Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Will My Dog Protect Me If I Am Attacked? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

St. Bernard dog with owner in the park

People keep dogs for all sorts of reasons, from companionship to having a work partner or an excuse to get them out of the house more often. Dogs have also been kept as guardians for livestock and humans for centuries, and many people still keep dogs for protection today.

The belief that all dogs will protect their owners is a bit of a myth, though. Many people believe that their dog will rush to their rescue whenever they need it, only for said loyal pup to turn tail and hide instead. This doesn’t mean that your dog doesn’t love you or that a protective dog won’t defend you to the best of their ability. It all comes down to the dog’s breed, temperament and their training.

To clear up the confusion, we’ll explore the reasons why some dogs protect their owners and others don’t. We also examine common ways that dogs try to protect you even if they do run away or attempt to make friends with your attacker.

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

Do Dogs Protect Their Owners?

The question of whether dogs will protect their owners is one that’s asked frequently and many people assume that the answer is always, “Yes, absolutely!” In practice, however, this is rarely the case. Most dogs won’t protect you at all if you’re attacked. This can be due to many reasons.

Breed

Perhaps the biggest factor in whether your dog will protect you if necessary is their breed. While all dogs have a natural protective instinct, some breeds were developed with a stronger guard-dog temperament than others. Well-known guardians include livestock guardians like the Anatolian Shepherd Dog or ancient war dogs like the Cane Corso.

That said, having a guardian breed doesn’t necessarily mean these dogs will protect you. There are plenty of other factors to consider, too. A key point to keep in mind is that your dog’s personality will play a huge role in this as well. In addition, there are many large breeds that are notoriously terrible in the context of being guard dogs. Despite their size and stature, they’re often very friendly toward strangers and don’t seem to mind their approach.

Beautiful Siberian Husky dog with blue eyes in the forest
Image Credit: Ivanova N, Shutterstock

Temperament

Although breed plays a huge part in the reason that some dogs are more likely to protect you than others, you also have to consider the temperament of the dog as an individual. For example, German Shepherds might be well-known for being excellent police dogs, but not all of them make it through K9 training. It’s similar to how not all Labrador Retrievers have the focus and dedication to make good guide dogs.

They’re still good dogs even if they don’t meet the standards required for police work or other jobs. They simply don’t have the right temperament for a job that someone wants them to do. Your protective German Shepherd might be terrified of loud bangs or not have the confidence that makes them an excellent guard dog.

While you can train a dog to protect you if they don’t already have that spark, they’ll struggle to excel as much as another dog would.

belgian malinois dog training
Image Credit: Gajus, Shutterstock

Training

Something you do have to remember about dogs is that from a very young age, they learn that humans are good. They might be wary around strangers or aggressive toward everything that they’re unfamiliar with, but with proper socialization and obedience training, people are seen as good things. Most of all, they’re a source of food and ear scratches.

This is partly what makes small dogs more likely to snap at threats than large breeds. Large dogs are more likely to be taught good manners and to be gentle when they’re puppies because they quickly get bigger, stronger, and harder to control. Small breeds stay small and cute, and their aggressive behavior isn’t seen as a problem by most owners until it already is one.

Unfortunately, your dog’s good behavior often leaves them confused about how they’re supposed to protect you. If they’ve been taught not to bite, bark, or jump up at people, they won’t know how to protect you. However, you can train dogs to protect you on command. This gives them a direction to follow that will tell them when and where their protectiveness needs to come into action and when to back off.

However, some dogs are excellent at discerning a person’s actions and interpreting their approach as friendly or not. This is, after all, how guard dogs assess a situation before they decide to attack or stay put.

American Pitbull Terrier with flowers
Image Credit: Jumpstory

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

How Do Dogs Protect Their Owners?

Most dogs might be inclined to run the other way or sit and watch when someone attacks you, but many of them still protect you. They might not be the dramatic, snarling, and biting heroes that you imagine them to be, but they can and do protect you in their own way.

Presence

The fact that there are so many misconceptions about dogs shows that they can be effective in protecting you from attackers. Perhaps not in the way that you imagined them to be, but their presence can be a deterrent alone.

Take a breed like the Great Dane, for example. Their size is intimidating, even to people who are familiar with dogs. Even if you didn’t know that they once hunted wild boars and are dedicated home guardians, they are likely to scare away an attacker simply by bounding up to them and barking.

That said, if you’re attacked by someone who knows that Great Danes are massive softies, their presence won’t be much of a deterrent at all. A kind word, a treat, and ear scratches are often more than enough to make a new friend. This is why training your massive guard dog to use their instinctive protectiveness can help.

black and white purebred harlequin great dane dog outdoors
Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock

Watchdogs

Dogs are equipped with impressive senses that help alert them to trouble. Their nose, ears, and eyes all work together to observe their surroundings and keep them safe. Your Basset Hound might become best friends with a burglar, but they also won’t be quiet when the burglar walks up to your back door.

In many cases, a dog’s bark might be worse than their bite, but it can also be a good deterrent. If your dog isn’t known for making excessive noise all the time, the more noise they make when they need to, the more attention they’ll draw. For an attacker who wants to make a quick stop and an easy getaway, attention is the last thing that they’ll want.

Don’t rely on this alone, though. Unless you train your dog specifically to react to certain triggers, it’s difficult to say what sets them off. It’s also easy to quiet them down. After all, few dogs will say “no” to a handful of treats or a juicy bone.

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can You Protect Yourself from Attackers?

Hopefully, you and your dog will never experience a situation where you’ll need them to protect you. There are a few ways that you can defend yourself and your dog without relying solely on them to protect you. Here are a few quick tips:

  • Invest in guard dog training
  • Stay alert, and avoid dangerous situations or walking routes
  • Carry pepper spray
  • Take a self-defense course
  • Walk with a friend or family member
Australian Cattle Dog Blue Heeler walking with owner
Image Credit: Tanya Consaul Photography, Shutterstock

What’s the Difference Between Protection and Aggression?

Many people don’t realize that there’s a big difference between protective behavior and aggression. This is often why a dog owner will let their tiny Chihuahua “guard” their lap by snapping at anyone who comes close—the tiny dog’s overprotectiveness is adorable.

Unfortunately, this behavior often isn’t a response to an actual threat to you; it’s your dog’s response to their jealousy or possessiveness toward you. It can also escalate until your dog is reacting to everything with snarls, bites, or other unwanted behavior.

When your dog reacts aggressively to everything, even when it’s not a threat, they’re not being protective, they’re just reacting. Aggression is a common problem in dogs and needs to be corrected through training and socialization.

Conversely, protectiveness is an instinctive behavior that all dogs have, especially the breeds that are bred for guarding. Most of the time, it isn’t a bad thing either; it’s just your dog being loyal, observant, and dependable. Dogs will also react to your emotional response to situations.

Protectiveness can lead to aggression in certain cases, but with the right training, you can teach them to assess the situation and decide whether there’s a threat before they overreact. Protective dogs will also back down and relax as soon as they realize that there isn’t a threat. This can be after they’ve assured themselves that everything is safe or with a command from you.

divider dog paws 3 oct 2024

Conclusion

Despite popular belief, many dogs won’t protect you if you’re attacked, and these can include breeds that are known to be naturally protective. In many cases, dogs that protect their owners are trained to do so and will respond to a command that tells them to act in a certain way. It’s rare for a dog to protect their owner instinctively, and many are happy to make friends with your attackers.

Even if your dog is a well-known guard dog breed, don’t rely on them to protect you. Invest in guard dog training, but also take steps to protect yourself by carrying pepper spray, learning basic self-defense, or walking with a friend.


Featured Image Credit: SasaStock, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Can Dogs Eat Pudding? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

Imagine this: You’re feeling nostalgic for the school lunches you ate as a kid. You’re halfway through your peanut butter and jelly sandwich...

8 Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails in Northern California You Can Visit (2025 Guide)

Dogs love spending time outdoors more than we do. They love interacting with nature, and if you afford them that opportunity, they’ll surely...

How Big Will My Shiba Inu Get? With Growth & Weight Chart

Bringing home a Shiba Inu puppy is an exciting experience filled with anticipation and curiosity about how they will grow and develop. As...

Boerboel vs Cane Corso: Main Differences (With Info & Pictures)

Boerboels and Cane Corsos are two massive breeds of dogs. They were both originally bred as working dogs, and both retain some of...

More related

Will a Raccoon Attack a Dog? Vet-Approved Safety Advice

Dogs face all sorts of wild adventures in their time outside, and if they’re unlucky, they may even run into a raccoon! Known...

12 Best Farm Dogs: Pictures, Facts & History

Dogs have done nearly every job imaginable over thousands of years of domestication, but their wide-ranging work on the farm is one of...

How Many Puppies Do Golden Retrievers Have? Average & Maximum Litter Size

Congratulations! We’re guessing you recently received confirmation from your veterinarian that your Golden Retriever is pregnant. Golden Retriever puppies are fluffy balls of...

English Cream Dachshund: Info, Pictures, Origin & History

Like the richness of the name suggests, English Cream Dachshunds are beautiful dogs with luxurious blonde coats. There are several types of cream-colored...

Keep reading

Why Is There No Pork in Dog Food? 5 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

Pork isn’t an ingredient in dog food that is completely unheard of, but it is much less common than others. If you check the back label of your dog food, you might see pork as an ingredient somewhere in the...

ham pieces cut up on a wodden cutting board pork meat

6 Great Sources of Carbohydrates for Dogs: Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts

When it comes to dog nutrition, carbohydrates are a tricky subject. While canines can get energy from protein and fat, many dog food brands contain one or multiple sources of carbs. On the opposite end, there are dog food recipes...

dog eating rice

Can Maltipoos Eat Human Food? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

Does your Maltipoo stare at you whenever you eat? Are you tempted to give them a bite of your food? Feeding your Maltipoo a bit of human food can feel like an act of love. However, not all human food...

Can Maltipoos Eat Human Food

Carna4 vs Orijen Dog Food 2025 Comparison, Pros & Cons

Dog food can be quite an investment, so it’s important to know you’re choosing the right food for your beloved canine companion. The stakes for premium dog foods are even higher because the price tag can hurt your wallet. Orijen...

Dogster_Dog Food Carna4 VS Orijen

Life’s Abundance Dog Food vs. Blue Buffalo 2025: Pros, Cons & What to Choose

There are a surprisingly high number of dog food brands out there. Plus, each brand has different recipes, which all contain different ingredients and benefits. There are a huge number of controversies out there, too. You’ll find varying opinions about...

Dogster_Dog Food Life’s Abundance VS Blue Buffalo

My Dog Ate Moldy Food: What Should I Do? Vet-Approved Facts & Signs Toxicity

If your dog has eaten moldy food—perhaps you didn’t store the food properly, or your dog ate the moldy food from the garbage—it is a cause for concern. Mold can make your dog sick, which is why you should take...

Can Dogs Eat Beef Liver? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

One of our biggest goals in life is to provide our families with what they need to be happy and healthy. This includes the right foods. For many homes, our pets are part of that family. When it comes to...

Can Dogs Eat_Beef Liver

8 Dog Smoothie Recipes Your Pup Can Enjoy Today

Dogs are omnivores that can enjoy many of the same fruits and vegetables that humans can eat. There are many potential benefits to feeding fruits and vegetables to dogs, as they’re refreshing snacks that are also packed with nutrients. Making...

Dog Smoothie Recipes Your Pup Can Enjoy Today