People have various reasons about wanting to get a dog. In the case of the Labrador Retriever, dog lovers desire the breed for its gentle, friendly nature and its being a loving companion to all members of the family, especially children.
It is because of their love and loyalty to the family that Labrador owners harbor the misconception that the breed can make good guard dogs. In reality, however, there are certain aspects about the Labrador which DO NOT make it a good guard dog.
Difference Between A Guard Dog and Watch Dog
When people hear the terms “guard dog” and “watch dog”, they think these two types of dogs are the same or synonymous. They even use these terms interchangeably very often. However, these are terms describing two very different dogs.
Let’s start with the watch dog. The watch dog is trained to alert their owner through barking if something’s wrong, they sense danger, or if there is a potential threat in the form of a stranger or intruder. Once the owner has been alerted and arrives at the scene, watch dogs proceed to retreat and let their humans deal with the problem
In contrast, a guard dog is trained to guard their owners, property, and livestock. In the face of a threat, like a watch dog, the guard dog proceeds to bark to alert their owner. However, they don’t just stop with mere barking. Good guard dogs go on to display signs of aggression (which will be discussed further down in this article). If the threat does not back off with this aggression display, they can go on to engage the “enemy”, attack, and bite.
Any dog can become a guard dog, theoretically, but there are some characteristics which may not make them suitable for the job. For example, because of its extreme wariness toward strangers, chihuahuas could make good guard dogs if it were not for its tiny size.
What about the Labrador Retriever? It certainly has the size and the bark to become a guard dog. But, aside from these physical traits, does the Labrador Retriever have the mental traits and other qualities to become GOOD guard dogs?
Let us explore the 7 things you need to know about the “Labrador Retriever as Guard Dog” debate.
7 Things You Need To Know
1) The Development of the Breed
Let’s start with what we know about the development of the Labrador Retriever as a breed. Labs were developed as retrievers of waterfowl and other game. Unlike other hunting dogs, such as hounds, which attack game being hunted, Labs wait for their owners to shoot or bring down their prey before retrieving them and bringing them to their master.
As retrievers, aggressive behavior has been bred out of the Labs. Instead, positive traits, like friendliness, loyalty, kindness, and obedience, were inculcated into the breed to make them excellent companions to their humans and their families.
It is this lack of aggressiveness in the Labrador which makes them questionable as guard dogs.
In addition, if we look back into the history of dogs in general, you would know that dogs developed as packs, with an alpha being “revered” as the main protector of the pack. In the case of the relationship between a Labrador Retriever and its owner, the Lab recognizes its owner as the alpha. So, if anything, the Labrador has the “expectation” that its owner will protect it, and not the other way around.
2) The Temperament of Labradors
Labradors are noted for their gentle, friendly, cheerful, and sometimes goofy temperament. They are very comfortable around people, especially if they have been socialized.
Unfortunately, they do not possess the instinct to distrust strangers or even intruders. It’s even been said that Labs are more likely to greet and lick potential thieves and robbers, especially if these miscreants bear treats. While this seems anecdotal, a more realistic behavior has been seen in this breed, namely acting on their flight (instead of fight) mechanism.
3) Loyalty and Protective Behavior in Labs
You may ask “But Labradors are known for their loyalty toward their owner? Won’t that make them exhibit protective behavior when their owner is threatened?”
Yes, it is true that Labs are noted for their love and loyalty toward their owners. As for protection, there are certain things that Labs can get overprotective of, including their family, food and water, their bed and crate, specific area or property which they consider their territory, other animals in the home, and their seat in your car.
However, again, their protective behavior is limited to an aggression display, which includes the following:
- Tense, standing position
- Baring of their teeth
- Growling
- Snarling
- Barking
- Snapping of teeth
- Lunging without making actual physical contact
In some cases, Labs may not show this aggression display especially if they have been punished in the past for such behavior. This is especially true for owners and families who want their Labs to keep their cheerful and happy demeanor. However, this behavior should not be taken out of the dog because it is important for you, the owner, to know if your Lab is uncomfortable about something or, much more, feels threatened because this will alert you to possible danger.
We should also mention something called “Possession Aggression”. A good example of this is when a Lab refuses to let go of a favorite toy, so that you end up having a tug-of-war with it. Possession aggression is NOT a desirable trait in Labs, especially when they get strongly attached to children in the home. Although they will not attack unless truly provoked, Labs exhibiting this trait may go into an aggression display so that a parent could not get near a baby or child or get annoyed with the non-stop barking.
It must be emphasized that possession aggression should not be developed in Labs to make them guard dogs since it might make them turn against its owner and other members of the family.
4) Threat Perception in Labs
While Labs are generally friendly toward people, at times, they will not feel comfortable with certain people they meet. This is especially true if they haven’t been socialized well when they are puppies, have had bad past experiences with intruders, or are frightened or startled.
Some Labs may act aggressively because of fright and the triggering of their protective instincts. However, they will not progress beyond an aggression display.
As mentioned earlier, the Lab will instinctively look to their alpha (their owner) to deal with the threat. If the owner finally appears, the flight mechanism is activated so that the Lab retreats, leaves the room, or, as in many occasions, leave the house entirely.
Ultimately, when their owner shows up, your Labs are sure to act on their flight mechanism and retreat, letting their owner deal with the threat. (leave the room or leave the house altogether).
5) Understanding Bite Inhibition/Soft Mouth
Labs are among the few breeds that exhibit soft mouth. No, they’re mouths are not physically soft. Instead, they are capable of controlling the strength of their bites.
This is because they are trained to retrieve game and bring it to their owner undamaged by their teeth.
Also, because Labs don’t like to hurt people by nature, an exclamation of pain even from an intruder may cause them to loosen their bite or release the trapped limb they have in their mouth.
6) Can a Labrador Retriever Be A Good Guard Dog?
In answer to this question, NO, a Labrador Retriever CANNOT be a good guard dog. Their overall friendliness and love and trust of people does not allow them to assume this role. They will not engage a threat directly and, because they recognize their owner as the alpha, they will retreat or flee to let their owner protect it and the family and deal with the danger.
While the Labrador Retriever cannot be a good guard dog because of its lack of aggressiveness (also termed the lack of a “mean streak”), its temperament and behavior make it suitable to be a very good watch dog. Plus points should be given to their tenacious, deep, and very loud barks, which can rouse an entire neighborhood. As Lab owners have pointed out, in the face of a threat, Labs will not stop barking until the threat/danger has been dealt with.
7) How to Make A Labrador Retriever a Guard Dog
Given the reasons above, there are still some dog owners who insist on making their Labrador Retrievers guard dogs. The problem is this. It is a very difficult and monumental task to transform a Lab into a guard dog because you will be going against the very nature of the breed. To do so would take a lot of time and patience.
Aside from having the Lab master the basic commands, they need to be placed in faux situations that will trigger their “provoke” instincts and push them to the point to attack.
While it is possible for the owner to “teach” their Labs to be guard dogs, it is best to put your dog’s training in the hands of home security trainers. However, even with the best training, Labs have been known to lapse back into their friendly demeanors.
That is why the ideal role for a Labrador Retriever is as a watch dog, NOT a guard dog.
