Barking and lunging at men

Scarlettsmom · 01-20-2012, 03:55 PM

Scarlett has always been a little more protective of me...(the food source?). Today, at the end of our walk, an older couple passed us and the man asked "Is that a white GSD?" Before I could even answer, Scarlett growled, lunged and barked at him! She hasn't done that in over a year, to anyone. I was mortified!!

The man said, "nevermind, I don't want to know." It was more like she was trying to scare him off. I guess men can't talk to "momma"? What's up with this behaviour? I need to somewhat discourage it. I KNOW I wasn't giving off "oh oh scary man" vibes.

This doesn't bode well for our interview to do therapy dog work at the hospital next week. Do I need to prepare myself that therapy dog work is perhaps not in the cards for Scarlett??

Any suggestions how to discourage this behaviour when it is not warranted? Can I?

I was seriously embarassed. The man just spoke out loud to me and she acted like he was out to get me...

Good_Karma · 01-20-2012, 05:17 PM

Is it a rare occurence for strangers to speak to you? I'd want to test this out again. Can you set up a male friend to encounter you on a walk (someone new to Scarlett) and see if it happens again? Maybe it's just a fluke? I think you need more data. Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm sure others with more experience will chime in.

Scarlettsmom · 01-20-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Good_Karma

Is it a rare occurence for strangers to speak to you? I'd want to test this out again. Can you set up a male friend to encounter you on a walk (someone new to Scarlett) and see if it happens again? Maybe it's just a fluke? I think you need more data. Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm sure others with more experience will chime in.

It's actually very common for total strangers to approach us. Men, women and kids. She hasn't done this to ANY men in this neighborhood before. It was just so weird.

I think you are right though. I will see if my friend Joe will help me out. Scarlett has never met him IRL.

Thanks...

chelle · 01-20-2012, 06:57 PM

Hmm! Was there ANYthing "different" about this guy from any other random stranger? Anything at all?

Scarlettsmom · 01-20-2012, 08:48 PM

I have been thinking about that. Nothing I can think of. It was so out of the blue for her to react that way. Beyond being totally mortified, I am concerned what will happen when we start attempting therapy work. I am out at most $50 if she is a total failure, but I would still be so embarassed. This reaction came out of no where. Totally NOT what I would have been expecting. I suspect she needs more socializing anyway, but I was thinking more in unfamiliar areas...not our home turf.

chelle · 01-20-2012, 08:57 PM

Maybe there was something about him that was different that you didn't pick up on. Maybe something very vague.? I sure don't know. Bailey hasn't barked at anyone for a good long while, and then he barked at a retarded boy at the park the other day. I felt like CRAP over that, but thought about it later and the boy was really odd with his physical movements, and sort of "lunging" out towards the dogs... Anyway, Bailey certainly "saw" it. In my case, it wasn't hard to figure out why my dog had a small reaction. Scarlett must've seen/sensed something about him. I don't really think it means it is about a guy necessarily? It is perplexing why a dog reacts to someone who seems just like anyone else. I chalk it up to them perceiving something that we don't. I don't think a normally stable dog just randomly barks without any reason. Maybe he smelled bad.

TheActuary · 01-20-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlettsmom

Scarlett has always been a little more protective of me...(the food source?).

It's not because you are the food source (that's a myth). Dogs become attached to the person/people who care for them through interaction and training. So rest assured, your dog loves you for you not because you feed her! =p

As for barking at the stranger... I'd bet she just sensed something about this person that you could not pick up on. Who knows... maybe he sends out weird vibes (serial killer?! jk).

iBaman · 01-22-2012, 01:58 PM

My family's pit does stuff like this. If we're out walking and he sees someone, generally he's very happy and excited (he greets the elementary students as they walk home from school), but on rare occasions, he goes craaaazzzzyyyy. He's not big on homeless people, druggies or crazy people, and he lets us know when they're approaching us. =3

01-20-2012, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scarlettsmom Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 734	Barking and lunging at men Scarlett has always been a little more protective of me...(the food source?). Today, at the end of our walk, an older couple passed us and the man asked "Is that a white GSD?" Before I could even answer, Scarlett growled, lunged and barked at him! She hasn't done that in over a year, to anyone. I was mortified!! The man said, "nevermind, I don't want to know." It was more like she was trying to scare him off. I guess men can't talk to "momma"? What's up with this behaviour? I need to somewhat discourage it. I KNOW I wasn't giving off "oh oh scary man" vibes. This doesn't bode well for our interview to do therapy dog work at the hospital next week. Do I need to prepare myself that therapy dog work is perhaps not in the cards for Scarlett?? Any suggestions how to discourage this behaviour when it is not warranted? Can I? I was seriously embarassed. The man just spoke out loud to me and she acted like he was out to get me... __________________ Scarlett WGSD 2/07 CGC TDI Paige Husky/GSD mix 2/95-12/08 In a life and death situation, do something. . .. It may be wrong, but do something!

01-20-2012, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Good_Karma Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 4,103	Is it a rare occurence for strangers to speak to you? I'd want to test this out again. Can you set up a male friend to encounter you on a walk (someone new to Scarlett) and see if it happens again? Maybe it's just a fluke? I think you need more data. Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm sure others with more experience will chime in. __________________ Leah: Newbie dog owner Niko: American Showline GSD 2 1/2 years old Rosa: American Muppet Dog (GSD/Border Collie mix) 3 years old

01-20-2012, 06:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,841	Hmm! Was there ANYthing "different" about this guy from any other random stranger? Anything at all? __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

01-20-2012, 08:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scarlettsmom Master Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 734	I have been thinking about that. Nothing I can think of. It was so out of the blue for her to react that way. Beyond being totally mortified, I am concerned what will happen when we start attempting therapy work. I am out at most $50 if she is a total failure, but I would still be so embarassed. This reaction came out of no where. Totally NOT what I would have been expecting. I suspect she needs more socializing anyway, but I was thinking more in unfamiliar areas...not our home turf. __________________ Scarlett WGSD 2/07 CGC TDI Paige Husky/GSD mix 2/95-12/08 In a life and death situation, do something. . .. It may be wrong, but do something!

01-20-2012, 08:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,841	Maybe there was something about him that was different that you didn't pick up on. Maybe something very vague.? I sure don't know. Bailey hasn't barked at anyone for a good long while, and then he barked at a retarded boy at the park the other day. I felt like CRAP over that, but thought about it later and the boy was really odd with his physical movements, and sort of "lunging" out towards the dogs... Anyway, Bailey certainly "saw" it. In my case, it wasn't hard to figure out why my dog had a small reaction. Scarlett must've seen/sensed something about him. I don't really think it means it is about a guy necessarily? It is perplexing why a dog reacts to someone who seems just like anyone else. I chalk it up to them perceiving something that we don't. I don't think a normally stable dog just randomly barks without any reason. Maybe he smelled bad. __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

01-22-2012, 01:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
iBaman Master Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 809	My family's pit does stuff like this. If we're out walking and he sees someone, generally he's very happy and excited (he greets the elementary students as they walk home from school), but on rare occasions, he goes craaaazzzzyyyy. He's not big on homeless people, druggies or crazy people, and he lets us know when they're approaching us. =3

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