Mama German Shepherd Is Serious About Protecting Her Pups (Sorry Dad!)
German shepherds are known to be a protective breed, often being trained for the military and police K9 units because of this trait. So, when you add to that being female and a mother raising a litter of puppies, you've got some enhanced security patrol going on in your home. Just watch this TikTok video of a mama German shepherd being ultra-protective, even around the pup's dad.
@jassera.nichole Talk about a protective mother 🙄 omg but i miss having puppies 🥹 #fyp
"Talk about a protective mother 🙄," the video's caption reads, as the mama GSD barks at the father as he approaches the puppies. Since the clip is just a quick glimpse into the interaction, Cuteness spoke exclusively with Russell Hartstein, certified dog behaviorist and trainer at Fun Paw Care in Los Angeles, for his take on what might be going on here.
"Male dogs don't participate in the rearing of a puppy litter," Hartstein notes, adding, "As far as German shepherd dogs are concerned, they were bred to be protective. That is part of their genetic makeup. Typically, it's to protect the family and/or resources. Obviously, a female's litter falls into both of those categories." It's probably safe to say that the breed's protective traits are strong in this mother!
Managing a German shepherd's protective nature
German shepherds are naturally protective and loyal, but that instinct can sometimes become problematic if not properly guided. While those two traits can certainly make them good family dogs, some GSDs can become overprotective when it comes to their home, humans, or even toys. As with most other dogs and breeds, the key is proper training and socialization.
One part of training and socialization is to teach them that not every stranger or unfamiliar situation is a threat by building confidence through positive reinforcement training. Introducing them from a young age to different people, environments, and friendly dogs can help manage their behavior and help prevent fear-based guarding. As one of the top most active dog breeds, another part is keeping them active and mentally stimulated, which can stave off boredom that can sometimes lead to behavioral issues.
When it comes to protective mama dogs, certified dog behaviorist and trainer Hartstein exclusively offers this advice: "Practicing a relaxation and deference protocol would be important for any dog, let alone a German Shepherd with reactivity, aggression, or excess barking," he says, adding, "Not only would this help with a dog's overall dog training and behavior modification, but it would give the mother a much-needed break from 'child rearing' and an opportunity for the human parents to clean out the whelping box area and to attend to the puppies." Overall, whether a mama dog or otherwise, the goal is to channel instincts into positive behaviors, allowing the GSD to be protective when appropriate and relaxed the rest of the time.