Would your dog eat an intruder

[otolith]

Not literally. Though we used to joke that mum would only know she'd been burgled by the uneaten shoes and the dog being off his food.

There have been a few experiments where strangers have been sent into people's homes, and apart from a bit of woofing the dogs have done nothing at all. The suggestion is that apart from dogs trained for personal protection it is unlikely that the average house dog would attack an intruder.

Sometimes our dog hears something suspicious and lets out a noise that made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck the first time he did it - somewhere between a growl and a snarl and a bark - and then heads off with his hackles raised like a porcupine to investigate. I suspect that if on investigation he found that it was just a human intruder in the garden and not something important and dangerous like next door's cat, he'd just want to greet them, but if I were a burglar I'd be off over the fence at that first growl.

[sumo69]

Not a chance with my Saluki/Whippet cross - would go and look for a stroke and a treat and then go back to bed is the most likely outcome!

David

[ben5732]

Our jack Russell would, not that he could do much damage. Anyone he doesn't know in the home he'll go for... But only for their hands...? He also has a habit of cocking his leg on people he doesn't like...

[HTP99]

Here is mine lying in wait:



And this is the view any burgler would get once apprehended:



We were burgled 6 years ago when we were asleep, Humphrey; our Pug, was alseep on our bed, he didn't stir at all.

Edited by HTP99 on Monday 30th June 14:43

Edited by HTP99 on Monday 30th June 14:50

[Highway Star]

HTP99 said:

Here is mine lying in wait:

More frightened of your wallpaper than your dog, tbh!

[bakerstreet]

Mine would do bugger all...He would probably wonder over for a pat

[KFC]

Probably wouldn't do much but they make a tremendous amount of noise as anyone comes into the apartment. So my dogs are great from an intruder point of view in that they'd certainly wake me up.

[Jasandjules]

Yes.

[rsv696]

HTP99 said:

Here is mine lying in wait:



We were burgled 6 years ago when we were asleep, Humphrey; our Pug, was alseep on our bed, he didn't stir at all.

Great photo Same happened to us when I was in my teens. I think our flat coated retriever just wagged his tail & went back to sleep!

[Grandad7184]

Mine wouldn't hurt a fly generally . but the one time someone tried it they got as far as trying the handle and he flew off out of the room making the most awfull growl to the top of the stairs next to my little ones room. when I looked out the window I seen a shadow going over the fence. so all done was pressed our panic button which is linked silently and Kents finest was there in under 3 Mins apparently reports through out the night of them trying doors. scumbag got caught and was giving a few years of HMP

Al

[Prof Prolapse]

I think it's genetic mate.

I really don't think you'll meet a friendlier dog than mine, but he's rottie/alsation. If you shouldn't be here or you're aggressive towards us (more so my Mrs actually) it's like a little switch. Then you've got 40kg+ of muscles and teeth lunging at you. He can bloody shift as well.

It's amazing how well he differentiates even now whilst he's young. We have a right of access to the rear and he's worked out who is allowed use it. (I did make a point of introducing him to all the neighbours as a pup however).

Perfect for looking after your home and family when you're out for the day.

[HTP99]

rsv696 said:

HTP99 said:

Here is mine lying in wait:



We were burgled 6 years ago when we were asleep, Humphrey; our Pug, was alseep on our bed, he didn't stir at all.

Great photo Same happened to us when I was in my teens. I think our flat coated retriever just wagged his tail & went back to sleep!

Daisy; white Frenchie in photo, is deaf so wouldn't hear an intruder anyway.

[Shaw Tarse]

My "niece" (a Red Fox Lab) would male lots of noise, more so if the burglars rang the door bell! Then she would probably go & find a toy to play with.

[Martin_M]

Our female shepherd goes crazy when the door goes and you would need to be rather brave to try and gain entry. I would like to think that she would protect us/the house but I honestly couldn't be sure.

My other half and I set up a mock scenario just out of curiosity. I headed out to the park first on a dark night with my hood up and waited on my other half and the dog to walk along the track. I then appeared from out of the bushes with my face covered and shouting in a drunken voice - the dog went crazy with my other half encouraging her to 'speak'.

I know how crazy the above sounds but was interested to see what she would do lol

[Fugazi]

Mine would be more interested in having a potential new playmate than eating them despite her appearance. That is unless the burglar was a cat then all bets are off.

Although deaf she is switched on enough to put up her hackles when my girlfriend was approached by a local idiot asking for sex once, while out for a walk. But it worries me that she could do some serious damage if she were to go on the defensive if something similar happened on a walk, so I now take her instead. I'd rather deal with burglars/idiots and then the police rather than have Cindy put in a situation where she would be deemed at fault.

[Fugazi]

Oh and I forgot to add, my last dog was a grumpy chap, half Jack Russell, half Lancashire Heeler, half wolf. Once had a friend go by to check in on him while I was stuck at hospital and he sunk his teeth into his Dr Martins boot and didn't let go. Judging by other Jack Russells I've seen I dread to think what they'd be like if they were two or three times the size.

[Jasandjules]

Friend of ours has a decent sized Rottie male.

He needed a dog walker. She arrived (having never met the dog). Let herself in, and had to wander about the house until she found him, fast asleep on the kitchen floor....

[Chilli]

I have Tank, the 30 kg American/British bulldog cross, and Mildred (don't ask) the 20 kg pure English bulldog. Both of which would happily rip apart anything in the house, but a person? Not in a million years! I'd love to say they would protect me (their favourite) or more importantly Chilli jnr and the wife, but they just don't have a bad bone in their body.
Tank looks the business, with a huge chest and big teeth, but he's just so.....gentle. I hope we never find out, but I doubt he'd bother. They'll both bark at the Gardner etc, but that's just letting the guys know its his house....violence/attack just doesn't compute with ours!

[otolith]

Fugazi said:

Oh and I forgot to add, my last dog was a grumpy chap, half Jack Russell, half Lancashire Heeler, half wolf.

That's certainly a dog and a half!

[Sargeant Orange]

Or lab makes a hell of a racket when someone comes to the door (sounds very intimidating) but would lick any intruder before anything else.

However if they attacked the OH I think he'd bite them. I only have to give her a friendly tap on the arm and he goes mental with me. We pretended I was hurting her the one day and he had my arm in his mouth straight away & it was a proper grip on me. Obviously as soon as I told him to stop he did but I'm not so sure about anyone else.