my dog and my girlfriend..?

Question

I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback and she is the sweetest dog. I've never heard her growl and she rarely barks. However, ever since my girlfriend started coming around often, my dog seems really protective of her when I'm not around. She barks at pretty much any guy who as much as walks by the house and growls at a lot of people (mostly guys) when I'm not with them. She even snapped at an older man in the park yesterday when my girlfriend took her up there. Is this normal? Have you heard of a dog being this protective over a woman, but not of a man? It's almost like when I'm around everything is fine, but when I'm not she feels like she has to protect my girlfriend.

Answer 1

Dogs often respond differently to men than to women - a dog who's been cared for by a woman and doesn't meet many men is often shy of men while loving women; if the same dog had lived with a guy instead and met few women, he'd probably still love women, though he wouldn't be shy of men.

I'd be happy your dog loves your girlfriend and accepts her as part of her "pack" - but at the same time, Rhodesian Ridgebacks (one of my fave breeds!!) are big enough and tough enough you don't want to let her get away with aggressive behavior! Both you and your girlfriend should be firm with her when she's growling; I'd tend towards reassuring her rather than scolding her if all she's doing is growling, like by calmly telling her to be quiet, it's ok, etc.

Sounds like your dog trusts you to take care of the "pack" when you're around, but then takes on the role of protector when it's just the "girls"!

Answer 2

I think you probably hit the nail on the head there... when you're around, everything's fine. You are the head/alpha of your house, probably, and the dog knows this girl is special to you. Maybe let your girlfriend take some of the feeding duties and give the dog some simple commands (sit, etc.) to let the dog know the girlfriend isn't "helpless." The dog might not "get" that the girlfriend is a person like you. Sounds kinda goofy, but hope you know what I'm trying to say.

I personally would get an appointment with a behaviorist (no shame in asking a professional!) to let them observe all three of you, and then the two girls by themselves. Probably some simple steps you can take. Good luck!

Answer 3

The same thing happened to me. When I moved in with my boyfriend, the dog sat at my feet and growled at anyone who came near me. When I went to sleep at night, he sat at the bedroom door. Whenever I walked through the house, he was following close by. He snapped at several different guys. Then, you know what? I found out I was pregnant! Maybe he could sense something.. who knows. Maybe the dog just senses that your girlfriend is very special to youand wants to protect her. Maybe have your girlfriend take a test just in case : )

Answer 4

Your dog is more than likely feeling like she is doing her job. That is, she is protecting your girlfriend when you are not there. There could be a couple of reasons for this. One, she may be reacting to a fear that you girlfriend has (either conscious or subconscious) when in these situations and you are not there. Two, she may think that her position in the pack (meaning you, she, and your girlfriend) is above your girlfriend's and she is taking control because your girlfriend is not exerting dominance/control. Or, she may actually sense danger that we as humans do not sense or tend to discount. Finally, what is the reaction to her when she does this? If there is any reinforcement at all, she will continue the behavior and it may even escalate. Reinforcement could mean, stopping whatever you are doing and talking to her, praising her, petting her, taking her for a walk, throwing a ball,...something along those lines. Take a look at this website for more information. Good luck!

Answer 5

Well, my little female dachshund thinks she needs to protect my boyfriend so I can relate.

Although she does it even if I am around. When his family's dog comes near she snarls at her. She also thinks she needs to protect his dad too but doesn't feel the need to behave that way when she's in my lap or his mother's lap.

I guess dog's can tell a difference in gender between people and may feel the need to protect a particular gender. Or perhaps it is just that your dog feels like you could handle it if a bad person or dog came around but that perhaps she might need help.

Is hard to tell what a dog is thinking. Sometimes I wish they could talk and then other times not.

Answer 6

Yes, that is normal and actually kind of sweet of the dog. What your girlfriend needs to do is to say NO firmly when the dogs acts overprotective.

I got a lab when he was already 3 years old. He become overprotective of me. I found out that I was accidentally giving him positive reinforcement for this behavior. When he acted protective I tried to comfort him and ended up petting him. This made him think he was doing something good and I was praising him for it. After I realized this, I stopped comforting him and just said NO when he acted overprotective.

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/nuwH0

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 8

I have a german shepard and she is the same way. She growls at everything but she is ultra protective of my mom and I. Whenever my Dad comes over and hugs me she freaks out. Try to have you and your girlfriend spend more time around your dog so she gets used to the both of you togehter and doesn't think you are harming her.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

the same thing has happened to me and my mother. my dog is really protective of me my mother and my sister. if any guy even touches any of us he barks and screeches. he sits between my sister and her boyfriend on the couch i think this is normal