When you think about this question, isn’t it kind of impossible to define how we ourselves understand if a certain person is good or bad?
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How would you explain the love that dogs give to people that are considered “bad” people?
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So why do dogs like some people, but dislike others?
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The most probable answer to this question is that dogs use a certain person’s (or their owner’s) behavior in a particular situation as a guide.
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Some dogs might be aggressive and cautious to people who they think behave differently from what they are familiar with: they can see a threat in these people’s behavior.
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For example, drunk people often cause caution and confusion in dogs.
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Dogs also don’t like people who are nervous in their presence, those who speak loudly or make sudden moves. They may view this behavior as threatening.
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Pets can read their owners’ signals, even if the owners don’t notice them themselves.
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So, if we don’t like someone, it’s natural that our dogs are careful around that person too (and then we often interpret it as a sign that this person is truly not good).
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Dogs are more sensitive to non-verbal cues than people.
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Even if you can’t understand what causes you dog’s negative feelings, he/she would certainly give you a detailed list of reasons if only he/she could speak. 🐶
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Sometimes your dog’s dislike of someone is very much reasonable.
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For example, in a situation when a dog notices signals of a threat that you can’t see. But it’s not always like that.
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There are also times when dogs are apprehensive towards people who are not of any threat to either of you, just because they seem a bit “strange” to them.
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That’s why it’s so important to use the socialization period to introduce the puppy to as many people as possible.
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Such socialized dogs will not necessarily be friendly to everyone, but at least neutral to the majority of people.
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What are your thoughts about it? 👇
