Dog did not protect

I was surprised the other night I got into a fight in a park which was
quite serious although nobody got hurt thankfully. I had my two female
dogs (GSD and sheepdog) with me and I don't even recall them barking
during the fight. I suppose it's possible that they did but I had
always assumed that the sheepdog would bark frantically (as she tends
to be nervous) and the GSD would weigh in.

In the house the dogs have always been excellent guard dogs in terms of
barking. The GSD has a very sound temperment - not nervous and always
seeing off other dogs who are aggressive to the sheepdog. Never
starting a fight with another dog but always winning when one does
start.

I have read in the past the females tend to be better guard dogs in the
home and males better out in the open.

Anyone have any opinions on this - out of interest more than anything.

Agility...

Most dogs when push comes to shove back down. You seem to want your
dogs to be protection dogs and they aren't, most dogs aren't. You say
you dog doesn't start a fight, but wins when one starts? Do your dogs
get into fights often with other dogs? And was't this fight in the park
between humans? Most dogs really won't go after a human. Barking and
trying to scare off intruders near their own property and getting
involved when two humans fight are very different things. Sounds like
your dogs assumed you were in charge, as they should.

Kathleen...

My opinion? You need to find a safer place to walk your dogs. And you
should be glad that neither of your dogs jumped into the brawl. No
matter who started it, if your opponent had been bitten there could have
been major consequences for the dog and for you as well.

There's no doubt that the presence of one or more large dogs is an
excellent deterrent to the average would-be assailant. However, YOU are
ultimately responsible for protecting yourself and the dogs, not the
other way around.

diddy...

carry pepper spray or a taser in the future