Odd response to random stranger...
Discussion
Little Belladonna is now just over a year old, a fabulous mutt; friendly, loving, loyal etc. She really is, absolutely adores everyone and is convinced that everyone is just desperate to throw her ball, or possibly, just kick it. She adores absolutely everyone and is moderately fond of all dogs as well. I'd say 90% of all her 'victims' are happy to have this mad mutt throw her ball at them and throw (or kick) her ball with pleasure. of the odd ones who don't and just ignore her, she bears no grudge, just picks up her ball and looks for the next victim... or, as a worst case, returns it to me to throw.
In the year she has been here, I have never known her to bark at or growl at anyone, which makes her behaviour today all the stranger.
She (and Chester) had been for a good hour's walk (Ilsham Valley, a great place with a stream for water-obsessed mutts, which she is) and Chester and I had gone back to the edge of the park by where we were parked (Chester is getting old now - 12 and tires out much sooner than a 1-year-old Lab) and he and I sit and watch while launching her ball in random directions. Chester has NEVER chased a ball in his life and considers all dogs that do, odd, so watching her amuses the old sod immensely.
She chased her ball, spotted a potential 'throwing bally' victim, and approached this chap. Middle-aged, normal dress but with a rucksack, she got to about 20 feet away from him, and froze!
She just stood there watching this guy for about 20 - 30 seconds, then she thundered back to us, her hackles were up and she was absolutely terrified! Came and tried to climb into my legs and started barking and growling at this chap who was a good 100 - 150 feet away from us. She wouldn't relax at all until this bloke had walked out of the park, wouldn't drop her ball, wouldn't stop growling and snarling (yes, with her ball in her mouth) and even after he'd gone, she was still a bit freaked out and wouldn't chill out, so I took her home.
Back home, she's back to normal, chilled, happy and friendly to one and all.
Anyone have any idea why?
In the year she has been here, I have never known her to bark at or growl at anyone, which makes her behaviour today all the stranger.
She (and Chester) had been for a good hour's walk (Ilsham Valley, a great place with a stream for water-obsessed mutts, which she is) and Chester and I had gone back to the edge of the park by where we were parked (Chester is getting old now - 12 and tires out much sooner than a 1-year-old Lab) and he and I sit and watch while launching her ball in random directions. Chester has NEVER chased a ball in his life and considers all dogs that do, odd, so watching her amuses the old sod immensely.
She chased her ball, spotted a potential 'throwing bally' victim, and approached this chap. Middle-aged, normal dress but with a rucksack, she got to about 20 feet away from him, and froze!
She just stood there watching this guy for about 20 - 30 seconds, then she thundered back to us, her hackles were up and she was absolutely terrified! Came and tried to climb into my legs and started barking and growling at this chap who was a good 100 - 150 feet away from us. She wouldn't relax at all until this bloke had walked out of the park, wouldn't drop her ball, wouldn't stop growling and snarling (yes, with her ball in her mouth) and even after he'd gone, she was still a bit freaked out and wouldn't chill out, so I took her home.
Back home, she's back to normal, chilled, happy and friendly to one and all.
Anyone have any idea why?
Yup, dogs are good judges of character, maybe bad uns give off a peculiar smell.
Our Viszla took a dislike to a bloke whilst the Mrs was walking her and the two Spaniels, bloke was just hanging about doing sod all wrong but the dog was not happy with him at all, didn't go for him or anything but issuing her big girl growl she made sure she was between that bloke and the goodly wife.
Our Viszla took a dislike to a bloke whilst the Mrs was walking her and the two Spaniels, bloke was just hanging about doing sod all wrong but the dog was not happy with him at all, didn't go for him or anything but issuing her big girl growl she made sure she was between that bloke and the goodly wife.
About once a year, our GSD will take an active dislike to a random stranger out in public and lets it be known, usually with a growl and he moves away from them. I've always put it down to him just sensing that something isn't right, or he's not happy, but we don't make a fuss about it. Maybe smell, maybe the way the person moves, I don't know, but it seems he does.
OP, maybe he made a noise that you couldn't hear but she did? I'm sure that triggered our boy once. I wouldn't be too concerned if it's a one off, or very infrequent.
OP, maybe he made a noise that you couldn't hear but she did? I'm sure that triggered our boy once. I wouldn't be too concerned if it's a one off, or very infrequent.
I think the whole thing about dogs being a good judge of character is just silly and a bit of confirmation bias.
From all the dogs I know it appears to be completely random what will set off a particular dog, and it certainly isn't only bad people. I was out today and a friends normally placid cockapoo was barking (from a distance) at some kid in a skate style helmet. He was only about 5 or 6. Probably not a bad kid. Dog just didn't like the helmet.
My previous Dane didn't like anyone in high vis.
My current Dane seems to dislike an old lady in our local park. At first I thought he didn't like he 3 legged jack russell, but nope, it;s the old lady he doesn't like. No idea why he's chosen her to dislike.
From all the dogs I know it appears to be completely random what will set off a particular dog, and it certainly isn't only bad people. I was out today and a friends normally placid cockapoo was barking (from a distance) at some kid in a skate style helmet. He was only about 5 or 6. Probably not a bad kid. Dog just didn't like the helmet.
My previous Dane didn't like anyone in high vis.
My current Dane seems to dislike an old lady in our local park. At first I thought he didn't like he 3 legged jack russell, but nope, it;s the old lady he doesn't like. No idea why he's chosen her to dislike.
My ex-girlfriends family had a black lab, lovely dog, friendly with everyone apart from one particular person in our group of friends at the time.
He couldn’t come in the house, he couldn’t get through the front door, the dog would stand in the hall way with teeth showing and heckles up. He had never done anything to the dog, never even got close to it.
Funny thing is over the years that one particular lad turned out to be the only stand up person of the group.
Not so sure they sense bad characters, probably a certain smell sets them off, our dogs go mad at people in uniforms.
He couldn’t come in the house, he couldn’t get through the front door, the dog would stand in the hall way with teeth showing and heckles up. He had never done anything to the dog, never even got close to it.
Funny thing is over the years that one particular lad turned out to be the only stand up person of the group.
Not so sure they sense bad characters, probably a certain smell sets them off, our dogs go mad at people in uniforms.
spookly said:
I think the whole thing about dogs being a good judge of character is just silly and a bit of confirmation bias.
From all the dogs I know it appears to be completely random what will set off a particular dog, and it certainly isn't only bad people. I was out today and a friends normally placid cockapoo was barking (from a distance) at some kid in a skate style helmet. He was only about 5 or 6. Probably not a bad kid. Dog just didn't like the helmet.
My previous Dane didn't like anyone in high vis.
My current Dane seems to dislike an old lady in our local park. At first I thought he didn't like he 3 legged jack russell, but nope, it;s the old lady he doesn't like. No idea why he's chosen her to dislike.
This. From all the dogs I know it appears to be completely random what will set off a particular dog, and it certainly isn't only bad people. I was out today and a friends normally placid cockapoo was barking (from a distance) at some kid in a skate style helmet. He was only about 5 or 6. Probably not a bad kid. Dog just didn't like the helmet.
My previous Dane didn't like anyone in high vis.
My current Dane seems to dislike an old lady in our local park. At first I thought he didn't like he 3 legged jack russell, but nope, it;s the old lady he doesn't like. No idea why he's chosen her to dislike.
Sometimes dogs are weird.
Dog's are crap judges of character. I have a friend whose dog is a white supremacist. Just can't stand black people, men or women. Another friend whose dog hates people wearing headgear. Anyone in a hat or cap gets the full barrage of growling and barking. Even the owner isn't immune if she puts on a hat.
Fortunately, unlike most people, both these owners realise their dogs are f
king morons.
Fortunately, unlike most people, both these owners realise their dogs are f
king morons. Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 23 May 10:27
Our dog really doesn't like people who don't move "normally". Mildly amusing when she sees a jakey shambling about and they get the full on heckles up, Cerberus growling from the pits of hell routine. Saves me having to tell them I won't give them £2 for the bus.
Less amusing when she sees someone with a limp or a disability...
Less amusing when she sees someone with a limp or a disability...
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