Too sweet...

[Yoladybug]

When I got Abby, I fell in love with her because of her personality. She's not your "typical" GSD...she loves new people and is always wagging her tail. She's not really cautious or aloof as I've seen the breed described. Anyway, I never wanted a guard dog, and it's a good thing, because she's just way too sweet and much too mellow. People have always told me that if the time came that I was in danger, that her instincts would kick in and she would do something to protect me. Well, to all of those people, you're wrong.

Tonight, at 11:30pm my new neighbor (who I've never met) was knocking on my door. He's a real big guy with an even bigger anger mgt. problem. Anyway, to give a little background, I live near my university, so the street is packed with students. It's basically impossible to find a place to park, so naturally, if any spot on the street opens up, you park there. Last night, a spot in front of his house (across from mine) was open, so I parked there. Earlier this morning, he left a lovely note on my car telling me I was not allowed to park out in front of his house (someone should tell him that he does not own the street). I went along my day thinking nothing of it. Flash to tonight, he's banging on my door. He starts screaming at me...cussing and threatening and all. I can't handle confrontation (I, like Abby, am way too nice most of the time), so I was really freaked out. I was shaking and my heart was beating real fast. He yelled at me for what seemed like quite a while. I was obviously pretty distressed. And what did my dear sweet Abby do...wag her tail happily the entire time, whining for me to let her outside to greet him.

She's only about 1 year and 4 months old. While I did not get a dog for protection, it would be kinda nice for her to kick it into intimidating GSD mode when absolutely necessary. Like I said, people have always told me she'd come through when that time came. I know many people who's sweet natured dogs have recognized threats and acted accordingly, even if it's not part of their normal persona. Do you think she'll ever develop this (ie: is everything people have told me complete BS) or maybe it's just her young age and it will come later? I hate to sound totally ignorant...I'm just curious to hear some opinions. Like I said, I'd never change her personality...I was just surprised that she didn't recognize my distress at a possible (and very loud and scary) threat.
Thanks!

[imported_Kat]

Aww Abby sounds very sweet. Dogs usually are true to their true personality. However there are occasions when that instinct to protect will show up. My Meg scared me once by showing a different side of protection. My usually very sweet girl chased after a guy who stole my mobile at the park and belted after him and lunged at his back snarling. He dropped my mobile in fright and ran off while Meg proud as punch trotted back with my mobile in her mouth.

Another incident where I was petsitting for 2 Irish Wolfhounds last November and a guy tried to break in and those big gentle giants were going to eat him! That actually was reassuring because I was terrified as I actually came face to face with him through the glass.

Enjoy your sweet girl and hopefully the situation will not arise when she shows her protective side. As far as this guy goes, if he harrasses you get the police onto him. :wink:

[gooeydog]

Your girl is still pretty young too, most large dogs don't really "come into their own" as far as personality goes until they're at least 18 months-2 yrs, some even older. It's possible that she didn't really sense a need to come to your defense in this case (was the door closed? if not, what was the guy doing physically?), but would react if you were physically threatened. It's also possible that she doesn't see much of anything as a threat, and would react as such.

What exactly do you want her to do (not being sarcastic, just trying to get an idea of what sort of response you're looking for) in these situations?

[pitbullEmily]

teach her to call the police, since you seem to be reluctant to do it yourself!

sorry that sounds bad... but seriously, this guy sounds dangerous and if nothing else, you need to be on record with them if his behavior escalates.

You might also look into any self defense courses available to you (these deal not just with martial arts stuff you won't want to do, but with confidence and other protective issues). Check with your campus women's center, or ask the police.

[BuddysMom]

You are lucky to have such a nice sweet dog ... sorry you don't have better luck with your neighbors!

In my experience I've come to my own defense a few times and to my dogs' defense many times ... I just gravitate toward owning the most docile dogs and I end up in the role of their protector, which is just fine with me.

[Guest Anonymous]

both of my dogs were really freindly and exposed to many different people while htey were growing up. then one day somethign snapped in their heads, when my husband was at work and i had to have the direct tv guy come out and fixed my dish, both of them tried to go throught he door to get to the guy and had to be kenneld for hte first time, they normall just run up to pole and run around in cirlces waiting for them to pet them.
ever since then when someone walks up to the door they both bark like crazy but if you open to door when they bark they just start to wag their nubs and lick the person at the door. luckily their bark is worse tehn their bite. lol since they dont bite.

Cody howver is much m ore protective of me then Zoey is, even th ough he is deaf he starts barking at things that Zoey wont' even bother he wont let people near me if my husband is not around, ( like someone at the door he stands between us barking )
it's weird...
Maybe your girl will come around, maybe not she seems like a super nice girl, i dont forsee her doing anything more then she is now, but that's just MHO. ;)
Good Luck!

[courtnek]

I agree with all of the above, call the police and report the bastard. However, realize this...

dogs know the difference between a real threat, and someone just bitching because they want to bitch. Your shep may not have responded, because he could sense there was no real threat. yelling isnt necesarily a threat to them, unless they have been guard trained. thats training, not instinct.

instinct lets them rely on senses we dont understand. Mine have reacted to a little guy who appeared harmless, who ended up being an escaped mental patient. Would I have thought this man was dangerous? he was posing as an AC officer. I would have let him in, I had nothing to hide. the doG, however, said NO!! their body language said "you come in this house, and I WILL HURT YOU". they realized this was not a "normal" situation. they responded. I didnt let him in called the police. eventaully he was caught and returned to the facility.

sometimes, you gotta go with their instincts.

[MajiesMom]

That’s just like Magic, she wouldn’t protect me if my life depended on it. Most dogs would pee their pants in the face of danger. In general it is very naive to assume your dog will protect you unless they are specifically trained to. Don’t get me wrong some will and it’s genetics but my Shepherd and your Shepherd don’t sound like they have it. LOL
I find that Magic’s look and bark alone are enough to deter most if not all situations that might benefit from her protection.
She has a very ferocious bark that scares a lot of people.
I just see it this way, why would you want your dog to protect you, they see you as a leader and their protector so you have to protect them.

[Yoladybug]

Very interesting stories everyone has. Thanks for the thoughts and advice. Maybe she'll come around, maybe she won't. I'll love her no matter what :)

teach her to call the police, since you seem to be reluctant to do it yourself!

You got me there.

And Courtnek, that's a good point about her knowing he was just yelling and not trying to hurt me physically. Who knows...I should just count my blessings because I have such a sweet dog.

Thanks again :wink:

[courtnek]

I remember reading somewhere that bad people smell "bad" to dogs. I dont know how exactly to explain that, but there is some pheremone or
something that exudes from people who are about to do something bad.
Fear maybe? or adrenaline? no one really knows. But I would think it's similar to dogs who can smell out oncoming epileptic attacks, heart failure, and cancer. We cant smell any of those things. Somehow, they can.

I saw a story on Animal Planet about a guy who lived near a park, and he would walk the dogs through this park. On one occasion, one dog suddenly sat down and refused to move one inch farther. He had no idea why, but the dog was adamant, he wasnt going. So he turned around and went home. He walked in his house, and suddenly collapsed from a stroke. The dog actually went and got the phone (cordless) and dropped it by his hand.
He was able to call 911, although he couldnt talk the address comes up automatically on their caller id, and since he couldnt talk they sent an ambulance and took him to the hospital.

How did the dog know this was going to happen? and that he had to take his owner home? How do they know? the only answer (and all speculation) is that they can somehow smell changes in the person. Something gets exuded that we cant detect, but they can. Dogs are now being trained to use that ability to detect insulin reactions, strokes, epileptic attacks and cancer. Who would have thought, back in the days when wolves decided to be our companions through life, that this would be one of hundreds of other benefits?

Thats why I think if your dog ever thought you were being threatened (especially being a shep, they have natural guard dog instinct) that you would be protected.

8)

[Canis erectus]

Yoladybug, I'll agree with pretty much what everyone else has said. And I also think that MajiesMom is also right in that you can't actually rely on your dog protecting you in a given situation, though I doubt Abby needs any specific training to actually protect you for when it might actually be needed.

Both my girls would be considered among the worst 'protection' dogs to ever exist, but they've both come into their own when they thought it was needed.

China has a fear of strangers (which applies to everyone that is not me or my fiance) and at the most she will sit as far across the room as possible from a strange person in the house and howl at them. At one point my fiance had an argument with an ex-boyfreind (this was before we had met and she was still dating this jerk) and this guy actually worked up the nerve to slap her. Now China was actually HIS dog, but she knew what was wrong and bit him in the calf for it.

Zoey thinks that most every creature on this planet was put here to be her friend. I used to take her to work with me at the clinic where she would hang out behind the counter with me. One time a client's dog was ready to take my face off when I got too close and Zoey made one of the most horrific threat displays I'd ever seen (Darn good thing I kept her tied down). I couln't believe what just happened and thought it was a fluke, but after it happened again with another dog in a similar situation I stopped taking her to work.

So don't worry about Abby being too sweet, because I'm a firm believer that even the sweetest dog will protect the person thy're bonded to when they percieve a real threat. Hopefully you'll never have to find out .

[Bubblezzz]

Aww Abby sounds very sweet. Dogs usually are true to their true personality. However there are occasions when that instinct to protect will show up. My Meg scared me once by showing a different side of protection. My usually very sweet girl chased after a guy who stole my mobile at the park and belted after him and lunged at his back snarling. He dropped my mobile in fright and ran off while Meg proud as punch trotted back with my mobile in her mouth.

What a good girl!! :angel:

I wonder about this all the time - if my dog's 'protective instinct' will kick in IF I'm ever threatened. :roll: I'm convinced that mine barks at strangers at the door cos' he wants to be let out NOW to play. :lol: