Most dog breeds want to protect their families, but some can take it to the point of being too protective. Children may not be able to play with the dog, and strangers may have trouble coming into the house. This is a common trait in many dog breeds. A dog’s bad habits are hard to break, and overprotectiveness can sometimes lead to aggression, which no owner wants. Make sure your dog is socialized as soon as possible to avoid this kind of trouble.
Why Are Dogs So Protective of Their Humans?
Your dog is unlikely to attack or harm you. However, some dogs are more likely to attack other people who pet them or even come near them. Owners can’t let friends and family into their homes because these overprotective dogs won’t let them in.
It also makes these overly protective dogs less likely to be accepted by animal shelters as they can cause a big problem for the shelter and the families who may want to adopt them.
There are some of the breeds that get a bad reputation because they can be overprotective and aggressive:
Akitas: Akitas are obedient, making them easy to work with and train. Akitas, who are usually afraid of strangers and often don’t like other animals, are happy to show off their playful side to close family and friends. Akitas have a built-in instinct to protect the people they care about. They must be trained to get along with people and other dogs from the moment they are born, so they don’t become scared and aggressive.
Pit Bulls: Pit bull-type dogs have a bad reputation as pets because they have historically been used in dogfights; there have been several reports about attacks on people, and they tend to cling on when they bite. Pitbull supporters and opponents of breed regulation have debated whether you can properly blame pitbulls’ aggression on how well owners care for them or on their natural traits.
Dobermans: The Doberman Pinscher is one of the most prestigious dog breeds. It has a slim, muscular body and a sharp mind. This brave and alert breed is undoubtedly one of the best in the world at protecting people and their things. As long as the dog is well-trained, intruders will be scared away.
Rottweiler: The Rottweiler is a hard-working breed descending from mastiffs used by the Roman legions. In the family, Rottie is a kind playmate and guardian. The Rottie isn’t very interested in the outside world. When these dogs are well-bred and well-raised, they will be calm, confident, and brave, but not too strong. You can tame territorial impulses by socializing and training at a young age.
German Shepherds: Besides being bred to herd, the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) has evolved into a natural protector of anything he thinks is his “boundary,” like his home. You won’t have to worry about anything at night because you have a shepherd looking out for you.
Bottom Line
It’s true that every dog has a different personality, but some breeds are just more protective of their families than others. Whether or not your dog is overprotective will depend on what they do when strangers come near their family. You can tell that your dog is very protective of its family if it growls at strangers and doesn’t get too close to them.
Related Question:
Are male or female dogs more likely to protect their owner?
In terms of protectiveness, there isn’t a big difference between male and female dogs. Some dog owners say that their female dogs are more protective due to a maternal instinct. Other dog owners say that their male dogs are more alert and ready to defend themselves.
