Any experts on dog behavior out there? (terrier, skin, training)

[stormchaser9878]

People can give of adrenaline. The guy might of had bad vibes.

[ShelbyGirl1]

He could have had a weird scent to him
But, I also think dogs have that 6th sense about them. One of my Therapy Dogs who loved everyone and never met a stranger so to speak, put himself between me and a patient one time. This was a lock down mental health facility. Dog growled and growled until I had to remove him from the room. When I went to apologize to one of the Drs. that was present....I found that this young man was a gang member who had actually committed murder. I never second guessed the dogs abilities again!
(The group I worked for also initiated new policies as to whom we were working with patient wise)

[cat1116]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

Was he making eye contact with her? While people regard eye contact as a positive sign, to dogs it's an aggression signal. It's very difficult to educate people about that: dogs that are given stares or direct eye contact from people consider that an aggressive stance and it's time to warn them that any closer and they'll be in trouble, so they growl.

Eye contact when it comes to staring, I agree. Several others noted too that your dog may have also picked up on some clues that signaled a perceived danger. You mentioned that your husband does alot of traveling for work now. It could it be possible that someone may be testing the waters to see if you're a viable target but your dog is sending out her message that she's on guard and "don't try anything buddy". I hope if that is the case that the signal your dog passed on will sink in. Don't want to scare you but it wouldn't hurt to highten your awareness of immediate surroundings. Do you go on these walks at the exact same time all the time? Maybe you can change up your pattern? Maybe have a neighbor who wouldn't mind walking with you occasionally?

I've also read about certain chemicals, ok.. no pc'g here, drugs, [meth, PCP, etc] that are emitted from sweat that dogs are able to pick up on. Like if someone is on a high at that time that can cause a dog to react different towards that person than they might otherwise. It may be even less threatening of a particular chemical, ie chemo, {cancer patient}.

It could also be possible that your dog may have been trained in the past but when they fail to muster on any one particular point then the agency that had her either most likely gives the dog up for adoption [hopefully to the particular breed rescue groups] or one of the other officers is willing to make the dog part of their family. How a dog of that calling fell into the Humane Society's hands is unknown but anything's possible.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by cat1116

Eye contact when it comes to staring, I agree. Several others noted too that your dog may have also picked up on some clues that signaled a perceived danger. You mentioned that your husband does alot of traveling for work now. It could it be possible that someone may be testing the waters to see if you're a viable target but your dog is sending out her message that she's on guard and "don't try anything buddy". I hope if that is the case that the signal your dog passed on will sink in. Don't want to scare you but it wouldn't hurt to highten your awareness of immediate surroundings. Do you go on these walks at the exact same time all the time? Maybe you can change up your pattern? Maybe have a neighbor who wouldn't mind walking with you occasionally?

I've also read about certain chemicals, ok.. no pc'g here, drugs, [meth, PCP, etc] that are emitted from sweat that dogs are able to pick up on. Like if someone is on a high at that time that can cause a dog to react different towards that person than they might otherwise. It may be even less threatening of a particular chemical, ie chemo, {cancer patient}.

It could also be possible that your dog may have been trained in the past but when they fail to muster on any one particular point then the agency that had her either most likely gives the dog up for adoption [hopefully to the particular breed rescue groups] or one of the other officers is willing to make the dog part of their family. How a dog of that calling fell into the Humane Society's hands is unknown but anything's possible.

Not sure if you've mixed up me (who started the thread) and MAK802 (who is the lady whose husband travels) but I thought I'd respond.

Good advice about not getting into too much of a routine. Unfortunately, in today's world this is something that has to be a concern. In fact, that is one of the reasons that I started taking Gracie on my walks with me. I'm not a nervous Nellie, but I do think people who are up to no good might think twice about trying something when I have a big dog with me. But even so, we do vary our routine and have several different parks and neighborhood routes that we take.

I've also wondered about whether Gracie was maybe a "drop-out" from some type of protection training. I probably misspoke when I said she has never shown any type of aggression. I can remember two other times - once when she first saw me put on gardening gloves, and she went crazy going after the gloves. And the other time was when my boyfriend came downstairs dressed in an all black tuxedo (he was in a wedding), and Gracie started growling and snarling at him. She was fine after she realized who he was, but it was still rather strange.

Maybe the guy did give off some strange scent (he wasn't wearing gloves or a tux!), or reminded her of something in her past. Or, maybe she just sensed something about him.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by janetvj

I've also wondered about whether Gracie was maybe a "drop-out" from some type of protection training. I probably misspoke when I said she has never shown any type of aggression. I can remember two other times - once when she first saw me put on gardening gloves, and she went crazy going after the gloves. And the other time was when my boyfriend came downstairs dressed in an all black tuxedo (he was in a wedding), and Gracie started growling and snarling at him. She was fine after she realized who he was, but it was still rather strange.

I think that is very frightening! Just imagine if you weren't able to restrain the dog and she pulled free when you were on your recent walk!

It would be VERY WISE to try to learn what recall command she was taught for calling her off an attack----for the safety of others!

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I think that is very frightening! Just imagine if you weren't able to restrain the dog and she pulled free when you were on your recent walk!

It would be VERY WISE to try to learn what recall command she was taught for calling her off an attack----for the safety of others!

I appreciate your concern, but she listens to me. I posted the question because I was curious as to why she would react this way in the first place, not because I was looking for advice as to how to control her. Besides, as I said I adopted her from the humane society, and the only information they gave me was that she had been brought in as a stray. I have no idea of her background. But I trust her completely around my 3 year old granddaughter (she is great with her), and she also gets along fine with my other animals. She has never hurt anyone or anything; she is not at all vicious. And she is absolutely devoted to me.

[ShelbyGirl1]

I am more than sure she was tested by the humane society for any aggressions. People are jumping the gun on her "past" attack dog status/protection training
I am glad you have her and she has found a great forever home!

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by ShelbyGirl1

I am more than sure she was tested by the humane society for any aggressions. People are jumping the gun on her "past" attack dog status/protection training
I am glad you have her and she has found a great forever home!

Thank you ShelbyGirl1! I appreciate you saying that. And she does have a home forever - I am crazy about her.

Honestly, I doubt she would make much of an attack dog even if it were true that she was trained that way. She is really kind of a wienie. She lets my little 5 pound cat push her around.

[ShelbyGirl1]

Your very welcome. Have you posted pics of Gracie and I missed them? Would love to see her!

[mrs1885]

I truly believe animals can sense things. They know 'bad' people.

Call me crazy. It's what I believe. And when there is no other explanation - she's behaved normally with everyone / everything else - and reacts so unusually for this one person........... I think she was telling you something. Don't bring him home for dinner.