I think it depends on your dog's normal behaviour, too. Like I said, Ranger is normally very friendly to people - ANYONE. Even a guy dressed up in a mascot costume once! So when he acts out of ordinary, I pay attention.

On the other hand, Blue is always very wary of people; he was undersocialized as a pup and therefore regards every stranger as a "threat". He growls/raises his hackles at old people, kids, people with hats or umbrellas...pretty much anyone. I certainly don't listen to Blue when he growls or barks or else I'd be suspicious of everyone!

(As a sidenote, Blue is now undergoing very intense people socialization in hopes to improve his confidence and manners around strangers.)

__________________


Member of the "Crazy 4 Collars Clique"

Want to see the menu of a raw fed dog? Check out my blog!

There really hasnt been anyone that Max is afraid of however I feel sooo safe with him in the house because he has this vicious "I will eat you alive bark that scares everyone, even BFs brother who made the mistake of coming in our back door after going to bed. As soon as Max heard the key in the door he went on full alert, our bedroom is directly next to the back door so Max who sleeps in the doorway on my side hears every peep. He scared BFs brother so badly that he forgot all about Max and was pulled back ready to punch the crap out of something. LOL good doggie Max, protect your house.

I do pay attention to Franklins list of likes and dislikes for people, there are a few people who coincedentally I dont like that Franklin will freak out on and go as far as full hackles raised and full out snapping. Granted its not that scariy cuz hey his legs are only 2 inches high LOL poor weenies, hes a guard dog trapped in a little body!

__________________






http://mylifeinablink.blogspot.com/

I really can't imagine either of mine showing any hostility, everyone they meet is their new BFF. However, if either one did have a negative reaction to a person I would pay attention and trust my dogs instincts. They sense things we do not and I trust that. I also believe that if I was ever threatened Darby and Kirby would protect me.

__________________
Vanessa, Darby & Kirby

Please vote for DVGRR in the Shelter Challenge - http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3



Darby & Kirby's Facebook page

Winnie loves almost everyone. Including animals.

I only seen him dislike one dog, and he really really disliked this dog. The dog in questions was just a puppy, and my friend rescued him from a kill shelter. This puppy is adorable, very sweet, very loving, but also very very high energy and in your face. I really love this puppy, but he even annoys me at times. He's just SO hyper. The puppy is totally non-assertive, and will submissive urinate and roll over for almost any reason. New person visits the house, puppy will pee and roll over. Person, family or well-known friend like me walks over to play, puppy will pee and roll over. Same with dogs, too. The puppy has grown out of this now, he's older now and more secure with his new family, which include mom and dad, three boys, an older dog, and many cats. He's gotten much better as time has passed.

But even I found him annoying at times. I don't blame Winnie for feeling this way, too. At first I thought Winnie might not like little dogs, or puppies, but he's been around many other little dogs and puppies. It's just this one dog Winnie dislikes.

The only person Winnie dislikes is the mail-man. Winnie thinks that the mail-man is trying to break into and invade our home every day. And every day Winnie feels very proud that he scared the mail-man off and kept us all safe from some evil home invasion.

So, I don't think Winnie is a good judge of character, because he loves almost every single being he comes in contact with. If he ever did really dislike someone, that would be very odd, and I'd at least listen to him and try to figure out why Winnie felt that way.

I trust my dogs very much, but probably Walter's instinct the most, which is surprising because we have had him the least amount of time! He is very protective of me and lets it be known when he doesn't like something. One night my husband walked up the back porch to let the dogs out, and it was dark outside. The door was locked, so he banged on the patio door. Quincy and Reagan ran to the door excited to go out. Walter stood up straight and did not let me pass him because he didn't know it was my husband. Each step I took toward the door, Walter stayed in front of me. He didn't let me pass until he knew it was safe.

__________________

Finn's only ever reacted badly to one person and I did know the guy but he was a bit creepy I certainly wouldn't want to be on my own with him. He also reacted badly once when I was walking him at night and I tried to go into a dark area beside some houses he put on the brakes and refused to walk so I went a different way. Usually hes happy to walk anywhere I go even at night. I completly trust his instints.

__________________

Im not to sure.. Joey is still very very young, and whenever he sees ANYONE he thinks everyone is his friend and wants to see them. Joey is a little bit of a creep as i joke, and on walks he will stop and stare at people and watch them.. But there was one time were we were walking and he stoped and stared at a man in his garage and started barking and barking and barking at him and wouldent budge. Now everytime we walk by that house Joey always stops and looks and then continues on our way. I do feel safer with him though, and i know he feels safe with me too.

__________________

I guess I'm in the minority. I really don't trust Flora's instincts. Just this morning she saw a neighbor getting his mail and she growled and snarled at him, hackles raised. Why? Probably because something about him touching the mailbox bothered her; I know he wasn't doing anything wrong.

For the most part, Flora's reaction to people is: "Omg you're the greatest I love you pet my belly oh I love you!" and I'm pretty sure a serial killer would receive the same reaction from her. Nothing wrong with being a lover, it just doesn't make her a good watch dog!

__________________

100%! Lucy and Dory both pretty much love everyone, especially Lucy. Dory is sometimes a little more wary of strangers. However, once when Bart and I were walking the girls, our neighbor had some company leaving his house. His little boy wanted to see the dogs, so we took them to see him. We like our next door neighbor a lot and wanted to be nice.

The girls shied away from both the boy and the dad. They never do that, especially to kids. The dad was really odd and kept telling me, "I like the black one. I like the black one." It seriously freaked me out, and I think the girls stayed inside the house during the day for a week or so after that, even though we keep our fence locked from the inside.

__________________

Yes and no. Cocasse is really good about identifying people who have been drinking or are off mentally. He does not like men so I can't trust his opinion there. I'm sure we've passed some nice men on our walks but he doesn't want anything to do with them.
I've been on the receiving end of growls. I usually always get a good response from dogs and cats but I was talking with a neighbour a few years ago and his dog was just growling away at me. My neighbour mentioned that he had never growled at people before. I was very angry during our conversation (not at my neighbour) so maybe the dog picked up on that? I have since seen this dog many times with no problems. I'm glad that my neighbour didn't stay away from me because of his dog's growling as we get along great.

__________________

Cocasse
Golden Retriever X Collie
Born October 17, 2008 (?)
Adopted November 23, 2009