Guarding Instincts?

[bobberbiker]

just wondering what age (roughly) guarding instincts kicked in with your dogs?
since mine is a ambull x boerboel it will be hard to tell....unless both breeds come in around the same age but i cant find any info on the ages it starts. but both say ambull and boerboel are excellent guard dogs naturally... just curious really... i know mines only 12-13 weeks but shes scared of most things lol...if a bird lands on the fence outside she will run away, she wont go to the other end of the garden if its dark....lol and she LOVES everyone... last night i was sat outside with her about 10pm so it was dark and she heard a car pulling up....she didnt go to look but stayed near me and was looking about, then she walked to garden fence...which was right next to me, heard someone walking up the lane and she was jumping up wagging her tail at him lol... no guarding instinct at all hahaha if it was my old boxer he would of been barking, growling and trying to jump the fence....in the daytime he was alot calmer...but at night he would see everyone he didnt know as a threat if they were outside his property. iv noticed when she hears noises she will sit at the garden gate looking out....not sure if she wants to go back in because shes scared....or if she is guarding lol so thats why im wondering what age its meant to kick in

 

[angelbears]

Each dog is different. Much like their growth rate. For example with Filas which are known for protection. It can take up to a year for them to come into their temperament and even longer. All puppies are scared of everything.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Yeap, when I first got Thor at 8 months he was very "protective" but he was also "nervous" after some training and more socialization he came around.

 

[chuckorlando]

I would'nt put any stock in a protective looking pup no way. They need to build up confidence. Even showy pups will run off half the time if you stomp your feet. The pup will get use to all the strange happenings that scare her. Also not all protective dogs go at starangers. Some will simply wait for a threat. Which is how most would prefer

 

[bobberbiker]

yeah makes sense, i did a little test today i used to do with my boxer, i let her out in the garden and was pretending to smack my 3yr daughter....she came running at me jumping through midair and biting my arm lol....so it is good to know she has that instinct already...though if someone else did it she might be scared of them lol. a toddler and a puppy are damn hard work though, they both wind eachother up 24/7

 

[Tiger12490]

Meh that's not really protection instinct I doubt your pup will show protection with an in house confrontation.... Athena who is a fila started showing defense at around 5-6 months and after that it was all down hill kronos showed it the second day we had him, my buddy came in and little kronos runs barks hair up and proceeds to tug on his pants lol.... but you should see protection instincts around 6-12 months your pup will be way more protective than your boxer....your pup now is going to be a decent dog I would think....... that mix is known to me and it works....get her a good PP trainer

Tapd on my skyrocket

 

[bobberbiker]

lol when i did it to my wife the dog wags her tail and does nothing, if wife does it to me dog just wags again and looks intrested lol. i remember my parents trying to smack us a kid and the boxer would go for them lol but yeah was useless in real life events....he would bark at strangers at night or if there outside the house....but when it came to it and fists were flying....he jumped on the bloke...and licked his face lmfao what a coward dog, maybe if i was coming worse off he may of defended me but i highly doubt it now lol.


iv read both am bulls and boerboels are highly protective.... granted not as much as alot of mastiffs but the mix is meant to be very good guard wise. shes 3 months now so hopefully not long and she will show some signs, it will be good to know my wife can walk her alone or with my daughter and i havent got to worry she might get mugged etc

 

[NeoBull]

I 1st noticed it in Branka at about 9 or 10 months I think. We were outside with the kids and a neighbor and his kids, Branka had said hi to the neighbor and sat at his feet to be pet, but a few minutes later she was across the cul de sac with me when my 1 year old son fell and started to cry, the neighbor dad was closer to him and started to go over to him and Branka booked it over and stood between my son and the neighbor. She didn't bark or growl but made it clear to the neighbor that he sholdn't come closer, he stopped and said I guess you better get him. Later the same day a door to door sales person walked up and Branka did the same thing, just stood between us and stared at him, he stayed about 15 feet away from me while he talked.

 

[chuckorlando]

You gotta love that "Serious Business" stare

 

[NeoBull]

You gotta love that "Serious Business" stare

Yep LOVE it! I love that she seems to feel the situation out without overreacting too! My Doberman is the act NOW think later (or maybe just act NOW lol) type. Branka just strategically places herself and gives the stare while she accesses the threat lol.

 

[BradA1878]

I have seen guarding instinct in molossers as young as 5 weeks old, you just need to know what you're looking for.

I wouldn't do any testing until your dog is 2 years old or so. Mastiffs and bulldogs mature slow, let them have their puppyhood to learn their envirnment then test them when they are older and comfortable. you will only end up confusing your pup if you start these things too early... and a confused guardian is a dangerous one.

 

[OdeMX]

Great thread!

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I have seen guarding instinct in molossers as young as 5 weeks old, you just need to know what you're looking for.

I wouldn't do any testing until your dog is 2 years old or so. Mastiffs and bulldogs mature slow, let them have their puppyhood to learn their envirnment then test them when they are older and comfortable. you will only end up confusing your pup if you start these things too early... and a confused guardian is a dangerous one.

I tested Thor he failed with flying colors. :lolbangtable:

 

[NeoBull]

LOL, poor Thor

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Oh he's fine even after the failed break in I noticed he's more "alert." When the guy left and I took Thor outside he immediately went around to the side of my unit where the guy was, barking tail and hackles raised. If I play the video of the guy yelling Thor starts barking.

 

[BradA1878]

Oh he's fine even after the failed break in I noticed he's more "alert." When the guy left and I took Thor outside he immediately went around to the side of my unit where the guy was, barking tail and hackles raised. If I play the video of the guy yelling Thor starts barking.

I'm curious, how did he respond to the "intruder" and what did the decoy do to mimic the break in? I'd love to see the video.

I really think that 99.9% of it is just having a dog that looks scary and has a good bark. That will keep most intruders away.

 

[NeoBull]

I'm curious, how did he respond to the "intruder" and what did the decoy do to mimic the break in? I'd love to see the video.

I really think that 99.9% of it is just having a dog that looks scary and has a good bark. That will keep most intruders away.

I think so too! Why bother breaking into a house with a Mastiff and a Doberman when you can break into a house with a doodle or no dog at all? I think most criminals will go with the easier target. Same goes when I'm out walking alone, do you think someone wants to find out if branka or my Doberman Lucius will bite? Probably not, they'll find a more vulnerable looking target.

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------

I'm curious how Thor reacted too... Lucius would have tried to go through the window! Branka might not be as intense though lol

 

[NeoBull]

I'm curious how Thor reacted too... Lucius would have tried to go through the window! Branka might not be as intense though lol

 

[BradA1878]

I think so too! Why bother breaking into a house with a Mastiff and a Doberman when you can break into a house with a doodle or no dog at all? I think most criminals will go with the easier target. Same goes when I'm out walking alone, do you think someone wants to find out if branka or my Doberman Lucius will bite? Probably not, they'll find a more vulnerable looking target.

Totally!

What's interesting is so many breeders, owners, and trainers "test" looking for a dog that can fill the 0.1%. And so many claim to have a dog that can fill that role... But then you hear about how most dogs fail when really taken to task. I'm sure every BB, CO, CC, or Presa breeder out there would tell you their dogs will engage an intruder (not just bark), yet when the dogs are tested they fail - and some don't even bark!

There's a story about a BB breeder in South Africa who spent a lot of time hyping their dogs' protectiveness, and kept their dogs in a group - lots of BBs... like 10+. Well one day their BBs were outside in the front yard laying around, like they did most of the time, and an intruder came to the house. The intruder walked right past the BBs and murdered the family in their home. Those dogs didn't even meet the 99.9% need! Super sad for a guardian breed.

Anyway, my point is, I want my dogs that will bite (engage a threat), but if they don't bite I at least want them to put on a good show with a nice bark. I'll take a dog with a GREAT bluff over a dog that just runs away from the "threat" any day. I hear a lot of negative words thrown at people who have dogs who "bluff"... Well a bluff is better than nothing, and is usually all that is needed. There are some dogs who do not even bluff! (and I'm talking about guardian breeds here)

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I'm curious, how did he respond to the "intruder" and what did the decoy do to mimic the break in? I'd love to see the video.

I really think that 99.9% of it is just having a dog that looks scary and has a good bark. That will keep most intruders away.

Its not much to see, Since its just me with no video camera I had to use my phone and set it on the table facing the front door. So you can't see the whole thing just the beginning and the end.

Basically the guy busted through the front door yelling with a full suit ( never had Thor tested so we weren't sure what he'd do, that changed lol:lolbangtable and came at me, while the guy is shaking me like a milkshake. Thor backs up and circles the guy. At one point the guy stops and Thor comes in and sniffs him. The guy even managed to pet him on the head, but Thor had the unsure look. However when the guy reaches to touch his side/back Thor trots away into the other room and starts barking. So for 4 minutes I had to go over and "build Thor's confidence" by stroking him and encouraging him to bark at the "bad guy." Once we managed to get Thor out of the hallway and to the front door we stopped.

I had a feeling Thor would do this but I expected at least he would stand his ground and bark at the guy.

I think so too! Why bother breaking into a house with a Mastiff and a Doberman when you can break into a house with a doodle or no dog at all? I think most criminals will go with the easier target. Same goes when I'm out walking alone, do you think someone wants to find out if branka or my Doberman Lucius will bite? Probably not, they'll find a more vulnerable looking target.

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------

I'm curious how Thor reacted too... Lucius would have tried to go through the window! Branka might not be as intense though lol

True! Very me being as paranoid think of the worse case scanario. The guy told me the same thing most criminals don't want to deal with dogs let alone something the size of a small horse. I was just looking for some "teamwork" if someone really wants to get in they will regardless of dog. I figure he could at least attempt to bite allowing me to get a weapon of some sort. Oh well, I'm on my own.

Totally!

What's interesting is so many breeders, owners, and trainers "test" looking for a dog that can fill the 0.1%. And so many claim to have a dog that can fill that role... But then you hear about how most dogs fail when really taken to task. I'm sure every BB, CO, CC, or Presa breeder out there would tell you their dogs will engage an intruder (not just bark), yet when the dogs are tested they fail - and some don't even bark!

There's a story about a BB breeder in South Africa who spent a lot of time hyping their dogs' protectiveness, and kept their dogs in a group - lots of BBs... like 10+. Well one day their BBs were outside in the front yard laying around, like they did most of the time, and an intruder came to the house. The intruder walked right past the BBs and murdered the family in their home. Those dogs didn't even meet the 99.9% need! Super sad for a guardian breed.

Anyway, my point is, I want my dogs that will bite (engage a threat), but if they don't bite I at least want them to put on a good show with a nice bark. I'll take a dog with a GREAT bluff over a dog that just runs away from the "threat" any day. I hear a lot of negative words thrown at people who have dogs who "bluff"... Well a bluff is better than nothing, and is usually all that is needed. There are some dogs who do not even bluff! (and I'm talking about guardian breeds here)

Brad I agree 100% with this unfortunately most breeders focus on one aspect or the other. It should be both to breed and have the total dog. Personally I want a dog that will at least bite but I will accept a good bluff as well. Prior to having Thor tested I wanted to see what he would really do. I will give Thor this he does have a decent Bluff there were a few times I thought he would break the door or smash a window because he got so hyped up if she some someone he didn't know or like outside. My dad who knows nothing about dog protection said that Thor also has a good bluff and he's witnessed just as much as I had of Thor's bluff.

That's is sad especially for a guardian breed.

So true, I saw a video of the guy that tried to rob a jewelry store but got scared off by a chihuahua. The owner and the robber were fighting with one another and the chi jumped in. I have to give that dog credit at least it did something. Performed better than some "guardian" breeds.