Do you take "Beware of Dog" signs serious?

[Dotty]

You better believe it!
After having my crazy dogs, I wouldn't trust any dog anymore.

[Jag]

Originally Posted by Touie

Must get my hands on a Poodle sticker and JRT one next.

Just an FYI... the standard poodle I had as a child was every bit as protective as a GSD. I think you don't know the breed very well, LOL! She bit the seat out of the meter man because he came into the yard while I was in it.

[Questforfire]

I do heed Beware of the Dog signs. The sign I have on my gate depicts a GSD head and says "I Live Here" ... there are often three GSDs behind the fence too, letting people know my sign is for real

[Cheyanna]

I was thinking a perfect sign would be: this property protected by GSD who eats pitbulls for breakfast.
Is that scary? Or would a burglar just giggle?


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[rangersdad]

Yes! I'd much rather be warned than surprised (in a bad way!)

[APBTLove]

I take the signs serious, yes.. but I rarely have a reason to go into a strangers' yard. I mean, the signs are there for a reason.

I was thinking a perfect sign would be: this property protected by GSD who eats pitbulls for breakfast.
Is that scary? Or would a burglar just giggle?

Well, I don't know about a burglar - unless he is a Pit Bull-.. but it would probably offend some Pit Bull owners

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by Jag

Just an FYI... the standard poodle I had as a child was every bit as protective as a GSD. I think you don't know the breed very well, LOL! She bit the seat out of the meter man because he came into the yard while I was in it.

Individual dogs of course vary greatly!

But I think as a breed generality, you would admit that the GSD would be a lot more likely to be protective than a standard Poodle? yes?

The standard Poodles that I have seen in our OB club (3 of them only) have all been most friendly to strangers.

And again, as a general breed thing I do believe that GSD's would be a lot more likely on average to be capable of defending their owner much better.

After all, how many ScH3 Standard Poodles does one see? Or for that matter, how many K9 patrol Standard Poodles have you run across? (me = none of either)

[Jag]

I can tell u we had 2 standards who were protective, and I also had a poodle/terrier mix who wouldn't let maintenance into our apartment and would bite anyone who threatened me, so I dunno. A GSD looks more intimidating for sure, and of course is 'expected' to be protective, BUT the poodle comment was made as if they were no threat which is untrue. I've seen many shepherds that aren't capable of protecting their handlers. Also, SchH training doesn't mean the dog will respond to a real threat.

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by Jag

I can tell u we had 2 standards who were protective, and I also had a poodle/terrier mix who wouldn't let maintenance into our apartment and would bite anyone who threatened me, so I dunno. A GSD looks more intimidating for sure, and of course is 'expected' to be protective, BUT the poodle comment was made as if they were no threat which is untrue. I've seen many shepherds that aren't capable of protecting their handlers. Also, SchH training doesn't mean the dog will respond to a real threat.

Very true, but it would certainly increase the chances, don't you think?

You are kidding, right? Sounds like your mutt was a "real" protection dog.


I am going only by reputation, standard, and the std poodles that i have met (3 or 4) of them. None were a "protection" dog, or as far as I could tell capable of doing the training in man work. Far as I am concerned the precense of a std poodle would not influence me whatsoever in my behavior toward the owner. A GSD would.

I certainly would expect a std poodle to be able to handle the ScH tracking and the OB work but the bite work - i would have to see it to believe it (course an individual std poodle might be able to - hence I am asking you to let us know of any that you have owned or even know about)??

Just out of curiosity, how many std poodles do you know who have earned any type of protection related training title? I don't know of any myself which is why I would ask you, with obviously much more experience with std poodles than I have about some protection related acconplishments. Or maybe any std poodles who have any K9 protection experience or maybe can point to 1 std poodle working as a K9 (since you seem to discount any ScH/IPO titles).

[PuppyKono]

I would never go in a yard were there is a beware of dog sign. I dont go in others yards unless needed to which is rare. Maybe I had to do it once or twice but I knew the people. Its a warning sign and a scare tactic. So I stay away, and most people I know would too.

I am a little confused though. Some laws say that if your dog bites someone in your backyard and you have a beware of dog sign in a visible place you arent liable for trespassers but then I read of a case were someones dog bit a trespasser and they had a sign but they had the dog put down because the judge said that the sign was saying "My dog is dangerous" I mean its sad that people try to warn and protect people and then their dog gets put down just because some stupid person goes in the yard without asking... Does anyone know what the laws are in Colorado, Usa. I tried to find them but I cant find a definite answer...