Will my Pet GSD protect me, scenario... - Page 2

When the hackles go up it can be a sign of fear. I said that my dog was a big pussy (humor if you couldn't tell). 

It's not necessarily a sign of fear. It is a sign of adrenaline! My dogs hackle up when they play ball and are having fun, when they get to run with the quad, the first lap around the house
in the morning etc... mine hackle up when they are extremely excited. Body language has SO much to do with the whole picture.

Melissa

Great point Melissa, but in this senario I don't think the dog was excited. Does seem a bit aggressive (which might be why the hackles were up). Overall there is no exact way to tell if your dog would protect you, unless you put him on the spot. My suggestion is if you want to have a dog that will protect you, bring him to a schutzhund protection trainer. The trainer should evaluate the dog, and he will be able to tell you what the dog is feeling. If its a good enough trainer, which it usually would be. Schutzhund is very fun, I suggest it!

I don't think a schutzhund protection lesson will be enough to justify a dog being ready for personal protection. It's my understanding that schutzhund is done mainly in prey drive. (I've seen dogs that just become sleeve prey monsters) This is no way is a sign that a dog will actually protect you as the sleeve is just a play item, at the end of the day.  If you want to know if a dog will truly protect, you've got to test it's nerves and train it also in defensive drive. Surely someone with more experience will chime in, but that's been my observations.

That's what I meant when I said bring it to a trainer, was that he could test its nerves. 

Ahhh, internet humor always gets me.  

When a dog hackles up around people it is a sign of insecurity.  What happens next is also important.  A dog can get startled and hackles can go up, it doesn't make the dog a nerve bag.  Dogs that regularly have pilo erection around people are a different story.  Hackles going up around other dogs is a completely different story.  I've seen the hackles go up on strong dogs when chasing a ball and there is no fear involved.  It really depends on the situation and the rest of the body language and the dogs reaction.  I try not to label a dog based on one example especially when I haven't seen the dog or have limited information.

Agree... need to find a trainer who trains in both defense and prey. Our TD works the dogs in both defense and prey equally. You won't know unless you try,
or someone really DOES break in...My point was that adrenaline causes hackles, not fear. Fear can cause hackles through adrenaline.
A dog that hackles up, tail high, tight mouth, glaring eyes, ears very alert on feet that are very forward and moves toward the threat
is more likely to bite to protect then one who hackles up, tail at neutral to low, eyes diverted or darting, ears back etc...
The body language that goes along with the vocals and hackles says much about the situation.

Melissa



On a side note, I think my posts are appearing weird.... we'll see after I hit submit

As far as my Mojo goes, I would say he was certainly startled as the "stranger" didn't create noise breaking in, he just "appeared."  And as my son describes it, as he moved forward, so did Mojo. He was sure he was going to go over the gate, next, he said, and that is what prompted him to speak and let the dog know it was him and not the bogey man. (He's already proven that this fancy gate means nothing to him. He only lets us think it keeps him contained for the most part.)  

I really don't think Mojo would be much good as a schutzhund dog because from my limited understanding of these things, I think he does not have a firm bite, seems rather chewy to me. He is full of ball drive but is more of a thinking dog than a brutish dog who wants to attack anything that moves.  I just think he shows enough confidence and is territorial enough, that he will defend what is his.  I thought this scenario supported that. I certainly do not want or need a "true" personal protection dog. I actually think I have what I want. A proper GSD who happens to be a great pet, too.

Great posts Melissa.  My dog does hackle, in many of the instances mentioned, but she is no pussy...
So hers may be fear, but she has no fear,    so I tend to think it isn't always fear.