Protection instinct

[Jewel]

I was walking with my year-old pyr this morning and went by the school in the neighborhood. There was a man of about 30 years-old sitting on the steps of the school. School is out for the summer so there were no kids around. As we approached the guy, my pup kept tugging at the leash to get to him. She as not making any sound, her body was not tense/stiff, her tail was not up, she was showing her normal signs of being curious and wanting to get a closer sniff at him. She didn't get closer than 3 or 4 feet of him. As I marched passed him, and she was still tugging her leash behind me, I think the guy made a gesture(s) that threatened her - becuase when I looked back, I saw him with both arms up and was making a lunging move at the dog. Then my pup went nuts. She started jumping and lunging and barking at him. I couldn't get her to move forward, she kept going around me as I tried to block her path to the guy. This is a puppy that has been taken to a lot of public places and has never ever been shy, nervous or been anyway aggressive toward a human. The only time she's ever showed her teeth at a dog was at the dog park when a pitbull wouldn't stop humping her. I think the guy realized he provoked the reaction from the dog and that I was having trouble handling the dog in that state. So, he got up with a scowl on his faced and walked away from us.

I was upset with the guy, especially as he is hanging around in my neighborhood. I am not sure what to think about the reaction of my pup. I had asked the breeder for an assertive, confident pup and I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that she reacted decisively when she felt threatened. She is a pyr after all. She's just been so sweet tempered that I guess I didn't not expect the type of reaction from her.

[Kate53]

"Oops...sorry about the leash slipping from my hands...." :rolleyes: Are people that stupid to lunge at a big dog like that? What was he thinking...trying to be funny? I would have let her have at him for being an idiot :D Kisses and hugs for the good girl...she was doing her job.

[ragingbull83]

Sounds like the man ment you harm who knows what would of happened if you wernt with your Pyr they pick up on stuff that people cant.

I was working in a rough area downtown st louis and two african american fellas walked up on my truck at a stop light George popped up from the back seat and went nuts and they ran off.

Defentley a breed that can sense when your in danger other then that never seen the dog be agressive towards human or animal should reward your pup and not worry about it jewl.

Your Pyr is smart enough to know if your in danger or someone is just messing around. ;)

[eloisesmom]

Sounds like your pup was doing a good job protecting you when she sensed danger. How old is she? My puppy is almost 8 months old and she has yet to do anything like what you described. I'm presuming it's because there hasn't been the need to (thankfully). Recently, while my pyr was in her crate for the night and we were in another room out of sight of the dog, my husband snuck up behind me and playfully grabbed me and startled me. I kind of screamed/ yelped because I was startled, and our pup barked and growled. She didn't go nuts, but she did continue to let out little barks and suspicious growls until I went out there and showed her I was OK. She was sitting up very tall, looking towards our hallway where we were. Once I was out there, I sat next to her crate and showed her I was OK. Then,she kept looking between me and the hall where my husband was (still out of sight) and looked very concerned. She growled and barked a couple more times until I called him out there. Once she saw him and he spoke to her, she visibly relaxed and laid back down. I was so proud of her for being so protective of her family! I wonder if there is an age at which the protective instinct really kicks in. They are so intuitive!

[nick's spirit]

I agree with the rest of the forum Jewel. Your pup was doing her job. I guessit's never too early to have that instinct kick in. My first girl thought I was her top priority to guard. She never let another dog come near me, and she was never too keen on people other than my husband getting too close to me. She once placed herself directly in my path one night as I was walking her, she saw someone she wasn't sure of across the road & was "protecting" me from whatever threat she precieved. Nick, our social dog who was never a growler or a snapper once didn't like some people I was talking with & calmly put himself right in front of me, laid down on my feet & just looked at the guys...they backed off.
These are still working dogs with a strong instinct...trust it.
Most Pyr's I have ever known have never bitten anyone, but can scare the heck out of anyone who might be stupid enough to push them.

[risestar]

That guy sounds like a real jerk and not too bright either. As time goes by, you will learn to trust their instincts, every once in a while, you will come across someone that your dog simply does not want anything to do with and its usually a good idea to take their hint. Pyrs are very keen at sensing human emotions, and energy and they will usually react to someone with dark emotion or energy

[2ndPyr]

Like the others I think your girl was using her intuition in protecting you.

When I'm home alone and someone knocks on the door, I always let my Pyr stand between me and the door when I answer it. Very effective...just in case.

Here's one for you:
We were in the LA area, California and decided to rent a car a few weekends ago and went up to the San Bernadino Mountains. We stopped at a ranger station, and Sabby helped himself to the water the ranger had on the deck.

When Joanne the Ranger met him she was so happy to meet a Pyr and invited us inside.

How quickly Sabby's instinct kicked in. Joanne fell in love with Sebastian. A Pyr can see this. There are people that like petting them, that are amazed at their size, and then there are those rare people that a Pyr's heart knows...this person really likes me.

He took to Joanne so fast that he even gave her his "lean"

Well a man, another ranger came in another door in another part of the station and Sabby didn't see him until he came around the corner saying something and startled Sabby. I'm glad there was a half door between him and Sebastian because Sebastian immediately growled at him. No lunging just a startled growl.

He had so quickly taken to Joanne and I think thought of her as his flock and her station as his territory.

[ragingbull83]

Its funny that all of us all around the country have different dogs raised different, Different climates but they all do the same behavior like owning the same kinda car or something LOL.
My Gp will do the lean too for anyone not filimar with that gp while standing puts all thier weight on your legs when they are being petted. Lol