Would your dog defend you on a walk? If so what breed is it?

[MontezumasPuma]

I love my Springer to bits but if I was attacked while walking she’d either wet herself or throw herself at them for a fuss. I work and walk in remote locations and could do with a dog that would stand up for me. We have 5 year old DS and 19 month DD so the breed needs to be family friendly.

That rules out Guide Dogs for the Blind then.

In fairness I'll take my chances any day with a lab over a chihuahua or a terrier.

Our breed is a guarding breed so very protective of territory but usually pretty calm when out and about as we socialise them well as pups. However, we had a strange experience with our first male, Merlin, in the late 90's. I was walking him on the lead on a path around a local reservoir when he suddenly veered across in front of me effectively putting himself between me and a lone man who was walking towards us on the path. I said nothing, just continued walking but realised Merl had hackles up and was giving a low warning growl. The man continued on his way but our boy turned and continued to watch him. My husband who was several metres behind us having stopped to take photos, had witnessed something from a distance and knew from the dogs reaction that something was amiss...

We still talk about it - the reason being that we had Merlin for over 10 years and that was the one and only time he ever growled at anything or anyone and the only time we saw him posturing with hackles up. He was the calmest, gentlest dog imaginable, completely bomb proof; little kids in the neighbourhood all knew they could come and give him hugs. He never showed hostility to other dogs. He was the proverbial Gentle Giant. Although we'll never know why he reacted as he did I'm still totally convinced that he sensed something that made him feel the need to protect me on that day, despite having calmly passed people on that same path on dozens of previous occasions.

Never had any incidents with any of our others where they've felt the need to protect us, aside from the normal guardy barks on home turf. But we trusted their judgement and always knew they would react if the need arose.

Our breed is a guarding breed and you'd be surprised. It takes a lot to make them react and they would only ever use aggression as a last resort. I totally trust their judgement.

Same - far more chilled/less yappy

I used to have two Dobermans, the female would have defended me to the end I'm sure, but the male would run to the hills at the first sign of trouble bless him

Yes - Newfoundland; patient as a Saint but any sign I'm upset and she's there. She puts herself in front of me/between the threat-which is sometimes just a dog that's too boisterous. It's an amazing feeling.

That rules out Guide Dogs for the Blind then.

Muzzle.

🤣🤣

My (sadly now deceased) Staffie cross butch was very friendly with all people and good with children but if we ever walked through a narrow alley she would move ahead of me and let out a little noise like a very quiet almost growl , it was very reassuring.

yes 100% - he’s a Chihuahua 😬

My working cocker would and has. She's a soft as shit, 2yo but seems to have more situational judgement than any dog I've ever known. My husband says she's street wise 🤣.

My previous dog was a 7 stone, Alaskan Malamute and looked quite scary but was very laid back. Not sure that he would have but never put it to the test.

Our family dog growing up was a 'Chorkie' (half chihuahua and half yorkie) and would murder anyone who looked sideways at us. She was 14 pounds.

Moral of the story is that you'll never know 🤣

Ddog regularly growls at men or youths she thinks are too close or walking behind us.I think it is a hangover from her days before we rescued her. She is tiny though so her growls usually do little more than make them laugh and as she seems not to own an aggressive bone in her body I'm pretty certain that she doesn't have anything behind the growl.

We have an Eastern European rescue who would. We took him on holiday with us once and a friends DH was messing about with some tongs near my DD. Ddog went ballistic as he thought he was scaring and hurting her. Never done it since but is an excellent guard dog (we had a potential burglary and he scared them off).
Cavalier and cocker would be useless (other dogs).

Definitely. She's not a guarding breed, she's a smallish scent hound. But she has a very strong pack mentality and is quite protective of her people.

This is very interesting
Ive always had passive dogs, ( Sighthounds) but looked after my Whippet’s sister and she is really fierce sounding.

She barks at the postman,
barks at my neighbours and anyone she doesn’t like look of with a sudden loud eruption with her hackles up.

They were raised identically, but have very different characters
I’ve never had a barker.

But our old Whippet did see off some would be opportunistic burglars once-
He must have sensed they were up to no good.

He had a deep bark for a small Whippet .

I had a fab collie x staffie who defended me twice on walks. Once was when a man tried to snatch my phone, he didn't manage it as she bit him on the leg and ripped his trousers. He fell over, scrambled to get up and ran off. The second time was only a couple of weeks later, so I think she was still on high alert. It was a man who i knew from the bus stop and he suddenly stopped to ask me for the time. She growled and barked at him with her hackles raised, until I reassured her that all was ok.
At all other times she was a lovely family dog, and really good with kids.

My Labs have all given suspicious people the side eye. Current one will bark if they approach. I think he would defend me.

Staffordshire bull terrier - Yes

I'd always assumed my dog wouldn't (2yo springer x), but, on a late night walk recently, a man came marching over the field directly towards us, shouting, "I'm coming over right now! Stay there!" The dog let out the most threatening snarl I've ever heard and his hackles went right up. Turns out the bloke was on hands free and talking to someone else entirely, but nice to know the dog was actually preparing to protect me

Time for an update. I got another dog. She arrived at the weekend. She’s a rescue golden cocker and there’s more chance of a blade of grass defending me than her. She’s wonderful and kind and a great addition to our family.

Aw she is gorgeous ❤️

She’s beautiful @MontezumasPuma Do you know her history?

Adorable!!!

@MontezumasPuma I think I'm a little bit in love with her wjat an absolutely beautiful girl.