapping and jumping around like most little dogs. Shy had started getting close to Rose and Dooly had growled at her to back off. Shy started getting closer to me so Dooly had put himself between us. In that split second, Shy charged at Rose and grabbed her by the neck. My little dog had no chance, and even though I tried, I couldn't do much. Dooly had actually ran over and grabbed the other dog by its neck and started clawing at her face until she let my little Rose go. Even though Rose is grown up now, she wont go anywhere near the yard unless Dooly is by her side.

They are so cute side by side(:

Do dogs protect their owners?