Mine won't go looking for trouble and they are super friendly to anyone that they meet that isn't threatening one of us. However, the bark like fuzzy demons if they hear someone drive up to let the person know that there are dogs on duty if they're needed, but they don't assume that the person is a threat just because they are a stranger. Typically, my pups wag their tails big time and beg for pets through the fence. I've said this so many times before (sorry), but in all these years of living w/Pyrs I have only seen one of mine (it was Cara) take a true protective stance 3x and each time I think that she was right. Otherwise, they love everyone large and small especially if they love to pet furry people but if someone ever threatened any of us, I know that they'd be a force to be reckoned with. I love that they are so sweet & gentle but capable. This blend is so important to us, so we socialize our pups a lot and their pyrfect instincts take care of the rest.