protecting Dog?

Question

I have a wonderful dog (Penny) that I just found out is protective of us. My mom walked in my house today from a trip and Penny growled and barked at her while she stood right by me. She (my mom) is the first person to enter my house since I got her. I hate to say it but it made me proud that she protects her family.

My husband and I are wondering
If an intruder were to break in and she were to bite them would she be taken from her home for a 10 day hold? I say no because the intruder broke in an she was protecting us. She also is up to date on all her shots and she wears her tags. he says yes.
I want to hear what others think.

oh my I need to clarify

I am not creating a menace dog by any means. I am not raising her to be aggresive. She just growled and barked at my mom. I was more worried about the legal aspects of it. I by all means never condone animal violence. I was just stating that she was acting protective.

RDNZL

I live in Texas

I was just wondering if she would be taken from her home for protecting us!

Mamaco thank you that made me laugh. I could also asked him if he would like to have a commited relationship. I guess that would send him running to the hills.

Penny is a lovable 11 month old pit mix with beagle so they said at the rescue center. She was a surrender from someone. They didnt have the full details. She never showed aggression.She took to us like we were her owners right away. She was never shy. She didnt know my mom was family and we finally got her to accept my mom after interacting with her.

Answer 1

You should do lots of training and socialization with this dog so that anybody coming into the house is either greeted happily or the dog waits for your command. Chances are more friendly people are going to come into your house than evil doers. A local trainer should be able to give you ideas for activities.

www.fearfuldogs.com

Answer 2

See, that's the thing. I've grown up with a 'farm' lifestyle, and I tell you what I know, from *my* standpoint. Most dog protection around here are animal-related incidents (coyotes, pack rats, raccoons, and most importantly--many, many cows). They do this because it is their JOB. Two are herding breeds, one is a herding breed mix...it is their JOB to keep those animals away from me (especially the cattle). That said, there are multiple breeds of 'guardian' dogs that do the exact same thing. Nearly all of the farm dogs I know are the *exact* same way--you know how they say to give herding breeds (or other breeds a job to do?)--the job all around here is to protect the farm and those on the farm at all costs. It's simple. That's why when an unidentified object washes up the creek the dogs won't let us near, and why coyotes stay out of our yard. Why I haven't been killed by a cow yet (though they've tried). People can go on and on about pack hierarchy and "real" protection dogs, and maybe in the hard and fast 'suburban/urban' world it's true. Maybe it should be true (an overprotective farm dog wouldn't last long in the city, I'm sure). But protective dogs ARE possible, even without long hours of training. I've seen them. I OWN them. Add: People can be lumped into the 'danger' of the debate (or the ones the person is assumingly needing to be protected from, if that makes sense). My dogs would be a bit more lenient toward an actual human being--that said, I consider them keeping me safe as being 'protective'.

Answer 3

I know this is most likely unrelated to your question, but how old is Penny, where did you get here and what is her history?
You really, really need to be certain that she is showing protectiveness and not fear aggression. You may have felt a sense of pride, but it really is unacceptable for her to bark and growl at a family member, whether she lives there or not.
You also have to take into consideration if you have children, or plan to, their ages if you do and what will happen in the event that your child brings a friend into the house and the dog "protects".
There's a high liability with any kind of aggression, warranted or not. Please know exactly what you are dealing with before you dismiss it with pride.
(I only am concerned because I had a dog whom I loved & tried to save who had severe fear aggression - after months of training and behavior mod. she regressed and bit a behaviorist during an eval. I had to let her go and it was the most horrible thing ever).
Now, on topic.. to answer your question..
Depending on the state & county laws where you live you may or may not be held accountable, but your dog -will- be taken and put in quarantine, regardless, from what I understand. I am almost positive that is procedure for health reasons almost everywhere.
You still need to be careful with a dog that shows any type of human aggression, if allowed it can escalate to where you may not even be able to take her out of the house. :(

*edit to respond to your answers*
Have the dog evaluated ASAP if the rescue didn't do it already, please. Pits or Beagles are NOT supposed to be human aggressive, EVER (nor were they ever bred for protection purposes or as guard animals {for example like GSD}). It is good though that she was able to come around with your mom. The beloved dog I mentioned above? She was an American Pit Bull Terrier. Vet & 2 behaviorists say the fear aggression was just part of an extreme flawed temperament, but I tell you what... I could have done ANYTHING to that dog and she never, ever growled at my husband or I. She DID growl continuously at my daughters, strangers, friends, family and everyone else.
Since this dog is a rescue and you do not have her background information, and furthermore because she is a Pit mix (discrimation runs high with them, if she bites it may not only make the news, you'll be facing things you never thought you could - and it will add one more bite story to an already damaged reputation regardless of whether she was protecting or not) please have her temperament tested and have her evaluated.
I only say this because of my undying love of pits and concern for the breed as a whole.

Answer 4

Biting might get you in legal trouble... I'd check the law section of this site. They know more about this stuff. Try to keep her from biting if you can... dogs can deter a lot with their barking and growling. It's normal to be proud of your dog. :) It sounds like she's a really good dog for you - just be vigilant with her training (sadly, this is especially important if she's a pit mix because of public perception) and good to her and she'll do right by you.

All the best!

Answer 5

I say you SHOULD be okay and so should your dog. I live in florida and i'm not sure how the rules are now. I've lived all over the world and basically, I've seen this from the world, if someone enters your home with intent to do harm to you or steal your property, than whatever happens to them while in the home is THEIR fault for being stupid enough to break in or just walk in uninvited. I've owned all levels of protection dogs, from family dogs, to executive protection dogs to sentry dogs. I've owned nice dogs which know when to react to those who don't even think and just react. I believe that the dogs just do what is instinctive to them, protect their family/pack. If this means injuring the intruder, well, again, its their fault for being stupid enough to break in to MY, (in this case, YOUR) house.
My train of thought is this, if you break into my home with the intent to harm me or my family or to steal my possessions, I'm going to make sure you regret it for the rest of your life... however long that may be.

Answer 6

What you need to do is break your dog of this habit before she gets out of control and bites a family member. Dogs aren't made to be home protectors, that's what alarms and locks are for. And btw...I've heard of SEVERAL cases where someone's house was broken into and they were sued because their dog bit the perpetrator. You need to train your dog that this behavior is unacceptable, or she WILL bite someone you love.

Answer 7

If you're in Texas, have at 'em. Anywhere else you gotta learn the three "S's"...Shoot, Shovel, Shut up.

Seriously, you probably should discourage your dog from being too growly, and definitely from biting. A few barks to let you know you there's a stranger should suffice.

Answer 8

i live in TX as well.
if someone breaks into your home, and your dog (that you left secured in your LOCKED home) attacks an intruder you and the dog are NOT at fault, nor would your dog be taken unless you do not have proper rabies certificates to prove your dog has been vaccinated.

now..this does NOT cover a civil suit, in which the intruder could sue you, and it does NOT guarantee that your home owners insurance would continue to cover you after such an incident (if you own your own home).

course if you rent/lease then you may be subject to different circumstances, because this situation puts a landlord in as much responsibility in a civil suit as you.

Answer 9

What if the intruder who broke in had a gun? He could shoot Penny.
Do you want her biting people inside your home? You are liable for any injury she inflicts since they are your guests and you let them in.

I would rather have a well behaved dog who is safe to have around friends, family and children. I have installed an alarm system for intruders.

Answer 10

1st off this part is not an answer to your question, more of a response to some answers
You friggin have to be kidding me. If an intruder breaks into MY home and MY dog bites him I will be held responsible???? That makes no sense.

2nd Now the answer to your question.. If it is true that you could be held liable....... I suggest you grab your dog first , bite the Bast**d yourself and then run for it.