Coyote was my first thought too.

My area is pretty residential too, but there are lots of them here. You just don't see them very often.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

You definitely have coyotes in your town.

https://www.google.com/#q=bowmanvill...w=1366&bih=608

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

Loki does that sometimes at night when he sees his reflection in our patio doors. He's getting used to it now, but occasionally it still takes him by surprise. He gives a low growl & then barks a couple of times, then he seems to suddenly realise its him & walks away.

Rose is very protective as well. Interesting she gets more protective of my 15 yo daughter. She also does not like other dogs in our yard when she is in the house. She barks and growls and her back hair is all up. If they walk on the side walk she is fine, she just sit at the window and mumbles(it is funny - I never heard a dog mumble - it is not a growl).
Yesterday our "crazy" neighbor who has two dogs a rottie mix and something else mix walked by our house when my DH took Rose out for a walk(we try our best to avoid going out when he is out). Months ago those dogs growled at Rose. Yesterday the dogs stood in our driveway and Rose's hair rose up and she was literally growling and barking at them.
She never does that at Petco, on a walk or even with the neighborhood dogs that come to play with her in our yard. I guess, I hope, she does know who her friends and foes are.

Isla has done this before and I've not seen what it is that's upset her. Sometimes I've seen her get upset at the foxes, but they can disappear from sight pretty quickly so might have been them.
She does it when people walk past but sometimes I get the feeling she's just doing it for no reason - to break the silence perhaps!!!

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I mention coyote because the canids really seem to bring out that defensive, territorial behavior more than other types of animals. Your description makes it sound like a territorial instinct rather than a prey one.

Here in New England, we're starting to get coyote more often in the suburbs. Heck, my parents in NJ even get black bear in their suburban backyard once in a while. However, it could also totally be a raccoon. I'm sure the sight of a big raccoon or even the smell of a mature raccoon nearby would be enough to set off territorial instincts in some dogs.

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Shadow does that - hilarious. Oh great watch dog.

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You are right Nairb! Wow, this is really close to me:

Stalked by pack of Coyotes in Bowmanville

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old