First sign of protective behavior?

[Anthony8858]

I was walking with Kira in a local wooded park. It was dusk, and visibility wasn't that great.
About 50 feet to my left, I noticed the shadow of a man apparently looking for something in the bushes.
Kira stopped, turned towards the man, got in front of me and growled in a long steady deep tone. Her hackles were raised front head to tail, and her tail was elevated.
I've never seen this from her.
I feel as if she was being protective. Is this possible at 5 months?
I felt the vibration from her growl go up her leash.

[k_sep]

It could just be fear. I wouldn't necessarily say it was protection.

[doggiedad]

your dog ran to you and barked and snapped
at a neighbors dog and you thought she was protecting
herself and the property. now she barks at someone at night
and you think she's protecting you. i think you want
a dog that's protective. if you want a dog that's protective
have it trained for protection. dominance and protection
is so overrated.

Originally Posted by Anthony8858

I was walking with Kira in a local wooded park. It was dusk, and visibility wasn't that great.
About 50 feet to my left, I noticed the shadow of a man apparently looking for something in the bushes.
Kira stopped, turned towards the man, got in front of me and growled in a long steady deep tone. Her hackles were raised front head to tail, and her tail was elevated.
I've never seen this from her.
I feel as if she was being protective. Is this possible at 5 months?
I felt the vibration from her growl go up her leash.

[bocron]

She was askeered :/

[doggiedad]

that's funny.

Originally Posted by bocron

She was askeered :/

[PaddyD]

I do so love to see posts from people who project protective characteristics onto their puppies.

[Castlemaid]

No way a five month old will be protective.

Hackles = fear. Deep growl = real deep fear! Standing in front of you = was wanting to be close to you so you can back her up if things got too much for her.

Protectiveness comes from a place of inner confidence and power. A five month old does not have the maturity to pull that off when confronted with a threat.

[Wolfiesmom]

My trainer saw protective behavior in Wolfie when he was nearly a year old. She told me that my dog was showing protective instincts while we were walking. He wasn't growling, baring his teeth, or showing hackles. The only thing he was doing was placing himself between me and a man that was walking up behind me. He stood there and just looked at the man and watched him walk by. Then we proceeded on.

[Anthony8858]

Originally Posted by doggiedad

your dog ran to you and barked and snapped
at a neighbors dog and you thought she was protecting
herself and the property. now she barks at someone at night
and you think she's protecting you. i think you want
a dog that's protective. if you want a dog that's protective
have it trained for protection. dominance and protection
is so overrated.

Even though I don't recall the incident you refer to....

What would you call a dog that snaps at another dog that poses a threat? Is she protecting herself? Or are they snapping because they think they're a snapping turtle?

I never gave the indication that I wanted a protection dog, now did I? Nor did I say I was happy at the idea that she might be showing protective instincts.
I simply asked if it were possible that a puppy at 5 months could actually be protective.

[RocketDog]

He has you confused with someone else, possibly cedar's owner.