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.

Yes, I have a cockapoo. On our walk I was acosted by a strange lady, who started shouting. My dog squared up to her and went to bite her. He was on his lead. The lady said sorry and left.

@99redballoons123
"She moved in front of him and went all teeth bared, growling - like something out of a horror movie."

This-both the attitude and the dog-is terrifying.

My lovely sprocker would almost certainly not.

However - based on the experience of a drunken man who came up to me swearing and shouting aggressively in the park then tried to get close she would stand between me and whoever it was and bark and growl. When they came too close she jumped up at them but she made no effort to bite. That was enough for him and he left pretty quickly - she loves nothing more than someone running away as she considers it an invitation to play so she chased after him for a bit obviously having a bit of fun not that he appeared to find it fun

I don’t think I have ever owned a dog that would. I did have a lab x German shepherd that may have, had a staffie that would have just licked anyone to death that came near me.

I think the plus side of having a dog with you is that a lot of people wouldn’t risk trying to attack or mug you incase the dog did turn in them, I would say having a medium or large dog is enough for it to be a deterrent?

I walk a lot alone and I don’t really consider it being risky, I walk miles every day. I would love a dog to walk with but for company rather than protection.

So good to hear about other working labs on here. I was worried mine was broken when he growled at that guy. He really is the best dog.... unless he sees a pheasant or a deer, that is 🙄

My 2 previous dogs were a lab and a Springer. My lab, absolutely, my Springer, nope. 🤣

Mine would have, she was a Lab x (most likely with a terrier).

A German Shepard's a good call. Family had one we all played with from being kids and he loved us. Thing was on a walk he was massive so looked threatening but to command would drop anything and heel. The running joke was he looked threatening but was softer than butter, until someone broke into the house when he was alone. Normally that would mean the dog took a beating or was even killed, he defended the property and the blood trail left behind showed it! Not a scratch on the dog!

Yes - Yorkshire Terrier

Absolute menace

We have a 5kg Maltese, likes to be dressed up by the kids, adores babies, soft as shit.
But once growled and snapped at a man who came unnecessarily close to me in an cut through alley on a walk and creeped me out. He backed off sharpish. Also doesn't like anyone coming to the door we don't know. Weirdly does make me feel safer.
He could prob only cause anyone any damage if they breathed in his farts tho

We have two Rotties and I'm pretty sure our male would, he's naturally very protective of us. Our female less so, she's all about the fuss from whoever'll give it

I have a chow chow who is a big baby but if I was attacked he would attack back.

Mine would make a good show of it, but mainly because he'd be shitting his own pantaloons. In reality he's all bark and no bite (literally, he has 3 teeth) and is the perfect size to toe punt over the nearest hedge, so not sure he'd be much use.

Jack Russell

My big bear would yes . Hes a German shepherd, soft as pudding but when a man came up to me at 6am on a deserted beach and started yelling at me he reacted , I had him on the lead and he got in front of me and barked , so much so I couldn't actually hear him , he left swiftly .

I have a boy cockapoo and I’m pretty confident he would protect me. If a person comes too close too quickly to me or him while out walking he will go bonkers and start barking. He would definitely jump up and possibly try and bite someone if there was a struggle.

Definitely, male border collie. Soft as anything with friendly people/children/other dogs but has lunged and barked at suspicious strangers in past (couple of dodgy blokes).

I have a female Newfoundland. Adores people more than food, but she has put herself between me and a couple of arsey dogs in the past. Stands in front and growls and protects me. I'm SO proud when she does this. She'd jump at anyone if I screamed and made a fuss. Her size is just a great big bonus. Coat care not so much

@MrsVeryTired "has lunged and barked at suspicious strangers in past (couple of dodgy blokes)."

So they hadn't actually done anything. Just looked "suspicious"?

Thanks all, this is a very useful thread. I grew up with a collie as our family dog and he was acute when it came to knowing who was trouble and who was okay. I’ve been leaning towards a working lab or lab/collie and this thread is confirming that, especially as they’re generally good natured. Was also thinking of a black one as they seem to be more of a visual deterrent as PPs have said. I’d consider a GSD but DH isn’t keen. When I married him, DH had a JRT who used to keep delivery men quaking at the gate but he’s no longer with us. Really appreciate everyone’s experiences.

Labrador, he has scared people in the past as he was big and quick. A man came up to ask me for money once and my dog span around fast and reared up. He was actually excited because he thought “ooh look a man, he might pat me, yay”.

I think most people with a dog knew he was just excited. Kids would touch him, elderly people, most people actually…

If someone broke in he would show them where the good stuff is. 🤦🏼‍♀️

@cheeseandsaladcreamtoastie our neighbours used to have a St Bernard. It had the biggest bark I’ve ever heard and you’d never step into their garden without one of the family 😂 I’d love one but they’re a bit too big for our lifestyle atm.

GSD x GR. GSD markings with GR ears. He's soft as butter, but I'm absolutely sure he would defend me. He gets upset if we play physically in the house because he doesn't know who to support.

I sometimes walk at 3-5am and I never worry that it's dark or that we're on country tracks. Having an almost 40kg dog is a big deterrent to anyone who might think about attacking, imo.

My female German shepherd would I think. She’s a total softy with me but she can be very barky with strangers on walks and she gets in front of me if people come too close.

@Decideforme my GSD is the same if we play fight. She gets a bit anxious not knowing who to protect

@Lupin61 it's so hard, isn't it? My dog looks as if to say "I'll sort it out, honest, just tell me what to do!"