“My dog is overprotective of me!” Fear not, pet parent. In this blog, we learn why some dogs are overprotective of their masters or other household members and how to help reduce this behaviour.
Having an overprotective dog can become a little stressful at times. As humans, we have the luxury of knowing when someone is coming in for a hug, or if they’re going to harm us…but your overprotective dog doesn’t know the difference and could be willing to do what they feel is necessary to keep you safe from the pending ‘danger’ they’re perceiving.
Do you find that a night in with friends normally results in your dog growling, barking, or acting aggressively? It can be scary for the person coming into your home, especially if your dog decides that they need to take a nip at them to make sure you’re safe!
Having an overprotective pup isn’t healthy for you or them, so as their owner, you need to find ways of combating and controlling the behaviour.
Why Are Some Dogs Overprotective?
Understanding why your dog is behaving in an antisocial manner will help you combat the behaviour. It’s common for overprotectiveness in dogs to creep up on owners, most owners don’t realize that their pup is becoming aggressive until it is too late!
This type of behaviour is normally learned or a reaction to something in your dog’s past. If you notice that your rescue dog is behaving aggressively towards certain people, it may be an insight into their life before they found you as their forever home. Many dogs that have been mistreated by a person can act out when they are reintroduced to a human who may remind them of the trigger.
Which Dog Breeds Are The Most Overprotective?
No dog is born aggressive, but some specific breeds may naturally exhibit certain aggressive behaviours if these impulses are not controlled at an early age.
Certain dog breeds exhibit more overprotective behaviours than others, which is why many people will choose them for protection and guarding;
- Pitbulls
- German Shepherds
- Rottweilers
- Dobermans
- Bullmastiffs
After all, it’s no coincidence that a lot of dogs in the services (such as the Police Force) are German Shepherds. Shepherds are extremely loyal and naturally enjoy defending and protecting their loved ones.
Take a look at some other reasons why your pup may have become aggressive and overprotective.
What Causes a Dog To Become Overprotective?
The Dog Has a Naturally Dominant Temperament
A dog’s temperament is determined 50% by nurture and 50% by nature. Your dog’s breed can deeply influence their behaviour and impact their dominance, and you can see signs of their personality emerging from when they are very young. Some dogs may be submissive and relaxed, while others are naturally more dominant.
Dominant dogs tend to take charge of nervous owners who lack confidence, leading to antisocial and possessive behaviour. Training from an early age can help combat this.
A Lack of Structure Can Cause Overprotective Behaviour
Dogs need to be taught how to behave correctly in the house and around other animals and people. When they know where they stand in the household, their negative behaviours will be kept at a minimum. If a dominant dog has no structure or training, they will begin to do whatever they please, when they please, which may develop into a feeling that they have to protect the house from dangers, resulting in aggressive and protective behavior.
Training can help form a language of communication between the two of you, so your dog will know who the ‘boss’ is.
Stress Can Cause Overprotectiveness
Nerves, stress, and anxiousness can be huge contributors to negative dog behaviours. Periods of big change, such as the introduction of a new family member or the move to a new home, can cause your pooch to behave negatively. Unfortunately, these negative behaviours can manifest as biting, growling, or being overprotective towards you or other family members.
Sometimes, it can be hard for a dog to adjust to new surroundings, people, or a pet, so acting aggressively or protectively could be how they deal with the stress of everything, but it still isn’t good. Perhaps introducing a supplement to their diet that’s designed to be a calming aid could be a great way to help address your pup’s aggression and anxiousness.
How To Reduce Overprotective Behaviour in Dogs
Don’t Reward Bad Behaviour
Unfortunately, many dog owners have and will reward antisocial or bad behaviour without realizing it. Some owners feel special when their dog acts protective over them, thinking that it is due to the bond that they share with each other, but it is rather worrying, as the dog actually believes it’s in control of its owner.
Naturally, dogs are motivated by rewards, so if they learn from an early age that they can achieve their reward by behaving in a certain way, this will create some issues if the behaviour is aggression, obsession, or over-protection.
Send Your Dog to Obedience Classes
Enrolling your pooch in an obedience class is a great way to start training your overprotective dog. During these group lessons, you will work on commands such as sit, stay, down, and heel. This will build up the relationship between you and your dog, helping to form respect and discipline. You will go from someone they must protect to a leader that they look towards for guidance and command.
Although obedience training is encouraged from a young age, you can still gain extremely beneficial skills and training methods for an older dog—you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. So, prioritize short daily training sessions to continue building a relationship where you’re in charge, not them.
Constructive Love, Affection, and Attention Can Help You Tackle Overprotectiveness
It is very easy to make a fuss of your pup, but it might not always be what is best for them. The odd stroke or cuddle is fine, but constant fuss and attention may actually be making your pup learn some bad habits as they think they’re being praised for everything! This unhealthy relationship you’re building will make your dog think that they’re entitled to your attention at all times, demanding you when they want you and becoming obsessive.
To avoid this, implement a ‘work for it’ program. Make sure that the positive attention and affection you’re giving have been earned. This is perfect for practicing the skills you have learned at obedience training. Get them to sit, stay, and calm before you give them a belly rub. This also applies at dinner time! Make sure they wait before you reward them with food. Everything you do helps build a healthier relationship if you instill in them that you are the boss, not them.
Physical Exercise Helps Your Dog Work off Excess Energy
Just like us humans, your dog can gain some amazing mental health benefits from physical activity. And let’s face it: a tired dog isn’t going to have the energy to act aggressively. Your pup needs to be physically active to stay healthy, including their mental health. Did you know that with a lack of exercise, physically and mentally, your pup can become irritated and depressed, leading to negative behaviour?
Make sure you take them for regular walks and try to keep their brains active too. Whether by learning new tricks or supplying your pooch with toys, the more positive stimulation you offer your pup, the less tense, stressed, and anxious they will be.
Using a Leash & Muzzle To Combat an Overprotective Dog’s Behavioural Problems
Solving your pup’s behavioural problems won’t fix overnight, so it is important to find ways to still live your life while you’re in the training process. These will only be short-term fixes, but they can help you and your family get back to normal whilst helping your pooch learn what behaviour is acceptable and what isn’t.
Leash – using a leash while you have company visiting is a proactive and physical way of keeping control of your dog’s actions. Try to leash your pup before the guest arrives and slowly allow them to get close to your guests – greet them. If their behaviour improves, you could remove the leash’s grip and only use it when needed.
Muzzle – only necessary if your dog is likely to bite someone or another animal. Take your time to make your pup comfortable with the muzzle, as you do not want to add more stress to their already anxious state.
Socializing Your Dog With Other Pups Can Help Moderate Their Behaviour
When a dog feels the need to protect, they will normally focus on the person they trust the most – the human they feel closest to. This very much coincides with who feeds, walks, and trains them. As your bond becomes stronger, they can become obsessively attached, resulting in overprotective and possessive behaviour. To combat this, try to introduce someone else to their routine. This will help de-intensify their obsession while building their bond with others.
Dogs are social creatures, so puppies and older dogs alike will benefit from socializing with other dogs and people. Experiencing new people, places, and pups will help them learn that not everyone they meet is going to try to harm you, lessening their instinctive need to protect.
PetLab Co. Pro Tip: If the negative behaviour is a result of fear and anxiety, socializing can be the trigger of this aggression. Take it slow, as you don’t want to make things worse. Keep the introduction of new people and dogs as a gradual transition.
My Dog Is Overprotective Of Me – How Do I Change That?
Most dogs will learn negative behaviour due to a lack of control and discipline from an early age. Once they know they can get away with certain behaviour, they will continue to exhibit it until told otherwise, which can create an aggressive or protective dog. Training and reinforcing right and wrong is key to combating these negative behaviours. Changing how you approach the daily routine can help your pup stop being overprotective and become peaceful, relaxed, and a joy for others to be around.
Sources
Author Shebo, Kat “3 Of The Most Effective Dog Depression Treatments; Putting The Pep Back In Your Dog’s Step” Pet Care RX, Sep 24. https://www.petcarerx.com/article/3-of-the-most-effective-dog-depression-treatments/1362#dsq-app6474
Author King, Amber “Here’s How To Socialize Your Adult Rescue Dog” I Heart Dogs https://iheartdogs.com/heres-how-to-socialize-your-adult-rescue-dog/
