GSD true to the end........... - Page 2

Actually, aaykay, Jewel WAS outside her own territory--she belonged to a FRIEND of SitasMom, but was AT SitasMom's house when intruders broke in there.

So guess that rains on your parade a little.

Not really Hexe.  It was still adopted territory, as far as the dog is concerned.  For instance, when in a rental car with my dog, she will defend the rental car just like it were my own car, since she now considers the rental as her territory.   When I have her at my friend's place, she immediately "adopts" my friend's house as her "territory" and starts defending it right away.  Just a result of territorial behavior, IMHO.

Jewel was in her own back yard. My friend was away at work with her elderly mother inside the house.

Now, see, I have to apologize to aaykay, because in the initial post, SitasMom said Jewel was at 'our house', which sounds like this all happened at SitasMom's house...so you're right, aaykay, she WAS at her own home. 

I did think it was unusual that the friend's mother was at SitasMom's home while SitasMom wasn't there, but thought perhaps that's the kind of relationship they all had together.

I don't think that diminishes Jewel's actions in any way, however; I've known of more dogs that DIDN'T try to defend their home turf than ones that did, and that spans a variety of breeds.  In fact, I've worked with several dogs that were so traumatized by intruders breaking into their homes that the dogs developed anxiety behaviors that weren't present before the break-in.

So I still raise a glass to Jewel, whose last big adventure was to protect her home and her family, and that's what we all want to see in our GSDs--the instinctive response to a real threat, as the breed is meant to demonstrate.

Easy to misunderstand hexe, it is wrote so as one would think it was sitas house,
jewel sustained serious injury while defending our home.
I was not home at the time.
Jeezum sitasmom, you must live in a rough neighborhood.If I recall correctly, last year your dog attacked an intruder in YOUR home.

Now, see, I have to apologize to aaykay, because in the initial post, SitasMom said Jewel was at 'our house', which sounds like this all happened at SitasMom's house...so you're right, aaykay, she WAS at her own home.   to Hexe's spirit

So I still raise a glass to Jewel, whose last big adventure was to protect her home and her family,   to Hexe's logic &

to Ibrahim for recognizing good spirit and good logic 

kitkat,
My friend lives about 4 hours driving from me.
The economy has been horrible for several years and breakins are on a rise throughout the country.

I dont think a cowardly dog will defend its turf they will just run away ask the meter man

most will just make friends with the robbers they dont have the aggression in them do anything they are like big happy goldens and love everyone

It takes a real dog to actually bite and fight on its turf even, when out with its owner on leash the dog has no escape route so there is no flight option only fight. It can hide behind its owner but even a fear biter is going to take shots while in that postion since it can't exactly run away a lot of times.

I have seen dobermans hide behind their owners and shake though.

HEXE: I don't think that diminishes Jewel's actions in any way, however; I've known of more dogs that DIDN'T try to defend their home turf than ones that did, and that spans a variety of breeds.  In fact, I've worked with several dogs that were so traumatized by intruders breaking into their homes that the dogs developed anxiety behaviors that weren't present before the break-in.

No apology needed, but do appreciate the gesture !

Agreed that Jewel did rise upto the occasion and kudos to her for that.   But unless territoriality has been completely bred out of a GSD via some weird selective breeding choices that some breeders make, a "normal" GSD should kick an intruder's azz in her/his own territory. 

I know that my Czech GSD girl would kick azz if someone were to try and make their way into our home, uninvited -  highly territorial.....hopefully by the way she is bringing the house down with her barking, and the aggression she is displaying,  the intruder will move away and look for easier targets !  My Czech GSD boy  would sense the intrusion right away, silently wait to see things unfold and move into a strategic position, and the instant the intruder gets within range,  bite first (no warning barks provided, before moving in for the bite) and ask questions later.  Territorial they most certainly are !

Great post aakay