This is like deja vu.... reminds me of a certain someone who left (quite a while ago)... Whose dog "pushed her out of danger" from a stampede or something. You guys remember her? That one was part of the unconfirmed list to say the least. But this thread made me think of her.

What an absolute Joy.

 Quote: jessica pedicord

This is like deja vu.... reminds me of a certain someone who left (quite a while ago)... Whose dog "pushed her out of danger" from a stampede or something. You guys remember her? That one was part of the unconfirmed list to say the least. But this thread made me think of her.

When Falcon was five months old he almost knocked me down the steps while trying to kill our cat... does that count? He wasn't really trying to save me from anything, and almost hurt me pretty bad in the process, but there was dog to human contact in the process of trying to kill another creature... oh well, never mind, probably not one for the record books or Will's book and not even worth posting, but...

Our old Jack Russell stud dog, Fergus was a very easy going fellow with strangers... he barked at knocks and strange noises and such but out and about he was Mr. Social. One night a hulking pizza delivery numbnuts and I had words about him using our quiet neighborhood street as his own personal racetrack and the eejit decided to stomp toward me in an aggressive huffy manner. Gotta say that Mr. everone's friend suddenly lit up on the guy. I was so pissed off that I had entirely forgotten that Fergus was with me. LOL he startled me as much almost as much as the biznatch who subsequently backpedalled all the way to his "speedster."

Sorry Will, I don't have any evidence to support my story! Does that put me in the crackpot group?

As to the OP, it's pretty easy to teach your dog to bark on command. Lots of people teach dogs to go to their place when a doobell rings (not me but it's something that pet trainers do for their clients). You could teach your dog to bark when he hears people on the front porch or when the door opens. DO Teach it as a game, DO NOT teach it as a behavior that arises from fear. I encourage my dogs to bark in a controlled fashion at strange noises and people around our house by going to look at whatever the dog is barking at, praising the dog and then telling the dog to quiet and rewarding them for doing so. Both of my "protection breeds" have been much happier to comply with a "quiet" command than are my border collie and miniature french poodle :P

 Quote: Will Rambeau

I have been working on a book for several years now about real world protection occurrences and I've interviewed almost 1400 people about situations where they have claimed that their dog actually protected them.
Out of the 1400 interviews, only about 150 were legit after a closer look and evaluation.

Your circumstances with your dogs actions would actually be a record for protection events out of all my research, so if you can provide me with a link to a newspaper article documenting those events or police reports, I'd love to interview you for my book.

Thanks!

Will, you might want to check this incident out for your book. The woman in the story shows in the UKC and was returning from a show when the incident in the article occurred. http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/Woman-Dog-Fight-Off-Would-Be-Robber-on-I-90-98369109.html

Elaine,

I think that story was already checked out,I believe she was arrested for filing a false report about the incident.

You know, I just watched this, and I thought something seemed off and a bit fishy about it all.
Very interesting Tammy.

I think it is amazing how many people think their dogs would protect them. I have pet sat, house sat, dog walked and kenneled many many dogs and only a handful showed any intention or tendency to guard or protect. People would want me to watch Fido 'cause he would "let me in the house" or whatever...heck, I just called the dog's bluff and they thought the dog trusted me.

People think barking is being a guard. And with many instances a bark is all you need to deter. As my brother used to say, everything is just a deterence. Hopefully your deterence out trumps the intruder/attackers want to continue.

My sisters first dog was a PWD that was with her to 'protect' her in Philadelphia.....he was a HUGE chicken, but he had some of the most precise obedience you could ask for so he was a fine deterent. Say HEEL and Ram was airborne to get there.

I have had and seen dogs do some amazing things. Some dogs seem to have judgement and wisdom...most, not so much. I totally believe Wills stats would follow out in a significant sampling. Be cool to see in a book.

I have had (anecdotally, didn't call the paper)

My BC that kept the baby from being hit in the road. I posted that before .

My BMF who wouldn't let my own brother into the house when we weren't home. Same BMF put himself between me and a couple creepers. He didn't bark, but his growl made you want to wet yourself. I have no doubt he would have tackled them if needed. (and yet his sister had nothing but a fine prey drive and loads of muscle...no idea what to do about it. )

And my BMFs mother who sat on a tresspasser in her owners pasture, held him down until her owner realized she was missing and hunted her down. And she was an 85# dog. Not a mark on him, never used her teeth, just tackled him and wouldn't let him up, just like the breed was created to do.

To the OP, pits were not created to guard. I think it is the show "It takes a thief" where the guys rob the people and then show them the security they need. Those guys had dogs follow them around and all but help.

It's amazing what people will say to make the dog they currently own sound like the coolest thing since sliced bread! (When everyone knows MY DOG is the coolest thing) LOL j/k

Will- not exactly protection, but I grew up with Newfoundlands. We did water rescue work with a few, but I remember one particular incident with a pup (14 months old, no water rescue training). I was 11 years old, and swimming in the Puget Sound (NW Washington, around Seattle) Dang dog swam out after me, BIT MY ARM, and tried to drag me to shore. Goofy. Thank god for the inherently soft mouth of a Newf. Thats my only cool rescue/protection story.
Kinda got off topic there, sorry!!!!