My parents had this old mutt for around 15 years. He was half German Shepherd and half mutt. He was the most easy going dog I have ever seen.
I can remember my two year old daughter ordering him around and he immediately cowered with his head between his paws. I can remember some of my nieces and nephews playing with him and he would let them literally cover his coat with spanish moss without even shaking it off until they went away.
One day two of my Mother’s Sisters stopped by to visit but my parents happened to be gone. One of them needed to use the bathroom so they went to the front door.
They later told Mother that the dog got between them and the door and absolutely would not let them approach it. He growled and barked and generally acted vicious.
That really surprised all of us.
My grandparents had this old ranch dog who was never allowed inside the house. He just roamed the farmyard. He probably had some German Shepherd + various other breeds in him. My father came home from college one night, arriving after everyone else was in bed. That dog would not allow him to get out of the car. He had to wait until morning until someone got up to milk the cows and called Otto off.