Are Pitbulls Protective Of Their Owners? Interesting Facts!
Pitbulls’ temperaments and their degrees of protectiveness and ferocity are all the rage these days. Although, many feel these are simply sweet, dopey, lovely dogs who are no more prone to aggressiveness than any other breed. On the other hand, many believe that these dogs are hazardous and should only be used for extreme protection and guarding. Are Pitbulls protective of their owners?
Pitbulls are known to be overprotective of their owners
When they sense their families are in danger, Pitbulls are more prone to defensiveness and violence. In a dire emergency, however, an average Pitbull is unlikely to intervene appropriately. Pitbulls make excellent protection dogs, but relying on them for “protection” necessitates numerous and meticulous training.
It’s worth noting that when their owners are threatened, almost all dogs, regardless of breed, will exhibit some form of “defensive” behavior.
When it happens down to it, even a tiny Chihuahua could be your lifesaver.
Pitbulls are distinguished by their readiness to engage and the effectiveness with which even an untrained Pitbull can protect its owners if they are threatened.
Continue reading for additional information and suggestions on what to do if your Pitbull is guarding you.
Pitbulls’ Reasons For Protecting Their Owners
Pitbulls are fantastic at defending their owners, especially children. When you combine it with a professional trainer, you’ve got yourself a four-legged bodyguard. Would you put your children in his care?
☑️ Loyal
Pit bulls are a breed of dog that is exceptionally faithful and not prone to aloofness. Under normal conditions, several dog breeds, such as Basenjis and many types of dogs, will scarcely give their pet parents the time of day. Therefore, you can’t trust them to stand by your side when a threat arises.
Pitbulls, on the other hand, are a different story. Pitbulls have been raised to work closely with their owners and handlers for decades. They’ve also spent time in kennels, so they’re used to coexisting with humans and dogs.
This has caused a breed that is more inclined to stay by their loved ones’ sides and protect them in times of danger.
☑️ Bold
Pitbulls are known for their bravery, in addition to their broad, silly smiles. Historically, these canines have been made to perform acts of severe brutality that were both shocking and illegal at the time.
However, the traditional jobs of their forefathers have left an indelible impression on today’s Pitbulls. Pitbulls are not afraid to fight. Check out Sergeant Stubby, an American Pitbull Terrier that served during WWI, collecting multiple awards and, among his many accomplishments, capturing a German spy on his own.
Although not all Pitbulls are military sergeants, even the typical Pitbull will want to protect their owner.
☑️ Dedicated to the family
Knowing who is a threat and who isn’t is one of the most critical aspects of a protection job. On the other hand, Pitbulls are incredibly family-oriented and friendly dogs, especially when it comes to children.
This is probably due to their negative reputation for so long, and breeders are now focusing on producing gentler, more even-toughened family dogs, similar to what happened to Dobermans roughly 30 years ago.
☑️ Aggressive
It’s impossible to ignore the fact that these canines have long been bred for violence. According to studies, this breed is one of the first to demonstrate hostility when conditions become tense.
If properly trained, this is a good characteristic for your protection dog, and it does not imply that all Pitties are aggressive. In other words, this is a positive attribute when it comes to protective work in the right hands, but it has sadly been exploited through the years.
However, if your dog has a poor sense of disposition or if you are unknowingly promoting their overprotective, aggressive manner, you may be turning your faithful pet into a ticking time bomb.
☑️ History
Unless you received your Pitbull when they were eight weeks old from a responsible breeder who gave them a great start in life, they were most likely adopted from a shelter.
Many of these rescued Pitbulls came from bad situations, leaving an indelible mark on their personalities. Many Pitbulls have been abused or come from families where brutality is universal.
If your Pitbull is protective, they may have had some bad experiences in the past that have made them apprehensive or quick to react aggressively in specific situations.
☑️ Intelligence
Pitbulls are a highly clever breed of dog, considered one of the bright by some other dogs. When a pitbull decides whether or not to protect its owners and how to do so, intelligence is undoubtedly the most crucial aspect.
This may include selecting whether to attack a thief, drag you out of a fire, or bark for assistance if you have a heart attack. Pitbulls are intelligent enough to diagnose problems and find solutions, especially if they are appropriately trained.
When you combine that intellect with a professional dog trainer’s knowledge and expertise, you have the makings of what could be the best protection dog on the planet.
☑️ Athleticism and Appearance
Aside from all of the physical characteristics that make them prone to defend their owners, the looks of a Pitbull are something that we must not overlook. Some Pitbulls, especially when they’re in a bad mood, might appear intimidating.
This muscular, potent dog can present itself in such a way that would-be burglars or other hazards to the Pitbull’s family are likely to be deterred. It’s been proven that putting a be alert dog sign on your fence is enough to reduce the chances of a home raid.
If there’s a large, strong, terrifying Pitbull waiting to welcome your undesirable visitors at the gate, that number drops dramatically. They’re also big enough to be scary, but they’re also capable of getting down to business if they have to defend you physically.
However, they are small enough to effortlessly maneuver in human surroundings such as a house or car. They can run for long distances, putting them ahead of larger dogs like Mastiffs, commonly used for defense. Of course, to keep in great shape, your Pittie will require plenty of exercises.
Signs That Your Pitbull Is Trying To Protect You
Protectiveness is a broad phrase that refers to a series of behaviors that a dog will exhibit in response to the circumstance as it progresses.
This helpful list can help you identify indicators of protective behavior, other signs of defensive behavior, and where that behavior falls on the spectrum between “beginning to feel uncomfortable” and “actively eating a burglar.”
🐾 Posturing
With ears pricked and legs squared, the head is held high. They’re not going to let the threat walk back to them or between you two.
🐾 Make Eye Contact
Maintaining close eye contact with the dog, person, or animal poses a threat.
🐾 Raise your hackles
The hair on the back of the neck will stick up like a mohawk.
🐾 Quick motions
All of their movements will be brief, swift, and precise. They’ll instantly return to their preening and shrink from any touch, including yours.
🐾 Lunging
Taking a step forward without actually making contact with the threat
🐾 Mouthing
They’re talking about it with their mouth open. They may apply light pressure with their hand or by grabbing their clothing. A bite is not similar to a bite.
🐾 Muzzle pricks
They are poking someone with their finger or punching the target with their nose.
🐾 Growling
The subject is warned to stay back by a low, deep, audible vocalization.
🐾 Showing one’s teeth
They are eager and ready to use both upper and lower teeth, indicating that they are prepared and prepared to use them.
🐾 Snapping
The Pitbull may bite down in the air, same as lunging. You may hear their teeth chatter.
🐾 Nip
A mild bite that does not cause skin damage. The Pitbull is getting ready for a full-fledged bite.
🐾 Bite
The pitbull bites hard, and then let’s go. You may get bruises or skin punctures.
🐾 Bite After Bite
They are frequently repeated in short spurts of three or four.
🐾 Shake and Bite
This usually results in the most damage.
🐾 Take a bite and hold it
To get them to release, you may need a bite stick.
Can I Protect Myself With My Pitbull?
Your Pitbull will almost certainly strive to protect you regardless of what happens, and the fact that you have a Pitbull may already be doing so. However, unless your Pitbull has been trained in protective work, they won’t be able to do much more than scare an intruder away.
When most people think of protection, they think of it in terms of defense against other people. Let’s not forget that a normal-sized adult human outweighs and outwits your dog by a factor of ten. Several anecdotes are about heroic Pitbulls who protect their owners from flames, intruders, and other miscreants.
While these dogs are uncommon heroes, you should not expect your untrained Pitbull to behave the same way they did. Training a dog to conduct protection work is a significant commitment.
Before engaging in any protection work, you should consult with professional dog trainers unless you are skilled. Even if you are, you should talk with competent protection dog trainers.
Improper training can endanger you, your dog, and the entire neighborhood. The last thing anyone desires is for their pitbull to bite someone. It shouldn’t or not bite someone. They should know when you need them to.
Things to do when Pitbull Is Overprotective
✅ Distance
Your dog is protective of you because they love you and are concerned about your safety, so it can seem cruel or unreasonable to respond by putting space between yourself and your loyal buddy.
However, if they are too defensive, it is in everyone’s best interest to build some division into your relationship. This could entail obtaining the aid of a dog walker or asking another family member to walk your dog. It could also imply that you locate them a new bed to sleep in somewhat of your own.
While you still want your Pitbull to love you and spend lots of time with you, you do not want them to become possessive, protective, or willing to guard you against the mailman aggressively.
✅ Offer Them Anything Else
Your huge bruiser may be attempting to defend you to endear themselves to you by demonstrating that they are protecting you. Giving them affection, food, or another positive reward for specific actions or tricks you encourage them to do more regularly is an intelligent strategy to combat this impulse.
This means asking them to sit or catch a treat and then giving them the love they want for being quiet or not barking with a treat. The goal is to provide them with alternative avenues and instruments to endear themselves to you other than acting as your private bodyguard.
They will be less inclined to decide on their own to bark forcefully to make you pleased if they know you prefer it when they sit quietly. Your Pitbull will still receive the affection and fulfillment they seek while you enjoy a quiet, nonviolent evening stroll by diverting this tendency into more healthy behaviors.
✅ Recreate Situations Positively
Your Pitbull will be overprotective in the same circumstances, like when you walk past other dogs on your walk or if somebody knocks on your door. To get them to react less defensively in these conditions where they do not need to guard you, you will need to desensitize them to the problems.
When these instances arise, this entails providing kids with a lot of positive reinforcement. As a result, you should rebuild them on your terms to anticipate their reaction and control their manner. Invite a friend to sit outside and constantly bang on your door. Your dog will most likely bark aggressively to protect you from your visitors, as they always do.
Work with your Pitbull to calm down instead of screaming at them to stop or simply opening the door and allowing your friend in. This will help them be less upset when the event that prompts their protective response occurs again. They’ll eventually realize that an ordinary knock on the door isn’t so bad.
✅ Self Examine
Because it takes two to tango, if your Pitbull behaves in a way that you don’t enjoy, it’s time for you to examine your actions. When anyone knocks on your door, do you get frightened and agitated? When you stroll past other individuals on your walks, do you experience fear or social anxiety? Is there a part of you that acknowledges your dog’s efforts to protect you?
Dogs, above nearly everything else, are tuned in to their pet parents. They pick up on our emotions and feelings, even if we aren’t conscious of them ourselves. Take a look at the condition when your Pitbull is protective and see if you can pick up on any gestures you may be giving off, subconsciously or else, that may be producing your dog respond defensively.
✅ Exercise
This is the same counsel that people who are aggressive or defensive are given. Physical action has been revealed to have a good impact on one’s mood. It also releases a lot of their restrained energy, making them less tense and reactive in conditions that require such a strong response.
Make sure your Pitbull gets plenty of exercises to help reduce their overprotective tendency. When you’re fatigued after your walk earlier that day, it’s challenging to spend the entire night barking at strangers.
✅ Stimulation of the Mind
Pitbulls are an intelligent dog breed, but they will likely encounter other scenarios to keep themselves diverted if they are not adequately stimulated. While an edge collie may scrap your couch, your pitbull is more likely to turn into obsessive or overthink a condition and respond with aggression or defenses.
By providing your Pitbull with a variety of fascinating toys, such as the ones included in this party pack, to keep their minds engaged while you are away, they will be less stressed later on and hence less likely to react aggressively.
✅ Work With A Professional
It’s significant to keep in mind that Pitbulls can be harmful. Every dog can be deadly, but a Pitbull that is highly protective is a dangerous dog. You should feel a simple, detailed, mildly overprotective manner in your dog, but identify that doing so may make matters worse.
Consulting with an expert trainer is always considered when aggressiveness is a factor.
FINAL WORDS
As you can see, Pitbulls are indeed more likely to defend their owners than other kinds of dogs. Compared to other breeds, they are more inclined to do it and choose to be defensive. Still, their behavioral and physical features also produce them particularly efficient at defending their owners in dangerous conditions.
However, it is unequal, excessive, and unsafe for you to wait for your average Pitbull to protect you in a dangerous condition. As a dependable pet parent, you must either be prepared to safeguard your pet if something goes wrong, or you must train them to help you and themselves in advance.
Protection dog practice is a severe business that shouldn’t be taken gently, but if you wish a dog to rely on to defend you when push comes to shove, a Pitbull is an excellent candidate.
