Will my GSD protect me? - Page 2

Ok, so what's a "properly trained dog"? I trained my dogs myself.. I believe they were properly trained but you might not think they were trained to the level you prefer. I guess that is something the owner will just have to work out for themselves as far as their level of comfortability with their dog.

What is properly PP  trained dog?
I said that in my first post.:.........Properly trained dog must be 100% sociable, alert on command, attack on command on any passive none trainer/decoy person in strange environment and without equipment. Only clue must be the your command and nothing else. He must protect his territory/your house when stranger brakes in without command. He needs to "out" and diffuse when he is told to and accept the stranger as a friend. More details then this would take books.
 Prager (Hans)
http://www.alpinek9.com

Annie... how long have you had your rescue?  Sometimes it takes a while for the dog to settle in, and they're often quiet until they've properly settled down.

He may have had a previous home where his 'brief' was to display these quiet, calm, amenable behaviours.. and it sounds like this is largely what you want in your family circumstances, other than for him to come a bit more to the fore when a stranger comes on your territory.

If you haven't had him long, it might take a while for him to feel that he has integrated properly and can become a little more territorial, and he might not yet feel comfortable with a different rank. But I haven't yet met a Shep that hasn't wanted a "job"
.
But as has already been advised, guarding behaviours shold be developed with training so that you retain control.

I'd suggest a behaviourist to show you some methods of teaching your dog to vocalise on command. (and shush on command too!).  That should be easy if he already vocalises when he sees other dogs. You might find that gives him the confidence to protect his home.  If you want a dog to protect you when you're out, then that would take a couple of books.. there's a whole range on Amazon to select from, read up on sch, and I'm sure there will be a good trainer to help you with the basics when you and your shep are ready.
Good luck with developing your beautiful boy.
Maggie

Almost all new GSD owners I know or those that are new on training has a false sense of security with their dogs.These people are new on the dog world and convince themselves and brag that their GSDs would protect them if the need arises,they don't even know how to read a dog's body movement,their dogs won't even bite  the sleeve or suit when agitated and if it does bite the sleeve it bites out of fear but it amazes them and still brag that they have a dog that kill for them,I don't know what's with these people.I pity them.

If you really ant to see if your dog will protect you instead of just guessing, get him used to wearing a secure muzzle around the house 15 minutes a day for about a week. Have a complete stranger (to the dog) barge into your house and stage a physical assult on you. Make it look real; scream, holler etc. Even an untrained dog, but with the right genetics, will move in strongly to protect you. If he doesn't, look elswhere for a nutural protector.

My previous GSD, Am Bred was a really good dog.  I trained her for PP.  She would bark at a light post if I commanded and would go at whatever I sent her to and out on command then be friends with the perp.  Only problem was she a nervous dog and when off leash couldn't be trusted to think what is real and what is not.  She thought everything was a threat.  So, I then could never let her off leash unless on property with family.  What I'm getting at is that she would bite and protect but for all the wrong reasons.  It was her that she was protecting.  So , A dog will do what you ask of them but when it comes right down to it they will be what they are.  If they are insecure, they will still do what they have been trained to do but flee if the pressure is too much.

So, I guess I have to correct myself.  She was a good dog for me at the time but really not a good dog because of what she was inherently.  A good bluff but never a confindent man stopper.

In answer to your question and without seeing the dog and basing it off the info you provided, the answer would be NO.
Whether your dog even has it in him to be trained in PP is another question and again, based on what you have shared and not being there to see the dog first hand, I would say NO.  I have no idea what is behind this dog, if he has any civil in him, or any other qualities it takes to be a ppd.  Most dogs will in time bark once they learn that this is there home and become somewhat more territorial.  Again, so many ifs.  I assume he is neutered since you got him from a rescue.  Do you know when he was neutered?  If this guy was neutered at a very young age, comes from show/pet lines, has no working dogs behind him in pedigree, or for who knows what else, he just may not have an ounce of aggression in him.

If he were my dog, I would have someone do some minor agitation, suspicous acting behavior on the other side of the fence during the day for starters.   They are more suspicious at night naturally  and a little bit can go a long ways in getting your boy to show a little offense.    From what it sounds like, and if I am hearing you right, I would be happy with the dog looking the part and if he barks then he will cause most to think twice.  It is critical for you to be out there encouraging him with every sign of aggression.  You are not going to have a man stopper at least from what it sounds like.  Remember, the suspicious behavior of your friend should always run off at the moment he shows any offense.  If you care to pm me I will spend more time explaining this, it takes to long and it is important that you understand.  Do not let a ppd trainer take your dog and promise you a solid ppd without checking with those that have working dogs.  Many ppd trainers are more than happy to take your money and have no conscience agout leaving you with nothing to back you up. Anyone can make a weak dog look strong and aggressive.  I am just talking about sharpening him up a bit so he can be a visual deterrent.  Good luck.

I just have to jump in here.   I have posted before about my first GSD.  He was so loving, gentle, even with the kids when they were little, didn't chew up anything in the house -- ever.  I could leave new shoes/clothing in front of him and he would not touch them.    He would bark when he would hear something outside the house.   But, people could come and go and he would not bother them. 

Once when my mom was visiting (she had been at my house for several days), we were talking about crime, break-ins, etc.   She asked me if I felt safe with the dog, and I said yes.  She said how do you know he would protect you.   I told her to just pretend to hit my arm, and that I would re-act to it.   My dog was lying on the floor about 12 feet away.   When she pretended to hit my arm, he came up off the floor like lightening toward her and growling.   I had to quickly grab him and tell him that it was OK.   That told me all that I needed to know.   It scared the heck out of my mom.

Maggie,
This was a lively topic on this board a couple of years ago.  I do not want to rain on your party or say that he would not protect, but there is a huge, as in enormous, difference in your mom hitting your arm in the setting of your home.  Your dog is not afraid of your mom, nor does your mom or the enviroment cause stress and fear in your dog.  This is not the same as someone that is a real threat attacking you in a manner that adds much confusion and uncertainty in the dog, leading to the dog going into avoiding the problem.  It is a sad thing to watch.  One wants to blame the dog, but it is more in their nature to not go after a man than to engage.  I do not know your dog so it is impossible for me to say he will or will not react to a serious threat on you without warning and the security of your house and mom.  Totally different.

Every one wants to think There dog will defend them to the death.  Bottom line is that the animal will be confused and will react in a dogs first and most powerful instinct and that is self preservation if the threat is significant enough.  No dog willingly gives his life for a person, a big fallacy.  The fact is that a dog does not know what a life is!  He only knows that being attacked will lead to more pain and defeat then he wants. 

It takes a special dog to stay and fight a man when the possibility is great that he will lose.  A dog with good civil drives, high confidence and the willingness to fight a man takes not only the dogs genetics but also good civil training, (and I am not talking about sport schutzhund) focusing on the man.  I know when I am working a dog that has it in him to take on a man and they are the minority for sure.

There are means of testing a dogs strength, but I will not go into it here.

Well, a Schutzhund trained dog would be no more reliable than a family pet.   Biting a Sleeve and doing a Bark & Hold just isn't going to "cut it" in a real-life situation.   The only SURE thing, is a highly trained PP Dog.