Its like I say to people who say that the
I saw a video recently of a guy who tests people's pets to see if they would defend them against a intruder . The tester acts like an intruder entering the house and attacking (simulated striking) the owner. A Lab, a Pit mix and a small Mutt and Chihuahua pair were tested. The Lab ran out the door, the Pit mix ran and hid in the bedroom and the two little ones attacked the attacker and got between him and their owner.
Strength in numbers? (Pack)
To make this test more realistic, the dog owner has to experience real fear (more often than not)
Usually most domestic dogs will protect those they’re bonded with if a reaction is required.
Example,
My old Dobermann never barked at passers by through the window, never barked should someone knock at the door, watched; without reaction, contractors and any number of strangers enter or work on the outside of my home.
He didn’t make a sound, he understood if there were any warnings or any ‘gobbing-off’ to be done, myself or husband would do it.
Until,
My confidence was shot. I wouldn’t leave the house and was pretty much afraid of everything.
Without training he stepped up and became very vocal.
Which in my mind, was a problem.
40kg of Black and Tan behaving in a (natural) but socially unacceptable way.
My fear changed his behaviour.
(He’s passed now)
We joke that my current adolescent Lurcher would be found in the next county, still running should we ever be threatened,
However, underneath all of the ‘wussy’ behaviour I’m certain he’d know exactly what to do (it’s innate) if one of us humans were experiencing real fear, if attacked.