Protective Instincts

Jun 06 2010

Published by admin at 1:46 pm under BBF Dogs,Human Interest,Protective Instinct,Puppy Photos

: GBSD Penny has a proven protective nature

: Duke is a BBF Weimaraner

Weimaraners and GBSD have a protective instinct that is not well known. When we first acquired our GBSD named Annie and Avro, black 50/50 dogs, they started chasing all the black bears away or more often as not, they treed them. Some of these bears were 400 lbs plus. Avro, our big 90 lb male, actually bit the bears or jumped on them as they ran for a tree. These dogs were fearless. I supposed at first that this was their hunting instinct at play and thought little more about it for lots of dogs chase bears. Some two years later I purchased a large Weimaraner male named Duke. Duke was young (2 years old) and very playful but he had a habit of inviting one to play ‘Take My Stick’ by picking up a stick and shaking it and growling and prancing like a menacing dog! It was all in play of course but my much smaller and older Weimaraner Chief didn’t understand. He charged Duke from about 30 yards away. He leaped on top of Duke after flying through the air for the last ten feet and knocked Duke to the ground. I was startled but rushed to pull Chief off of Duke in time. After thinking about this performance I realized that Annie and Avro’s interest in chasing bears wasn’t to please them but to protect me. I was thunder struck and dumbfounded at the realization.

It took the other BBF dogs some time to understand that Duke wasn’t a threat. A week later Duke started his growling and prancing with a stick routine and Penny, a mature 85 lb daughter of Annie, did the same thing to Duke as did Chief. I saved Duke from Penny in a flash as Penny was determined to fight him to protect me. Duke was young and not experienced and would not have had a chance defending himself against Penny.

Chief is a Weimaraner with a proven protective spirit.

It took me years to see the first instance of the protective spirit of the Weimaraner and the GBSD. The GBSD protective spirit will show itself as the dog matures but only if something or someone threatens you or your family. Sasha from Saskatoon learned first hand about her dogs protective spirit. Here is her story (Sasha name her GBSD ‘Duke’ too). http://www.blackbearfarm.com/wp/?cat=67

When they were bred as a ‘forester’s dog’ or ‘game warden’s dog’ hundreds of years ago by the aristocracy of the Weimer region of Germany, they were bred in part to be bold and fearless in the face of large game like a stag or a wild boar. Weimaraners are used a police dogs even today in some European countries. Its probably safer to go walking, hiking or jogging with your Weimaraner or your GBSD at your side than to go alone.