He has one bark he uses when he perceives a threat, and a different bark he uses when he is hungry or wants to go outside, and a different bark he uses when he is playing. But the bark he likes the most is his threatening bark. Great Danes were at one time bred to be guard dogs, and Remi seems to have all of those guard dog traits. He has even been known to ignore bones tossed to him when he is in guard mode. This is bad because I can never have a petsitter come to the house since Remi won't let anyone in the house - even people he knows - unless Dave or I give our permission. But this is good because I'm going to be moving out to the country by myself, and Remi makes me feel completely safe. Well, Remi and my Colt .380 handgun. But mostly Remi, because he is a lot more effective at scaring away bad guys. He is the best guard dog I've ever had. Okay, fine, he's the only guard dog I've ever had. Other dogs are good at keeping intruders away because they look or sound scary, but they wouldn't really guard a home or a person. I have no interest in training a dog to be a guard dog, so the fact that Remi is a natural guard dog, with no training required, is going to come in handy when I'm living in the middle of nowhere with no close neighbors! 
Do your dogs make you feel safe? Would they guard your house if you weren't home? Would they be distracted from guarding by a bone or a piece of steak? Would they welcome all intruders to your home with a big lick and a friendly wagging tail? Or would they run and hide under the bed?
21 comments:
Oh, Bella would growl until they got in the door, then see she didn't know them, and try to hide.
Daisy, would offer them a deal "get me some treats and I show you where she hides the cash". LOL
Jack would go "Please come in and here is the tv. You can have it. Would you like something to eat? We have cookies in the cabinet!"
Oh, Remi must have quite an impressive guard bark! I'm sure I would run for the hills if a was a "bad man."
My pups' barks are much worse than their bites. They both alert bark to outdoor noises, but are friendly once a person comes into the house. That said, Emma, my Pit Bull, is fearful of aggressive behavior in people and would potentially protect me and herself from an aggressive person in an effort to keep them away from us. Charlie would just do a lot of barking. Both would roll over and turn into a ball of licks and waggles if the intruder so much as produced lint that smelled like stale bread.
Occasionally, Stumpy likes to play at being a guard dog. But a cross word, or crossed eyes would send her under the bed. I really miss having the security of big dog that enjoys the role of guardian.
Remi does look like he means business, and I have no doubt he sounds like it, too!
The only way Kolchak and Felix could pretect us from an intruder is if that intruder had a tragic and serious allergy to puppy kisses. These boys are always happy to make new friends. Felix loves to bark at neighborhood stuff, but we think it's more of an invitation that an warning. "Come play with me!"
When I refused entry to my boyfriends landlord who i didn't know (and he didn't tell me who he was) he began beating on me. He hit me so hard he broke the door and released my two dogs. I was on the floor and my Thundercat leaped over me and bit the man on the fist he was hitting me with, up the arm, and on the inner thigh. Chubbs on the other hand ran past the man and started screaming his head off alerting the neighbors.
If it hadn't been for my two dogs I'm convinced I'd be dead right now. I've never seen someone so angry. I now have permanent back and shoulder problems and at the age of 21 may be looking at permanent disability as my way of life.
Chubbs was adopted from my local humane society. Thundercat was an abused stray who I found in a park known for dropping off or shooting unwanted pit bulls and their mixes. When no owner could be located I kept her. I showed her real love and welcomed her into my bed. Some people say I saved Thundercat but really Thundercat saved me.
Levi rarely ever barks and would probably lick anyone that came in. He would make a horrible guard dog :) But we love him for who he is...and I guess people might think he looks scary.
Elizabeth, that is so scary - I'm so glad you had your dogs to stop him! I think a lot of dogs, even those who generally welcome strangers, will pick up on the fear/anger/pain if something bad is happening and do what they can to protect their owners. Well, maybe not Jack (see his comment above) ;-)
Well, Riley would greet them with kisses and a wagging tail. The other two, however...
When I just had Auggie, I was awakened in the middle of the night with Auggie standing straddled over me, barking his head off. It seems there was someone in between my house and the neighbors - a place no one should be in the middle of the night. And he's been known to not let people in the house.
Fluffy is 100% guard dog. Anyone that gets within 50 feet of my property gets the royal barking snarling treatment. And nothing will make her stop until I grab her by the collar and drag her away. I feel 100% safe in my 'hood.
Momma of the BooDee BooDah Tribe
(Auggie, Riley and Fluffy)
I've been thinking about that recently, if I were out with Darwin and someone attacked me, would she save me or run away? Darwin's bark is scary to people who don't know her, but she's really a big scaredy cat, especially at night when its dark out.
And if they bribed her with an apple or a tomato she'd surely fall in love with them.
Remi sounds wonderful, love the pictures!
Rudy's Raiser
I've heard a Dane bark once and I think it was a "hello" bark. I'm not sure I'd want to hear a "guard" bark. :) But I'm glad you will have him when you move.
As for our lot...I have no idea. I've had Glacier for two and a half years and have rarely heard a bark out of him. Roscoe barks when he thinks something is threatening when we are at home, but as guide dogs they are not really allowed to bark. The other three all weigh under 12 pounds. So their barks are loud, but I'm pretty sure 7 pound Aria wouldn't be able to stop an intruder, but she'd definitely let us know.
When I went back to guide dog school for my second dog, I asked for the biggest dog they had because I was a single woman at the time, about to live by myself for the first time-no roommates anymore. And big is what I got, but I think it is big licky monster. I adopted Kyo from the shelter to make myself feel safer, but he has since moved onto be a service dog in training.So, in a more concise answer, I have no idea and hope I never find out. :)
And to Elizabeth: wow. I am glad as well that you had your dogs.
If I was scared, Juni would try to protect me, but otherwise he loves all people and wants all people to love him. I am safe from all squirrels and chipmunks. Juni thinks they are enemy #1.
Emmie would probably run away and hide! Since she is very small, that is a good idea. Linda
My dog makes me feel a ton safer! I mean he's only 22lbs... I'm sure Remi is a whole lot scarier then a 22lb dog:)
Read the blog a lot and enjoy it; can't usually comment as Google likes to fight me these days. Thus the anonymous post.
I have 2 rescues. Sasha is a 13 year old Aussie. I think if anyone tried to hurt me, she'd be on them in a flash and do damage. If they came near when she was sleeping, however, she's pretty much deaf and sleeps like the dead so no threat at all. Journey, the 7 year old Sheltie mix, would be no threat, other than the risk of being tripped as she asks for attention or licked to death.
Akela's Mom
I'm just like Remi - BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK ... is it gone yet? no, BARK BARK BARK BARK.
we don't get many visitors at our house that aren't pre Tucker approved.
woof - Tucker
Arwen is absolutely useless as a guard dog - she is the quietest dog I've ever had, and finds nothing threatening at all. Nyxie on the other hand barks at any and all noises that are perceived threats. And they are ALL perceived threats. With the coming of spring, and bugs circling the outdoor lamps, I'm thankful my porch light has burned out. Nyxie will even bark at little bugs that bounce on the front door! So YES, I feel VERY safe with her!
My dachshunds act like they will tear intruders limb from limb.....only if I'm home.
Otherwise, my friends and family have come and gone through my house, without my dogs even moving a muscle..
hmm...don't know I should have revealed that here lol.
I never thought my pitbull would guard me, since she loves everyone, but one night I woke up to find her standing over me in bed, growling and facing the door. My husband had come home late and turned on the house lights - I could hear it was him but his smell hadn't reached Sugar yet (she's deaf). Once she figured out is was dad she looked so embaressed. Our current foster is a border collie mix who was previously kept in a yard as a guard dog. She has some guarding issues, which have gotten better, but I'm pretty sure she would still bite the heck out of a stranger who tried to get into our house.
My Leah is exactly like your Dane, she won't even let people she knows in without permission. It is a pain if we want to go out for the day, as we can't ask someone to check in on her, so we need to be home within 8 hours - but she also makes me feel safe.
My other two however, are a different story...
Forget the steak, my Lab would trade me in for a piece of celery.
And my Vizsla would hide behind the furniture!
My dogs with the exceptions of Samba and Fudge are good watch dogs and the loud barking from so many mouths would scare away any burglar. Fudge would try to show off for a burglar and Samba would lead them to the cookie jar. She can be bought for the price of a dog biscuit.
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