I hear people all the time stating that their dog is being reactive because they want to protect the owner. This is almost never the case.
Dogs are primarily looking out for their own interests. If a dog is acting protectively or defensively, it is because they feel the need to protect themselves, not anyone else.
Reactivity that isn’t based in excitement/frustration is therefore driven by a feeling of insecurity. They feel the need to go on the defensive and take control in situations where they feel at risk. In reality, it should be our job as their owners to provide them security and safety.
Simply having a dog with us, especially certain breeds, naturally offers some protection. I know I feel safer walking alone in the dark if I have a large dog with me. But if you want your dog to provide active protection under threat, this requires specific protection training. This training is expertise, expensive and time-consuming. Protection dogs must be under full control with the ability to turn their defensive drive on and off at the command of their handler. If you don’t have that training and that control, you don’t have a protection dog.
