My old dog was very protective, whenever I was walking him he would give a low growl to anyone approaching us. Once, I was walking him around 10 pm on a summer night and he bristled and growled loudly at a guy walking towards us, the guy crossed the street. lol
He was a 96lb. hound dog and when he bristled up and growled, people payed attention.
My two old cats that are now gone were both protective as well, they both growled like dogs when they heard strange noises and my Gadwicke once jumped a Rottweiler and rode it out of the yard!
He also kicked some Golden retriever butt too!
A very fearless cat he was.
Now I just have Marwyn my Chinese gander and he is very territorial…he has single beakedly driven off quite a few Jehovahs Witnesses that lurk in the woods around here.
He is the official sentry for trespassing solicitors of all kinds.
Amazing how much ‘weight’ a 12 lb. goose carries when he’s all puffed up with his neck low to the ground and hissing like a snake before he strikes. lol