Is Brutus guarding me or am I protecting him?

by Nancy
(Venus, TX USA)

I have now had my Brutus for 3 years. He is now a 147 lb, 7 year old neutered, lazy male. I've posted before that he was 3 when I adopted him from a neighbor when Brutus refused to go back to his owner's home. His previous owner just told me I could have him, so I had him checked out, chipped and he has been mine ever since.

His first 4 years of life was spent totally outside guarding nothing but a couple of chickens and his previous family. When I adopted him, he became a totally inside family pet with nothing to guard but us and his front yard territory.

We have confined him to the front yard which is about a half acre. He is on an electronic collar. He is as behaved as a Pyrenees can be. He has never jumped on anybody or anything, never been aggressive even to neighboring pets that come into our yard. He won't even lick us or anyone else. He just thinks everybody is supposed to love him and therefore demands to be petted by anyone coming into the house or the yard.

He knows that I am his "main person". My question is this. He follows me to any room in the house that I might go into. He wants to go outside with me any time I go out the door. But he is absolutely terrified of gunshots, thunder, fireworks or an loud noises that sound like those things. And he hates birds, flies and bees with a passion. So when there are gunshots or fireworks anywhere in the area that he can hear, he is desperate to get back into the house if he's out. If he's inside, he will retreat to our bedroom.

His previous owner also says he doesn't know why. Anyway, because of these tendencies, I can't figure out if he is showing that he is protecting or guarding ME when he follows me around...or is he wanting me to protect HIM? I don't see him as my protector or guardian dog. If I ever needed protection, I think Brutus would just wanted the enemy to pet him. I love the big brute.