Too friendly ????

[Egghead]

Hi All
My boy, Conker, is 3 years old. We moved house recently to an area which has a bit of a bad reputation. We did not choose Conker as a guard dog but because we fell for him. He's the lovliest, friendliest dog you could meet. But, I had hoped that if someone came to burgle the house or if I had problems with some rough people out walking him that he would be a good deterrent.
However, when people come to the door, delivering stuff etc, he barks initially but then jumps all over them, friendly, wanting them to play. Last night I had beds delivered late - he was all over the 2 delivery guys and later on the police strolled into the garden to check it was a legitimate delivery and not a burglary ( you can see the area we live in .... ) and he was also all over them.
What are your thought on this ?
I obviously wouldn't want him to get hurt protecting me or the property but I would like to think that if people came round with bad intentions when I wasn't there, he would scare them off while they were still on the other side of the gate rather than play with them !!
I would appreciate any comments.

 

[frankied]

It's really hard to say how a dog will react to someone who comes onto "their" territory while master is away. I have wondered the same thing about Angel myself since she sounds just like your baby. If he initially barks I don't see a problem. A burgler would probably prefer not to break into a house where they hear a large barking dog. You would think this anyway. I know Frank really gets riled up even when someone comes by. The bark is enough to keep strangers at bay. So as I said I think it would be hard to know how your baby would react but I would think that some people would rather not take a chance. My though anyhow is(after having lived in an absolutely heinous part of town for nearly 2 years) that my dogs are the only real valuables in my home so take my crappy tv and 10 year old CD player but leave my babies the heck alone!

Christa

 

[VTbxrFan]

I think many dogs respond to the attitude of the people. If properly trained, your dog looks to the leader of the pack for guidance, so if you, the leader of the pack, are letting delivery people into the house, there is no reason for him to be concerned. Same with walking on the street - if you are friendly to people you encounter, there is no reason for you dog not to be.

 

[Jan]

Boxers are usually very perceptive and will know when they should be friend or foe.