Home Protection Question

[Texas_Eva]

I've been wondering lately at what age Eva (now 16 weeks) will begin to show some dislike towards strangers at the door? Not that her love of everyone is something I don't like but I want to ensure she is not going to be a soft dog when it comes to protecting and enforcing her homes boundaries. Also, at about what age will she begin to bark at strangers at the door, etc.

Thanks for any advice and comments.

[JakodaCD OA]

I think its different for all dogs..I have 3, the two aussies and Masi who is 3 years old. She honestly is a pretty quiet dog. The aussies are big mouths, and no one drives up my driveway without them alerting to it,,Masi has just begun to alert bark as well IF she is in the house..Outside, no big deal to her.

As for strangers, at home , she has no problem letting anyone in , it's the male aussie who is the one to watch at home with strangers.

So if it comes it comes, if not, I wouldn't encourage it,, a big mouth barking dawg can be really annoying)))

[Ace952]

Yeah at times u wish they would just stay quiet....lol.

Each dog is different and also depends on other factors including the dogs pedigree. Some it may show early on, some maybe around a year old and others later.

[doggiedad]

your dog might not be a protective dog. you protect
your dog. i think what ever it is you want to be protected
from your dog should be protected from also.

[doggiedad]

and some not at all.

Originally Posted by Ace952

Yeah at times u wish they would just stay quiet....lol.

Each dog is different and also depends on other factors including the dogs pedigree. Some it may show early on, some maybe around a year old and others later.

[MrBeast]

she may pick it up she may not, saying because she is a Shepherd she should be a good guard dog is like saying "your a woman you should be good at cooking and sewing"

Chances are she will figure it out, but she may not. It takes time, and some shepherds are lovers not fighters.

Once she gets to about a year if she has not started to figure it out id say the best thing you can do is find a friend with a shepherd who is a good guard dog, have them and thier dog over, and practice having people come to the door, that might show her what she is supposed to do.

[onyx'girl]

Both Kacie and Onyx will bark when people enter the house. I have teenagers and they come and go with their friends(friends don't knock, just come in) Karlo(2) never barks but watches...until recently. He sometimes now will bark and charge forward but it isn't consistent and not usually in a threatening manner.
Late at night when a kid comes down stairs to leave, it will set the dogs off. Karlo has been one to be first to bark, but quiets immediately on command, where Kacie and Onyx are harder to turn off.
The females are much more serious than him, but he is more discerning due to his better genetics/breeding, IMO.
Higher threshold shows in everything he does compared to them.
I'd rather have the dog assess a situation before reacting.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

Once she gets to about a year if she has not started to figure it out id say the best thing you can do is find a friend with a shepherd who is a good guard dog, have them and thier dog over, and practice having people come to the door, that might show her what she is supposed to do.

This. If barking at the door is a behavior that you want, you might need to show her. If you'd like she can come spend a few hours learning from Rocky and Kopper. Kopper has learned it from Rocky.

[Davey Benson]

My family had a blue heeler years ago who didn't bark at strangers, he would just quietly circle around from behind and grab them on the calf of the leg.

Do they make a reverse button for the "Bark Off"? (as seen on TV)

[erpeden]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Both Kacie and Onyx will bark when people enter the house. I have teenagers and they come and go with their friends(friends don't knock, just come in) Karlo(2) never barks but watches...until recently. He sometimes now will bark and charge forward but it isn't consistent and not usually in a threatening manner.
Late at night when a kid comes down stairs to leave, it will set the dogs off. Karlo has been one to be first to bark, but quiets immediately on command, where Kacie and Onyx are harder to turn off.
The females are much more serious than him, but he is more discerning due to his better genetics/breeding, IMO.
Higher threshold shows in everything he does compared to them.
I'd rather have the dog assess a situation before reacting.

I know the feeling about the teenagers and friends coming over. Biff does pretty good until our beagle starts barking and then Biff chimes in usually not even knowing what he is barking at. We are in obedience classes now and they are really helping with him listening to me. The other night one of my daughters friends was walking thru the living room waving her arms like she was punching and Biff come off the couch barking and charged her then backed off and watched. She didn't know what she did and I explained that Biff seen her swinging her arms walking towards me and he reacted. He doesn't try and bite anyone just charges towards them and barks alot.