How would your dog protect you?

I have a 70kg St Bernhard. I'm not sure how she would protect me but her size is impressive and that's already protection. I'm 6.0 but she's taller than me. When she jumps on you, you are better prepared.

One time, this guy was approaching my dog (standing in front of me, growling). Even with the growling, the guy kept coming and saying "hi pup" and blah blah. When the guy reached him, my dog peed all over my feet.
Another time, on a walk, we approached another lady and her dog. He went crazy....barking, growling, and pulling. He slipped out of the collar. As soon as the collar came off, he stopped everything and just looked up at me. I put the collar back on and he went back to his shenanigans.

Not sure if my dog would bite anyone since she's so gentle around us but you gets jealous when husband comes near me and gets in between us :laugh:

Unless your dog is specifically trained in protection work, chances are nothing.

Dogs have two reactions - fight or flight. They'll try one and resort to the other if needed. When they are growling at a stranger in the bushes, that would be fight. If the threat continues, and your dog has the option, there's a good chance they'll opt for flight.


What people view as a dog being "protective" is often more of a weak temperament or possessiveness than it is protection.

Cute fuking dog btw....I won't hold it against him

My dog is the most sweetest/smartest/playful dog I know but when a stranger tries to come into my lawn he growls and gets protective until I assure him it's a friend or what ever..

Man's best friend :drinker:


You can't see the end of the pic, but his paw is in my hand giving me dat bro shake.

I think my dog would lick an attacker to death. She does have a bark some people find scary to start with but it never lasts long

When I was little we had lab mix, my brothers and I were playing in the backyard and a man came in our yard for god knows what, as soon as he got into the back our dog attacked him, protecting us. For the dogs I have now, one is a sweetheart and too nice, but out other dog, an American foxhound, is super protective if I'm alone with him. I'll be out walking him, and he doesn't care if he sees people, but if a man walks up to me he absolutely loses it, and acts like he is going to rip their face off. He's given a couple people warning snips when the come inside, just to let them no what's up if they try anything sketchy.

Do you really think it ok that your dog gives people "warning nips" for no reason? Or goes crazy for no other reason than ther person approaching is a male? He is not protective, he is fearful.

Unless your dog is specifically trained in protection work, chances are nothing.

Dogs have two reactions - fight or flight. They'll try one and resort to the other if needed. When they are growling at a stranger in the bushes, that would be fight. If the threat continues, and your dog has the option, there's a good chance they'll opt for flight.


What people view as a dog being "protective" is often more of a weak temperament or possessiveness than it is protection.

Not sure about this. I have had 3 German Shepherds, none trained in protection. Two of which stepped in to protect myself and family members. They had sound temperaments and no resource guarding tendencies.

Some dogs/breeds are more naturally protective than others.

When I was little we had lab mix, my brothers and I were playing in the backyard and a man came in our yard for god knows what, as soon as he got into the back our dog attacked him, protecting us. For the dogs I have now, one is a sweetheart and too nice, but out other dog, an American foxhound, is super protective if I'm alone with him. I'll be out walking him, and he doesn't care if he sees people, but if a man walks up to me he absolutely loses it, and acts like he is going to rip their face off. He's given a couple people warning snips when the come inside, just to let them no what's up if they try anything sketchy.

Do you really think it ok that your dog gives people "warning nips" for no reason? Or goes crazy for no other reason than ther person approaching is a male? He is not protective, he is fearful.

Do you really think your being a fun member of this forum? Butthurt much? Sorry to overwhelm you with questions I love meeting new people~!

I'm not sure how either of my dogs would react now, I'm sure if they felt I was threatened I might find out. Though once an aggressive dog that lived across the street broke it's rope and charged us, while the neighbors other dog which wasn't leashed at all was already coming over to us. They circled Gracie and I. Gracie is a husky/shepherd/lab/boxer/mutt is the best guess...She was a pound puppy....anyhow, the two dogs were circling us, Gracie's eyes were just focused on the ground straight ahead of her, she didn't go submissive, she didn't go dominant (she doesn't have a dominant bone in her body) but she wasn't going submissive either. Of course in my head I'm just thinking if these dogs attack mine it's game on...Anyhow nothing happened. The neighbor came running over and grabbed his dogs finally. I later learned the aggressive one had already kid their other neighbors cat and has since attacked 2 dogs that were walking next to babies in strollers. I think the dog has gone to live with the guys mother.

My last dog was a German Shepherd, she didn't like anything running at us. So any dogs running towards us she instantly got into protection mode.

I don't ever want to know what my dogs would do. I do however, know what I would do if someone were to hurt them, or their dog attacks mine.

She probably wouldn't. She's scared of everything!! :laugh:

Neither will mine! All bark no bite! She's scared of rain! She acts all tough. It's annoying. Chihuahuas :noway:

I have a black labrador, he is the goofiest, most laid back dog ever. I was out walking him one night last year (winter time). I came to the crossing on my street. There was a drunk on the other side of the road. I happened to look his way as i was looking up and down the street to check if it was safe to cross, at this point my dog was sniffing something in the shadows so I suspect the guy couldn't see him. The guy came racing towards me, screaming and hurling abuse, next thing you know, my dog came flying out of the shadows, hackles up and growling like i have never heard before. The guy backed off pretty quick. Harvey (my dog), remained in 'high alert' until we got home. So, yes, I do think my dog would protect me. However, I don;t want him to, just in case he gets hurt,

When I was little we had lab mix, my brothers and I were playing in the backyard and a man came in our yard for god knows what, as soon as he got into the back our dog attacked him, protecting us. For the dogs I have now, one is a sweetheart and too nice, but out other dog, an American foxhound, is super protective if I'm alone with him. I'll be out walking him, and he doesn't care if he sees people, but if a man walks up to me he absolutely loses it, and acts like he is going to rip their face off. He's given a couple people warning snips when the come inside, just to let them no what's up if they try anything sketchy.

Do you really think it ok that your dog gives people "warning nips" for no reason? Or goes crazy for no other reason than ther person approaching is a male? He is not protective, he is fearful.

Do you really think your being a fun member of this forum? Butthurt much? Sorry to overwhelm you with questions I love meeting new people~!

I don't think you know what that word means. How on earth does that make me butthurt?

No, I might not be being a fun member right now. I wasnt aware that every post had to be "fun". I take dog issues seriously and the idea that people think its ok to let a dog bite is a little surprising to me.

I have always owned rotweillers and they are prtective by nature.

Although he is a kind and gentle pup, loves kids and people in general.

He will always get between me, my wife or son and whoever is walking up if he doesn't know them.

He looks scary if you don;t know him too.