Candace, the bitch in question was a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The breed is known to have an instinctive protective quality. Ridgebacks have yet to be completely ruined by showbreeders (although they are trying hard), but unlike GSD's there is no large "working group" to protect those instinctive behaviors. They usually make very good watch dogs, and while the breed is known for protective qualities, judging if any individual dog will be protective is a different matter. You really can't know until they are put to the test.

You really can't know until they are put to the test

I've said that over and over again. Hence the rise in popularity of reality based protection sports like American Street Ring.

Will,In respect to my dogs,I do not fall under any type of sect thinking.Whether American or german etc.I look only upon the genetic qualities that they have..given time..exposure.Each mature at a different rate.

...hopefully candace wont have to ever find out but from the number of dogs that she has i would bet one would come to her aid. are you guys saying that the only way that a dog would protect its pack or leader of the pack is to have it bite trained...gosh what did dogs do before there was bite training and protection training???..good thing we as humans came along and taught them what to do...would your working dog attack or protect without a command or would you have to command it to attack or protect???
i counted 5 dogs of candace and you would have to be pretty much insane to take on 5 dogs...one dog i am sure i defeat...a simple snap of the 85 pound dog would do the trick and then i would guess you better have your friend mr smith and mr wesson with you to stop the bad guy...
i had a american german shepherd ( shame on me ) and got into a rumble with a dude that wouldnt leave my property and she (the dog) came at that dude and bite him in the leg as we were rumbling on the ground...no bite work, no protection training,not even a real german working dog, another example i was selling insurance and went to the front door no one answered, went to the back gate open it and and found the garage open, was knocking on the door when a shepherd came to greet me, started to talk the dog, the dude came to the door and was amazed that someone was knocking on his back door, first words out of his mouth was how in the hello did you get back here, my dog just came back from protection school, i said sorry but i guess that dogs know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and i must be one of the good guys...so in my experience i would say you never can tell what your dog will do...and we wouldnt untill we are put into that kind of situtions and see for ourselves...

Tim,In ref to courage testing..That is a big "NO".They are each at different maturity levels.The courage test is knowing the pack..and selectively..choosing who will gain knowledge from the other to bring forth drives...in a natural sort of way.Under much supervision..without hand.In order to observe the true genetics of a dog is to watch the interaction.This must be carefully done..and requires much time.In ref to my dogs having their eye on me..this is natural for them.."Not Taught"..They all know that I am "Alpha"..because I provide food and water..in addition they know this because of simple training which was very easy because i intitialized myself as "Alpha"..from the get go..in a pack thinking.My dogs do not run together.In ref to my dogs having their eye on me..That can easily be taught to anyone that wants attention from an owner given different training methods.I would not recommend to the novice..multiple dog owner.a pack type of training.I test within the group..where they are at.Hard for me to explain.There is no fighting..etc Bottom line is that I know..The individuals.Zena;Hans; Raven; and for the most part Boss.Danka is still a pup.But as I said before..Raven is her mentor.It is not wishful thinking that my dogs as "Individuals" would respond..to a goblin or two.Even if all were kenneled..and they heard me screaming..they would hurt themselves to get to me..and protect.I hope that day never comes.To be blunt..if any one of my dogs are killed in protection of me..by an intruder and he gets off legally..eeerrr I don't even want to go there.

Candace, again this topic is becoming far removed from the original. Try to stick to the topic at hand.


People who do not train a dog formally in some sort of protection should not claim to breed dogs with protective capabilites. Is it possible that they will produce one, yep... but I also have a friend who's Lab does a killer bark and hold. Flukes happen.

David, what you had experience with in the past is a perfect example of the need for the GENETICS of the dog to be correct for the work. The first dog had it, the second dog obviously did not or the training was not done properly. Protection training dogs by professional trainers is a seedy section of the market by in large.

Even with correct genetics you increase the dog's confidence and drive through training. It is no different than you or I going through a self defense course. We weren't given anything we didn't already have but the knowledge and practice.

People who walk around touting that their dog will protect them without training and or testing the dogs are going to be in for a suprise when they watch their dogs run the other way.

Would you buy a gun and never shoot it or learn anything about it?


Soooo, That is as far off topic as I think this should get. These are rhetorical questions. This same exact subject of innate protection has been brought up all over this board.

I was also going to comment on Candace's claims, which have no basis in the Real World.

Candice, you might want to take a look through the posts in the Protection Dog threads. You're living in a fantasy world regarding your dog pack's ability or temperment regarding protection. Your comment about your Alpha status regarding protection also shows a complete lack of understanding regarding protection and pack dynamics.

No one's picking on you here, but you're make claims that experienced protection trainers have seen been proven over and over again to be false. Like Deanna said, maybe you own the rare fluke. But to expect for youre entire pack to, as you quoted "would hurt themselves to get to me..and protect." Sorry, 100% fantasy. Read up on pack behavior sometime, it will open your eyes.

I am blocking Candace Flanigan from the board.