The alphas always lead the pack. So if your dog lets you go through a door, then it's a sign that he is following your lead. A pack leader has the responsibility of leading and protecting the rest of the pack. Your dog will be looking for protection by letting you face anything dangerous on the other side of the door.
Your Dog Follows You
This applies when it comes to walking through doors. In the wild, an alpha always enters the den first to make sure it is safe for the rest of the pack. When a dog lets you walk through a door first, this is a sure sign it sees you as the alpha.
But most dogs tend to bond to the person who gives them the most attention. For example, in a family with two parents and two kids, the dog may favor the parent who fills their bowl every morning and takes them for a walk every evening. In addition, physical affection solidifies the bond between dog and person.
A dog's natural instinct is to protect its owner and family, but not every dog is the same. Some breeds are known to be more protective than others.
There is a video that records how well-trained or untrained dogs protected their little owners. So the answer to "Will an untrained dog protect its owners from an intruder (such as Border Collie, German Shepard)?" is "Yes" in some cases.
It is unlikely that a family dog that has not been trained specifically in guard work will protect you from an intruder. They will bark, growl, or may even have their fur raised, but biting is unlikely.
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. A dominant dog may stare, bark, growl, snap, or even bite when you give him a command or ask him to give up a toy, treat, or resting place.
They grow up knowing you and get used to having you around. Dogs do not take too kindly to those who seemingly pose a threat to their family for this reason. Protectiveness comes from a dog's wolf ancestors and centuries of breeding, which means that dogs instinctively know when a human child is in need of care.
Are Male or Female Dogs More Protective? There is no significant difference between male or female dogs in terms of protective behaviors. Territorial or protective behaviors are more pronounced in unaltered dogs than in neutered dogs, and breed plays a role as well.
A dog's number one priority at bedtime is comfort and security. So, if they're choosing to sleep in the same space as you, it's a big sign that they trust you. "Sleeping with the owner in the same room helps minimize fear, anxiety and stress," said Christman.
When you are petting your dog, and he puts his paw on your arm or leg, it is kind of like petting you back. While most dogs can't do an actual stroking action, laying their paw on you is a sign of affection, closeness and trust This is his way of creating a special bond with you.
Dogs Show Their Respect
Since dogs got used to licking the alpha of the pack or the more dominant pack members to show their respect towards them, licking as a sign of respect and appreciation can be noticed nowadays as well.
In the wild, the subordinate dogs lick the alpha of the pack on the mouth to show their respect. Kissing or licking on the mouth is a sociable activity. Dogs would have to be on friendly terms with each other to give a caring lip lick or kiss as we see it.
Guarding – Your dog adores you and wants nothing more than to make sure you are safe. This unconditional devotion can mean that they need to be there in order to protect you from outside threats (not like there is any likelihood of someone lurking in the bathroom, but hey, anything can happen).
Personality and Energy Levels
Dogs and humans have different personalities and energy levels that can affect their bond. A high-energy dog may prefer a more active person, while a laid-back dog may prefer someone calmer. Similarly, the owner's personality traits may be appealing or unappealing to dogs.
Dogs will sit on us to show affection, protect us even when there's no harm, and feel the protection reciprocated. They will also sit on us to come between someone or an object they consider a competition.
Sometimes they do this to become warm or to assert their dominance over their dog owners. Not only that, but some dogs may have learned that laying on their owners makes them feel special. Additionally, many dog owners love dog laying behavior and they allow their favorite furry friend to lay on top.
This move of throwing dogs to the ground and holding them down is very pervasive on television. The act of holding a dog down forcibly as a correction is generally called the "dominance down." It is inappropriate, ethologically absurd, and completely counterproductive when interacting with dogs.
There is a by-now largely debunked theory that says if a dog is leaning against you they are trying to be manipulative or trying to assert dominance over you. Both these Vetstreet and Dogs.About.Com articles refute this idea, claiming that the majority of the time dogs lean as a way to express affection.
Answer: She may be protective of you or the couch (or both), and she just might not be comfortable with your husband being around. This snarl and growl is a distance-increasing warning telling your husband not to come close as she feels threatened by him.
If a dog attacks and they're small enough for you to fight back, use your weight to your advantage and strike/grab their neck to get them off of you. If the dog is too large to fight, get in the fetal position and protect your neck, head, and throat. They may stop attacking once you no longer seem like a threat.
Most dogs, even those that are submissive will demonstrate protective instincts where their family is concerned. This may, however, present itself differently from a dominant dog.