[kbigge]

I grew up w/GSD's, and I know that one of them we got as a pup (when I was old enough to know anything

) was afraid to sleep on the front porch at night, and he slept behind the house (or hid, depending on how you look at it)

. After he got older, he started sleeping on the front porch (we lived out in the boonies), and basically "guarding" the house, even though he was a pet, not trained or anything. Barked at animals at night, and in the daytime, barking and basically warning people not to get out of their cars unless we came out and said it was ok...stuff like that. But I dont know how old he was when this started.

Kodee is almost 9 mos old, and has just recently started growling low and/or barking when he sees something strange outside, especially at night. He doesn't do it very often yet, but he used to never do it at all. I know part of this is probably b/c he's sleeping in my room now (near French doors to the deck), rather than a crate, so he can see what's going on outside. But he has also barked at people/animals outdoors during the day a couple of times (he's a housedog, so he's barking at things through the door/windows).

My question is: Is your GSD naturally protective (alerting you, barking, etc), and if so, at what age did this start to show? (I'm not talking about trained protection dogs, just average pets...)

 

[Emoore]

Rocky is; he started showing this behavior about 18mos or a year I guess. He'll be 6 years this month. Cash is the kind of dog who would show the thieves where the money is, but he's only about a year old or so.

 

[SunCzarina]

With Morgan, seems like it started at a little over a year. She did have a protection trained 'big brother' so maybe that's why so young. LOL, or girls just mature faster.

Sometime after I fall asleep at night, she goes and sleeps on the landing halfway down the stairs - where someone breaking into the house would have to trip over her to get at the kids and me. Luther always slept there too. Neither of them ever hung out there, except over night. Wierd.

 

[rlwolf]

Freyja is definitely naturally protective, and she was only 7 months when she first demonstrated it.

 

[dearraine]

Ruby started when we moved into this new house. She was just 6 months old then but she immediately started barking at everything different (passing people, cars, animals, etc) Eventually she quieted down some but now at 1 year old if I hear her bark I know something or someone is nearby outside.

 

[denwil2007]

Chase first barked at a stranger at 4 1/2 mos. I lived in a shady apartment building. By 6 mos he barked at everyone who passed by my door.

 

[Elmo's Mom]

Re: When did you notice your GSD becoming protecti

Ever since Elmo was a baby, I took him on many walks so he could meet lots of people. So, he is Mr. Friendly. It could be getting dark and someone would be walking towards the two of us and he was still happy. He wanted to say hello to everyone.

Then, one day when he was about 6 months old, my husband and I took both of our dogs for a walk together at night . Elmo saw a man in the distance. Then, he stopped and started barking. I really think it was because Molly (our Jack Russell) was with us. He's a little show off.

He really loves her.

Seriously though, I think he learned from our JR. When she was looking at something, he would always push her out of the way to see what she was looking at. He picked up a lot of behavior from her. So, he learned very young to at least investigate if Molly runs to the front door barking. We call Elmo her back up.

Now that he is about a year old, he seems to be good at making up his own mind as to what he deems a threat. We've had strangers (repairmen, friends Elmo hasn't met) come to the house who he likes and ones he doesn't like. He keeps a close eye on the ones that he sense makes me uncomfortable.

 

[DSudd]

Re: When did you notice your GSD becoming protecti

Rocky was probably about 8 months old. First time he did it I was shocked. We were on our way to FL (family vacation). DH and I were taking turns walking him while everyone did potty breaks. DH went in for a drink and a man walked past (probably a good 30 feet between us) and asked if I want to sell my dog and Rocky went nuts.

There are only a few people that he will do his big dog bark at. He is protective, especially of little kids. He varys sleeping in the foyer (blocking the front door) in our room, in the hallway outside our room, or outside the kids room. DH says he wanders from place to place at night.

 

[Heidi's Mom]

Protective??

Not Heidi. She loves everyone, although people have told me that would change if I was really in danger. I don't know about that and I'm not sure I want to find out.

 

[Timber1]

Timber was about the same age when he started becoming protective toward me and my property. Prior to that I was concerned he was just too darn nice for a GSD.

Ready the Intermitten Agression post on this board under the aggressive dog category..

There is tons of info that will pertain to your dog.

 

[doggiedad]

my boy is ten months now. one night he growled at something out back beyond our fence. he's very friendly. we have clients that come to our house so my GF really didn't want him to be aggressive. so as of now he's not showing any protective signs. that might change with age. we don't encourage it. i wanted a little more aggression. the aggressive thing is good which i like but having a big cuddle bear is nice also.

 

[Brightelf]

Grimm is 16 months old now. He would greet a burglar with the same wild abandon/frenzied outpouring of love most of us would only reserve for the guy that tells us we just won the lottery.

 

[IloveGSDs]

Cody was between 2 and 3 before he showed any type of guarding type behavior. He is definitely more suspicious than he used to be but will only bark at the doorbell because Honey does. He will greet anyone at the door, just like Grimm. Everybody is a potential playmate, i.e., someone who will throw the ball!

 

[CWhite]

Della is starting to demonstrate this in her crate (while in the car). She went ballistic when we went to get gas. As soon as she saw the attendant coming to the car - that was all she wrote.

No one has tried to stick there hands into her crate. I don't know if she would bite, but surely do not want to find out.

Outside she loves everyone she meets. N

 

[nitetrane98]

HA ha!! I remember it vividly!!! It was the day before yesterday and Mack is about 3 1/2 months old. I got pulled over by DPS and I thought to myself, "Maybe he's a dog person." I had been riding with the window down and Mack had been sticking his nose out and I figured he'd stick his nose out for a little petting when the officer came up to the window. WRONG!! Full blown barking and growling, well, as much full blown as a 3 1/2 MO could. Great!! Scared me more than the officer. First time I had ever heard that from him before. I've had GSD's before that were very protective of their ride though.
I apologized all over for him but the officer was pretty cool about it and said that he just surprised him. "Me too." I said. Still got a ticket though. :<(

 

[CertainlySpoiled]

With Elle, she loves everyone, except for birds, cats, dogs, cows, you name it she hates it, and she hates people getting around the van if shes in it or on the porch, so she's been that way since she was about 4 months old, she's almost 2 now.

Emma, she's 8 months old and has had an aggressive behavior since we got her at 9 weeks old...no one gets neaar me for anything, as she is super protective of me...just last night as Del was working there were 2 men about 35 years old who came to my door knocking (which i did NOT answer) about 10:30pm...Both of the dogs just got so angry that Elle was druelling(SP) and barking and growling and just throwing a fit. Emma was mad too, she did the same things except louder and harder and all the fur on her back was sticking straight up! I know the men where up to no good, because they came here the night before around the sametime when Del was working and tonight, well they haven't shown up, because his van is parked out front.

 

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

I've always read that GSDs do not become protective until they are around 18 months old (I've even heard as young as a year old). This is because at less than a year old, they are puppies and are not capable of being protective. The behavior that some of you are seeing in puppies at 3 months or 8 months old is not protective behavior, but fearful behavior. hair standing straight up is from fear (i.e. goosebumps in people).

this type of behavior has to be taken care of or you can end up with a very fearful and aggressive dog. tons of socializing with positive rewards for being around people works great.

 

[GSDog]

Major started about a month or so..he's now 6months old. Basically like everyone he growls low and barks at whatever he hears. I believe its like what your saying I-Love-My- Mikko. But I would say a bit before 18months old. In my case we are trying to stop the barking. It will be Major's first summer this year and I dont want the neighbours to get annoyed even thought my yard is big. Just I dont want a dog to bark for nothing. He's got to learn to bark when its needed. (wishful thinking lol). Even in the house he charges for the door if it rings with growling, barking, hair up etc. so i go after him, removing him from the door and telling him firmly quite, etc etc but he just doesnt care. I even got him a barking collar. Thats a joke, he barks more!!! So there goes that collar. His barking on the streets when i powerwalk with him or just going towards the park isnt as bad anymore. He does bark less. But in the house or in the car, he doesnt care. So lots of patience is the key word i guess.

 

[Brightelf]

I think I need a "WARNING! Wildly Friendly Dog!" sign.

 

[littledmc17]

Brady gets protective when my husband isn't home and barks like every five minutes. When I take him out he patrols the yard.
He is also protective when My lab pulls her crap on me, he'll run in and get into her face.

I think GSD's are always protective even if they the the friendliest of dogs. They are loyal to there moms and dads and will die to protect them