[pharmablogger]

I've read a lot that pit bulls make bad guard dogs. But when the FedEx man knocks on my door and my dogs let out these deep barks, I can't help but wonder... What WOULD they do if somebody was to break into my house?! I mean, they hear the wind blow the door and you would think that they are ready to protect what's their from whatever "intruder" is out there.

I honestly think that my older one would run in a corner and shake. And my 7 month old puppy would wag her tail so fast that her body bends in half, and lick them to death.

What do you think your dogs would do? Has anyone ever (unfortunately) experienced this?

[GalasaKoll]

There would be no one coming through our door that was not invited.... unfortunately our bully does not have the typical super people friendly nature this breed is supposed to have. Her stranger danger is on high alert.

[MedicineForUs]

I sleep in my grandmothers washing room. When people would knock on my door to come use the washer, snow would go crazy. She would stand over me and start growling and what not. But once the person walked in, she just wagged her tail and walked up to great them.

But on the other hand, my mother came into my room one day and snow didn't know it until she sat down by us. Even after knowing my mom is okay, she continued to growl. The reason is unknown to me, Guess she doesn't like people sneaking up on her?

[nofkayalk]

My APBT barks and doesn't let anyone in the house unless he knows them. He corners people and paces in front of them until we come to the door. He's never tried to bite or nip, but most people are scared off by his bark lol.

[exchpaypalgold]

I honestly don't think my 3 would do anything.. Dixie would definately help them to the car. I would hope we never have to face that situation though.

[pharmablogger]

I honestly don't think my 3 would do anything.. Dixie would definately help them to the car. I would hope we never have to face that situation though.

oh, 100% agree that I hope to never have to find out what mine would do. Just something to chat about while I'm bored at work

[irrelaAnnekly]

Red doesn't have a proper APBT temperament and would seriously hurt someone that came through the door uninvited if she did not know them.

Judge, well, if they made it past Red they wouldn't make it past him. He is a GSD though.

[Adiamant]

The reason pitbulls are bad guard dogs is that they like people. The reason they are good guard dogs is people don't always like them or at least have a level or respectful fear of them. If someone comes to my house, unless they have a gun or weapon, my dog is going to make them think twice before entering.

[pharmablogger]

The reason pitbulls are bad guard dogs is that they like people. The reason they are good guard dogs is people don't always like them or at least have a level or respectful fear of them. If someone comes to my house, unless they have a gun or weapon, my dog is going to make them think twice before entering.

Good post. Beautiful pup btw!

[U2DnBGFE]

They love the Fed Ex and UPS guys that come in my mom's office.

Lily very much knows the difference between people with legit business at the door and those who are not welcome. She only ever barks if it is someone we don't know and if its at home (or in the car), not the office. She absolutely knows the difference between a public area where people come in and out and our home(s).

She keeps an exceedingly close eye on my upstair's neighbor's 20yr old son and alerts 80% of the time when we see him in passing. Very odd because she rarely does that, she loves everyone generally. Come to find out he has a record and is on parole. Yeah, I trust her judgement.

Scout is absolutely not a protective dog. But she was very concerned about a sedan pulling in by the mail room around the back of the SUB last night when we were walking on campus. So at least she's very observant and aware of her surroundings and the sight of a big furry shepherd thing is a good enough detterent for most. They don't need to know she's a huge pansy.

[Xxmlqevq]

Disco and Twister (the APBTs) would be excited for someone to come in. All wiggles and licks. Disco MIGHT hide a little if it's someone scary to him. But the person would have to get through Eisha (the South African boerboel) first... and that's not going to happen... she's already made that clear before.

[U2DnBGFE]

Totally off topic, but I'd really like to meet a boerboel someday.

[DownloadMan]

it's extremely rare for him to bark and he likes almost everyone he meets so..

would he defend property? hell no, he's a lousy guard dog..
would he defend me? hell yes lol he's naturally a quite good protection dog although I didn't even expect it from him at such a young age (he was about 8 months?)

[i6mbwwdh]

My Chihuahua's would fuss a hell of a lot more than Tegan, if at all. She'll investigate who's at the door, but it's only curiosity. She's not a barker or anything, either.

The only time I've seen her weary of people was last month when I had a service guy at the house. My daughter walked over to the top of the stairs after he had called out to let me know he was done and I needed to sign the paperwork. Tegan immediately padded over to her side and let out a warning growl at him not to advance any further.

I can safely say I sleep better at night knowing Tegan is our "ped-b-gone" deterrent. Lol! :3

[Aceroassert]

In general Harley is all bark and no bite, you just have to be willing to call his bluff, and lets face it, most people see a bully barking at them and the last thing they are doing is sticking around to see if he means it or not lol Sometimes people who have met him once or twice come over and he barks up a storm at them until they walk in then they are his best friend. In those cases I know he wouldnt bite its just all show but if it were someone he had never met that I was not inviting in... Id have to say his not so great breeding would probably show though and he very well may bite. Hes very in tune to my emotions (I have anxiety issues which is what taught him to bark at a knock on the door to begin with) so if Im truly scared all bets are off for him behaving himself.

[mireOpekrhype]

My Mother was staying with us for a while and she had her diabetic meds delivered and the dogs LOVED the guy, but he made a point to get to know them and always brought them a box a cookies.

Now everybody else they hate. Especially the garbage men stealing our valuable trash!

As for someone coming in, it would depend.

Casper charges the gate like cujo. He snarls and growls and will back up about 5 ft and then ram the hell out of the gate. Being as large as he is, no one so far as pushed him.
Ronon would head for the hills. He is horrified of people.
Pongo probably wouldn't even wake up, he is old and half deaf!
Jack and Rocky love everyone.
Ripley would bark her fool head off, but that is about it.
Brinks I haven't had long enough to know. He barks when someone approaches, but not sure if he would do anything. He is a pansy Dobe!
Jasmine would most likely bite them. Not sure she would outright attack them as she can be a bit insecure, but I do think she would bite someone.
Circe would probably bite them if they tried to catch her, but I doubt she would go near them otherwise.
Neva would eat them alive. She would fight to her dying breath. She does not like intruders especially men, she doesn't even like some welcomed guest.

So when I'm gone, I crate everyone and leave Neva loose! She guards the house.

[apodildNoli]

Lily's crated when I'm gone, soooo nothing .
Here's a video of Lily and Liberty watching the mail lady. You can tell the obvious differences in their body language- Lily is very relaxed, notice her tail is a smooth, steady, low wag, while Liberty's is very dominantly postured and the wags are very brisk and rigid. Liberty also has her hackles raised. Both dogs are interested in the individual, but only one has any intent in possibly defending their property.


We're getting TTd in may, hopefully, and that will give me a better assessment of how Lily will respond to an obvious threat.
But right now, I wouldn't trust her to guard the house.

[dXI9XFOA]

Panini is the warning system,.. no matter where she is,.. when she barks or growls even a little, Powder and Achilles aren't too far behind. I know for a fact Powder will hold his ground in public as well as around the house. Achilles is still young not even 2yrs old yet so he's not sure. Sometimes he stands his ground while other times he has just growled and backed away.

It's not the smartest thing to do but I have snuck out at night to see what they would do,.. if someone climbed over or came through the gate.

[Pipindula]

Mine never even barked.The only one that I think would react to a break in would have been Chloe and only then due to her being deaf and getting startled upon waking.She would always freak out when someone woke her up (through vibrations usually) but would settle down when she saw it was someone she knew.She might react badly to a stranger.

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 PM ----------

The rest of them would probably help the intruders find any valuables,then hold the door for them while they carried out the TV.

[MFSSCW2c]

Although my girl cupcake has been raised in a loving home and has been around people besides my family as a young pup she does not appear to have the "people" loving temperment a normal APBT would have. She is NOT friendly with strangers at all and even growled at a male tech, raised her hackles in the parking lot ( work for a vet clinic). I'm not sure why other than bad genetics but she was not raised to react this way to strangers.

I know for a fact that if someone were to come into my house un-announced she'd bite. She was younger around...8 months when she scared my father off our property, didn't bite but sure as hell made him run out my front door.

She even lunges at strangers even if they are from a distance while she's on the leash and she's so strong I have to use both of my hands to yank her around to get her away from whoever she's barking at, trying to run to. She pulls so hard on her leash she stands up on her back legs, barking and slobbering all over herself. She was never raised this way and it's not only bothersome to me, but it's also embarrassing because she is obviously not a good example of temperment...but she was found dumped on the side of the road at 8 weeks so there's no telling what kind of line she came from, if her parents were aggressive with people or not.

For the most part she's friendly-has never growled at me and allows the techs at work to do whatever they need to do, shots/blood work...but certain people she doesn't like at work even though she has been going with me to work since I found her.

She's a strange pup. Due to her temperment, she's never alone. She's always with me and she never is allowed outside without her harness if she's going for a walk and she's never allowed to be outside in the back yard not even for 10 minutes unsupervised even on a potty break.

my husband say's I'm over protective of her but I call it being responsible.

would she protect me? the short answer is yes