[DumnEuronoumn]

For the newbies, Ike is my American Bulldog. Allegedly, a guardian breed. But he is a huge freakin marshmallow. Like, a guy came out to give me an estimate on my roof replacement and the dog didn't even bark.

Last week I had some issues with random disconnects with my internet and phone. So, the cable company sends out a guy to repair it and it ends up being a 2 hour odyssey where he tells them the equipment here is fine and it's something to do with the code on their end. While he's arguing the point he has to go outside to plug his cell in to his car charger because it's not like he can use my phone.

Ike sniffed him when he first got here, got a scratch and then went to nap on the couch. The cable guy goes out and comes back in (without knocking because I told him it was ok) and my fierce guard dog doesn't even stir.

I tell him "Ike, man, you fail! You're supposed to bark and check shit out and here is some strange guy coming into the house and you don't even get up??"

At that point, he opens one eye, opens the other eye, yawns, stretches, sllloooowwwwlllly gets off the couch, goes over to the cable guy, chuffs, sniffs him, and then goes back to napping. Like "See? I did my job, dammit, let me sleep!"

I told my husband about it that night and said the best chance we have of a guard/watch dog is the Basset Hound because Ike is defective.

Last night, I ate my words.

Around 4:00 AM we went to bed. About 4:30 Ike freaked the hell out. Barking, snarling, deafening noisy dogness at the front door. I got up to check and sure enough some dude was messing around the house. When Ike hit the front window, he ran off with a quickness. Ike gave a last bark and then went in to lay in bed with my husband. I turned on the lights for a few, saw a strange car parked on the curve of the cul-de-sac (which is a no parking area) and figured whoever it was probably gave up on whatever he had planned between Ike making such a fuss and me turning on the light and would come for his car and leave when he thought it was clear. So, I went back to bed.

Turns out, Ike seems to know a threat from a cable guy and a roof estimator and just doesn't bother barking and snarling unless it's necessary.

Goood boy, Ike, goood boy!

And yes, I made a big deal of him when I went back into the bedroom so he knows how pleased I am with him actually acting like an AB.

[wmtravelservice]

Good boy Ike!!! =)

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[cholleyhomeob]

Yay Ike!!!

[tobia]

Yep, they ain't stupid. My fluffies are super friendly and not barky too, but if they speak up you'd better listen!

[derty]

You awesome dog, Ike!! He showed you.

[Alice_Medichi34]

Atta boy, Ike!

[Mangoman]

Turns out, Ike seems to know a threat from a cable guy and a roof estimator and just doesn't bother barking and snarling unless it's necessary.

Good man, Ikey-poo! My GSD is similar, doesn't bat an eyelash at anyone or anything. Sure she's very attentive and alert, but doesn't let out a single "woof" at people that ring our doorbell. She knows it's no big deal because we're aware and acting normal, so she does too. Cash may bark at the mailman but he's usually also wagging his tail. But Cash barks to announce his presence in the room, for goodness sake. The dog has an ego.

There is something to be said for a dog that is so even keeled but rises to the occasion. Ikey is a good boy bulldog. He's just a weekend warrior.

[fotodemujerahldesnugdo]

GOOD BOY IKE!

I wish Goren would learn lol, I have a garage repair man come and he just runs to the door all happy at the knocking...then my hubby comes home with pizza and his best friend...he is huffing and doing a slight growl as they come in the house >.< then he growls slightly but finally realizes its no threat and chuffs at the friend with the pizza but man he knows the guy and knows he is just a big teddy bear that would defend me and my family just like it was his own (he is like a brother to us) I don't get him >.<

[redDoodia]

My best watch dog is a 3.5lb Chihuahua xD

Go Ike! :3

[Wetekemieluth]

Good boy, IKE!

My best watch dog was a little poodle. And they can be down right nasty when they want to be.

[DumnEuronoumn]

Yep, they ain't stupid. My fluffies are super friendly and not barky too, but if they speak up you'd better listen!

Yeah, I am totally into listening to the dogs. If they act strange, something's up!

Ike barks when he or any other dog needs to potty, when his butt itches, when it's dinner time, when another dog has his toy and that's pretty much it. He doesn't bark at people. He watches them, he gets all wiggly-waggly when it looks like someone might want to pet him, but he never barks. Hearing him not only barking, but full on growling and snarling was pretty shocking. I was more shocked that Ike was being a watch dog than I was seeing the guy on the side of the house. When he went to the front and Ike hit the window, I don't know if the guy was more startled or if I was!

Talked to the neighbors today. Lady across the street and I get along, so I asked her if anything happened. She said next door to me had his garage broken into and next door to her had his work truck (he does asphalt) broke into sometime between midnight and 8am. Tools and stereo stolen. I went and checked the garage and went through my car. Nothing touched. Woo hooo Ike!

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:13 PM ----------

Good boy, IKE!

My best watch dog was a little poodle. And they can be down right nasty when they want to be.

Seriously! My Patches (Toy Poodle x Bichon) was one of the best watch dogs I have known and he actually attacked and bit a man that was....how to put it delicately?...touching me when I was obviously and vocally unwilling to be touched? Being that he weighed 6lbs, the bite wasn't much, but it was enough for me to get away and go outside until the pretty shocked wannabe masher left.

---------- Post added at 01:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

Good man, Ikey-poo! My GSD is similar, doesn't bat an eyelash at anyone or anything. Sure she's very attentive and alert, but doesn't let out a single "woof" at people that ring our doorbell. She knows it's no big deal because we're aware and acting normal, so she does too. Cash may bark at the mailman but he's usually also wagging his tail. But Cash barks to announce his presence in the room, for goodness sake. The dog has an ego.

There is something to be said for a dog that is so even keeled but rises to the occasion. Ikey is a good boy bulldog. He's just a weekend warrior.

Yeah, but Cash gets to be a bit egotistical. He's awesome!

Hahahaha, Weekend Warrior! I'll have to pass that one on to the hubby. He'll get a lol out of it, too. Mooshie Face, the Weekend Warrior!

[MasTaBlau]

That's awesome! Good boy! In our house, our cat seems to be the best "guard dog". Jasper barks at nothing so we never take him seriously. Mishka lays there and sleeps all day and only gets riled up to the theme of spongebob squarepants. And Gary (the cat) patrols all night going from room to room checking on the kids. If something is going on, he'll meow and scratch at the door until he's acknowledged.

[Wetekemieluth]

That's awesome! Good boy! In our house, our cat seems to be the best "guard dog". Jasper barks at nothing so we never take him seriously. Mishka lays there and sleeps all day and only gets riled up to the theme of spongebob squarepants. And Gary (the cat) patrols all night going from room to room checking on the kids. If something is going on, he'll meow and scratch at the door until he's acknowledged.

That's awesome. Our neighbors years ago when I was a kid. Their house caught fire one night while they were asleep and if it weren't for the cats they would have died. They cats woke them up and just in time for them to all get out of the house. They lost everything but atleast they had their lives

[HassFks]

That's incredibly creepy that guy was outside your home! It's amazing how dogs can sense the difference between an okay "intruder" and a real bad guy. So long as they have a good temperament anyway, seems like Ike deserves some extra special treats in the near future