Do you think an untrained GSD will protect you?

[JPF]

My take: no one here knows till it actually happens. And "it" happening is really rare. Most people's examples are mere intimidation which is all you should ever expect. Just the sight of a gsd is enough to freak out most people even if they as soft as tissue paper.

[tmnamba]

I don't mean to be negative in any way. How ever, I don't think an untrained GSD will protect you. I definitley think it will scare off many would be criminals but put in a situation where you are both in fear for your life, I believe that an untrained dogs fight or flight emotion would kick in and 90% that are not trained to be comfortable in a truly scary situation would choose flight.

They all make great watch dogs and deterrents just not protection dogs.

[pets4life]

dogs snarling and barking at a threat? i dont consider any of this real protection unless the dog fights the person sorry.

A poodle or any dog really will bark and snarl at a person that trys to hurt or attack you and put on a bluff dogs will bark but unless the dog holds its ground and bites and trys to fight the attacker i dont consider it real protection. Any dog is going to bark and bluff you dont need a gsd or special dog for this it just what all dogs will do if they love their owner they will put on a show for them before they bolt out of fear.


My friend who is a pp trainer on the west coast has the most scary presa u would think she would rip your face off she doesnt even bolt but she wont bite either. I do know a couple of gsds and cattle dogs that will bite without training and have done it.

[pets4life]

also i wanted to correct my statement i dont think it is super rare for a dog to actually bite when its in a bad situation a dog like a gsd but i think to fight and protect yes it is rare, a nasty bite would probably be enough though

and i am not saying all dogs who bark are bluff we all know many of these fearful dogs even if u are walking on leash with them and attack their owners they will still nail you so to some that is protection also. To some that might be protection. But to me i am just looking at protection as a dog that will bite anyone who trys to hurt you for real.

[Seer]

Originally Posted by Witz

The hypotheticals in this subject are beyond anyone's ability to assume or predict the behavior of a dog to respond.

Even the trained personal protection dogs can be overwhelmed by a given situation.

Emmore the dudette with the Clintonisation line, depends on what you mean by protect.

These two are the most accurate for me. But my personal favorite of all time adapted for my own personal theatrics.....

Understand that my barking lunging dog will in fact give me the necessary time to draw this here pistol and protect them.

[WaterBound]

Honestly I have seen some dogs do nothing while their owners got knocked out . I have even seen the bad people play with the dog afterwards. Maybe those owners just did not love their dogs enough.

It all depends on the dog itself and especially if it is untrained like your scenario.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by 3ToesTonyismydog

....If a GSD gets to much socializing with a huge number of people, then you can count that one out.

Mmmm, I didn't know there was such a thing. Color me guilty. So all that work was for naught? What a drag.

[Falkosmom]

Originally Posted by WaterBound

Honestly I have seen some dogs do nothing while their owners got knocked out . I have even seen the bad people play with the dog afterwards. Maybe those owners just did not love their dogs enough.

It all depends on the dog itself and especially if it is untrained like your scenario.

Care to share what you have seen?

[GSDLVR76]

Yes, she would. She has already proven on two different occasions that she would protect us. First time happened when I was walking her and a man stopped us and he got a little to close for her comfort and she positioned herself in between me and the man and let him know with a firm bark to back up. Which he did with a quickness. The second time happened when we were camping and we heard her starting barking like crazy and she took off around the side of our truck and I yelled for her, she stopped. My husband went around the truck to see what was there and there stood a man who had been watching our kids through the bushes. I think he crapped his pants.

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by tmnamba

I don't mean to be negative in any way. How ever, I don't think an untrained GSD will protect you. I definitley think it will scare off many would be criminals but put in a situation where you are both in fear for your life, I believe that an untrained dogs fight or flight emotion would kick in and 90% that are not trained to be comfortable in a truly scary situation would choose flight.

They all make great watch dogs and deterrents just not protection dogs.

Fight or flight is a choice that dogs (and people!) might have to make at some time in their life.

Many dogs (esp breeds like a GSD) will choose to fight for someone close to them.

But even mommy dogs MAY decide for flight even if they have little puppies. I saw one of them at a very big well known kennel when we were looking for a puppy!

Hard to be sure what any one dog will do in a real crisis until it happens (same as with a person - can anyone be absolutely sure what YOU would do faced with a real serious physical threat to you and/or your family? Don't be sure until it happens!!! (Hopefully never does of course!!!)