Why do German Shepherds, Rottweilers and other so-called ‘attack’ or ‘vigilance’ breeds make just “so-so” pets?*
(Caine Corso are not ‘vigilance’ breeds, they are South American horse-slayers-for-sport)
Here’s why guard dogs aren’t fabulous pets: When the Army needed guard dogs, the Germans selected dogs that were naturally skittish, suspicious, nervous, hyper-vigilant, and even (in the case of Rottweilers) truly fearful.
Remember the “Fight, Flight or Freeze” response? It’s when a creature gets scared (adrenalin) it will instinctively try to Run (Flight) but if deprived of an exit, it will stand and Fight (not brave, just terrified) and if nothing else works, they Freeze. Literally go catatonic and shut down.
Well when the Germans wanted “guard dogs” they took fearful, nervous, hyper-vigilant dogs and got rid of the ones that ran (No more flight dogs). They kept the ones that responded to fear with violence (Just kept the fight dogs for breeding).
And so, they had cultivated German Shepherds, Dobermans, and Rottweilers. Fear –> Fight
To this day, they still give everyone the crazy-eye, spends their time nervous about strangers, and they bristle and bluff in any situation that’s ‘scary’ and if approached, will bite instead of run. It’s they way they were bred. When they’re scared, and they all are, they subscribe to the protocol: “strike first and ask questions later”.
*Don’t get me wrong: These skittish dogs make EXCELLENT COMPANIONS for the owner and his family. This is because there is no fear of their family/owners. And they are service oriented. Dedicated.
But OFTEN you can hear EVEN a devoted Rottie-owner say “He’s a big baby for us and totally tolerant of the kids, he would never hurt them! But I’m never too sure how he’s going to be with other people, other dogs and strangers.”
It’s not bravery. They’re scared of everything except their family. And it shows.
