SlimDoggy had a post last week, How Protective is Your Dog?  As I began writing my response, I realized my response was more like a post.

I got a good thing going here. Thankyouverymuch.

I have one protective dog, Delilah.  I joke that Sampson would rush an intruder for a belly rub. He loves everyone.  In fact, he only ever growled at one person, it was a man on the beach in North Carolina.  Immediately I thought, that is not a nice man.  I found out after he was the neighborhood jerk.  

Delilah on the other hand is extremely protective.  The first time we noticed it was shortly after she came to live with us.  We were having a tag sale in anticipation of moving, my sister who Delilah had seen many times before, opened the gate to walk into the yard and Delilah wasn’t expecting it.  Growling she rushed towards my sister, thankfully we were right there to assure her everything was okay.

About five months later we were settling into our current house.  The process involved moving the washer/dryer hook up from the basement to the master closet.  Because of limited space, we ordered new appliances.

Our plumber happened to be here when the appliances were delivered.  Sampson was at daycare, but Delilah was home because she was recovering from being spayed.  When the delivery men arrived Delilah went ballistic.  I’m not sure what exactly set her off.  I’m guessing it had something to do with her life before us, but I don’t know with any certainty.  

The deliverymen were hispanic and one was wearing a hat while the other wore a bandana.  I had Delilah on leash to try to keep her from over exerting herself.  When the delivery men started up the stairs, Delilah lost her shit, she was barking and lunging so badly, I had to shut her in a bedroom because I was afraid she’d hurt herself. 

My plumber stayed until the deliverymen left and when I opened the door to let Delilah out of the room, she knew exactly where those deliverymen had been.  She tore into the bedroom intent on putting a hurting on someone.  Thankfully she calmed down when she realized it was our plumber.

One morning in early summer I had the back door open.  I was in the kitchen taking care of morning chores, my sister had dropped by and we were chatting.  I had completely forgotten the lawn was scheduled for a tick spraying and we were first on the list.  

I saw the man walk onto the deck the same time she did.  Her four legs were faster than my two.  She tore out the door with me behind her.  The bug man was quick (evidently he’s used to charging dogs) and jumped up onto our retaining wall.  She put her paws right up on the wall and was letting him know he was not welcome.  

Our oil fill pipe is at the back of the house, right next to the french doors.  I hate having to get oil when we aren’t home because I know a person in the yard tosses her over the edge, but the delivery people can never give you the exact time of deliver.  We had an oil delivery in November, I came home just as the man was getting back into his truck.  He said,”Man your dog wanted a piece of me.  She was barking and jumping at the door, finally I just knelt on the deck and bowed my head.  Then she was okay.”

It’s not just the house she’s protective of.  New Jersey is the only state on the East coast (probably the whole country) where you can’t pump your own gas.  This means someone has to come up to the car window.  This does not sit well with Delilah, she barks and growls trying to get out the window at the threat.

Typically Delilah is fairly aloof with people.  She may show initial interest but once she’s checked them out, she’s ready to move on.  One day this past summer a man approached us on a walk.  He was walking slowly towards us and talking softly.  Delilah growled.  I said not happening and moved her out of the situation.

I’ve no doubt she would die protecting me, but I’d rather not put her in a situation where she feels she has to defend herself or me, it’s easier to listen to her instincts and remove us both from a potentially scary situation.

Die? Let’s not exaggerate Mama.

Did you read SlimDoggys’ post?  Do you have a protective dog or would your dog trade you for a belly rub?