SlimDoggy had a post last week, How Protective is Your Dog? As I began writing my response, I realized my response was more like a post.
I got a good thing going here. Thankyouverymuch.
I have one protective dog, Delilah. I joke that Sampson would rush an intruder for a belly rub. He loves everyone. In fact, he only ever growled at one person, it was a man on the beach in North Carolina. Immediately I thought, that is not a nice man. I found out after he was the neighborhood jerk.
Delilah on the other hand is extremely protective. The first time we noticed it was shortly after she came to live with us. We were having a tag sale in anticipation of moving, my sister who Delilah had seen many times before, opened the gate to walk into the yard and Delilah wasn’t expecting it. Growling she rushed towards my sister, thankfully we were right there to assure her everything was okay.
About five months later we were settling into our current house. The process involved moving the washer/dryer hook up from the basement to the master closet. Because of limited space, we ordered new appliances.
Our plumber happened to be here when the appliances were delivered. Sampson was at daycare, but Delilah was home because she was recovering from being spayed. When the delivery men arrived Delilah went ballistic. I’m not sure what exactly set her off. I’m guessing it had something to do with her life before us, but I don’t know with any certainty.
The deliverymen were hispanic and one was wearing a hat while the other wore a bandana. I had Delilah on leash to try to keep her from over exerting herself. When the delivery men started up the stairs, Delilah lost her shit, she was barking and lunging so badly, I had to shut her in a bedroom because I was afraid she’d hurt herself.
My plumber stayed until the deliverymen left and when I opened the door to let Delilah out of the room, she knew exactly where those deliverymen had been. She tore into the bedroom intent on putting a hurting on someone. Thankfully she calmed down when she realized it was our plumber.
One morning in early summer I had the back door open. I was in the kitchen taking care of morning chores, my sister had dropped by and we were chatting. I had completely forgotten the lawn was scheduled for a tick spraying and we were first on the list.
I saw the man walk onto the deck the same time she did. Her four legs were faster than my two. She tore out the door with me behind her. The bug man was quick (evidently he’s used to charging dogs) and jumped up onto our retaining wall. She put her paws right up on the wall and was letting him know he was not welcome.
Our oil fill pipe is at the back of the house, right next to the french doors. I hate having to get oil when we aren’t home because I know a person in the yard tosses her over the edge, but the delivery people can never give you the exact time of deliver. We had an oil delivery in November, I came home just as the man was getting back into his truck. He said,”Man your dog wanted a piece of me. She was barking and jumping at the door, finally I just knelt on the deck and bowed my head. Then she was okay.”
It’s not just the house she’s protective of. New Jersey is the only state on the East coast (probably the whole country) where you can’t pump your own gas. This means someone has to come up to the car window. This does not sit well with Delilah, she barks and growls trying to get out the window at the threat.
Typically Delilah is fairly aloof with people. She may show initial interest but once she’s checked them out, she’s ready to move on. One day this past summer a man approached us on a walk. He was walking slowly towards us and talking softly. Delilah growled. I said not happening and moved her out of the situation.
I’ve no doubt she would die protecting me, but I’d rather not put her in a situation where she feels she has to defend herself or me, it’s easier to listen to her instincts and remove us both from a potentially scary situation.
Die? Let’s not exaggerate Mama.
Did you read SlimDoggys’ post? Do you have a protective dog or would your dog trade you for a belly rub?
Luckily we have never had an opportunity to find out apart from the barking at intruders be it postman or meter reader. On a positive note it shows they care. Have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
Ha! Once again Sampson and Delilah are the perfect pair. Yin and yang. Cupcake approaches every person as a prospective new parent and tries to get adopted all over again. ….unless it’s the mailman.
Most of the time my sisters and I love people and anyone is welcome at our house or we love people we meet out walking, but now and then, we have a fit. Mom hasn’t figured out what it is, but some folks rub us the wrong way, and they better just leave or we may shred them!
Mity would just love anyone to death, but I do feel BD would protect me – what with this temperament! However it does mean that I feel safer walking BD alone in the dark than I do Mity.
As I commented on Slimdoggy’s post, we have three protective dogs. It is in their dna. If we tell them it is OK, then they are all happy and ready for pets. The key is that you want protective and not aggressive.
You just never know. My Lucy was the shop dog at my antique shop and greeted everyone with joy. However, one day when she and Tucker were home alone, a neighbor stopped by. He later reported he’d never seen such a big, furious dog before in his life. Lucy had jumped up on the glass door and went nuts. She took her home guarding duties very seriously. (And Tucker? The neighbor said he was sitting a few feet away from Lucy and wagging his tail.) These days it is quiet Rudy who really does not like strange men. Why? I dunno.
Barley definitely has her protective moments–I ended up writing a mini-post instead of a comment on SlimDoggy’s post, too 😉 Most recently, we were at my parents for the holidays and my brother surprised us by showing up a day earlier than planned. Barley and I were upstairs when my sister shouted, “There’s an extra dog in the dog run!” My brother and let his dog into the yard and he’s still new enough to the family that we didn’t recognize our nephew pup from that distance. Barley ran down the stairs and when we realized there was also a man on the porch, Barley lost it. As soon as we realized it was my brother, I had to take her into another room on her leash and work on some calming games so he could come in!
WE think it is GRRRRRREAT that you pawtect your Peeps and your Castle like that… It keeps everyBUDDY and EveryTHINGY… SAFE.
WE rush to the door barking our Brains out… when peeps come here… then we just LET THEM COME ON IN… Beclaws we think they will bring us PRESSIES or somethingy. BaaaaWaaaaah.
Wait…you don’t have to pump your own gas????? I’m movin’ to Jersey!
Hi Y’all!
Oh, when something is seriously threatening I growl so softly only my Human can hear. If I’m leaping and barking at the door I’m just announcing that someone has arrived. Don’t worry though, if you tell me to sit or return to your side I will, but I’m staying on alert. You don’t want all 100 lbs of me launching myself at you.
I stopped to find out if y’all are in the path of that storm heading north. It’s beautiful here and in the 60’s. Seems impossible all that nasty stuff is up in the northeast. I’ll keep my paws crossed y’all are safe.
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Luke is exactly like Delilah, though he backs off from people most of the time. If they ignore him he is usually OK. He will warm up to people, but it takes a long time. He’s kind of a “bark first, ask questions later” kind of dog. Sheba is totally mellow, loves everyone, and Cricket is kind of in between. She barks at a lot of people, mostly men, but she relaxes with most of them in less time than Luke does.
The Poodles would point out all the valuables to any intruders, but Chamois the generic dog who is normally the sweetest, most laid back dog ever goes ballistic over anyone who comes into the yard or to the door. As you say, it is probably something from her past before I got her.
My dog, Theo, is very protective. Sophie and Nelly bark when someone is at the door, but once the door opens they are very welcoming.
Jodi – My girls are the same way VERY PROTECTIVE,out on their walks, they are Chihuahua’s and they want to protect my hubby who is a whopping 6’5″ tall 260# and in law enforcement lol lol lol so it really looks rather silly this big guy walking 3 little dogs who think they are Land Sharks 😀 but when they are at home they are the most loving and snuggly little girls !!!!!!!!!
I thinks there is nothing wrong with you Delilah. What a great protector you are. I have a couple that sound really mean but wouldn’t do a thing. Gman is quite and harmless unless you get near his birds then look out.