Dogs just "know".

[Papa Deuce]

I had my annual pig roast this past weekend. About 50 people.... anyway, during the week, one of my wife's coworkers called to say he was attending. He left a voice message. When I heard it, my first thought was "That guy sounds kind of strange".

When I gave my wife the message, she agreed that he was "different".

Anyway, the guy shows up at the party and is in my kitchen. My Golden Retriever is outside. She is the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever had. Totally trustworthy. And a little bit of a coward, I always thought.

Anyway, someone let her in the kitchen, and right away I saw she wanted to find something.... Well, that something was this guy! She ran over to him and started barking and snarling at this guy!

He took one look at my dog and said "I have to go; dogs always do this to me".... and he said his goodbyes, and my dog went back to being "normal"...

Dogs just "know".

 

[Serena]

My Maxie was like this too.

 

[debknight]

Sorry, but, what is it that they "know"? Is this a joke or something?

 

[hereyago]

Dogs can sense if a person doens't have good intentions.

My hus/rot was a big hold me everyone wants to play with dog. A few years ago, had work done on the house. He liked everyone except this one guy and when my DD was home, my pup would just sit by her side and showed his teeth to this guy.
The guy didn't come back to work after that and the boss said later the guy had apparently stolen some equipment from him.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Glad your dog got the weirdo to go away

OT, but what time did ya'll end up having 'dinner'??

 

[Papa Deuce]

Glad your dog got the weirdo to go away

OT, but what time did ya'll end up having 'dinner'??

about 5:15ish.

 

[Beca]

One time I walked into a friend's house to see her home and meet her two dogs (chow mixes). She had told me not to worry, that they loved EVERYONE!!

Well...they didn't love me. The submissive one went and hid, and the dominant one just barked and barked. I was so disappointed, as I LOVE animals. My friend looked at me and asked, "Could you be pregnant?" We were trying to get pg, so I replied, "Possibly". She said, "Oh my gosh....you ARE pregnant....you'll find out in a couple of weeks." When I asked how she knew, she said, "Not me...it's my dogs. The only time they have EVER barked at women was women who were pregnant....I think they think you are coming into this home as the 'alpha female' and are trying to take my place."

Sure enough....about 9 months later I had my baby girl!!!

I think dogs can know a LOT of things!!

 

[Imzadi]

OT, but what time did ya'll end up having 'dinner'??

Yes, tell us about your pig roast. What music and theme did you end up with? How did it go, other than this guy?

One time I walked into a friend's house to see her home and meet her two dogs (chow mixes). She had told me not to worry, that they loved EVERYONE!!

Well...they didn't love me. The submissive one went and hid, and the dominant one just barked and barked. I was so disappointed, as I LOVE animals. My friend looked at me and asked, "Could you be pregnant?" We were trying to get pg, so I replied, "Possibly". She said, "Oh my gosh....you ARE pregnant....you'll find out in a couple of weeks." When I asked how she knew, she said, "Not me...it's my dogs. The only time they have EVER barked at women was women who were pregnant....I think they think you are coming into this home as the 'alpha female' and are trying to take my place."

Sure enough....about 9 months later I had my baby girl!!!

I think dogs can know a LOT of things!!

Beca, that's a great story!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think they "know" too. A few weeks ago my BIL joined the family at a party. Now he is weird and most of us try to avoid him. My nieces dog went berserk when he went near him. That dog hadn'e so much as whined at any one until he arrived.

Many years ago I used to work for a neighbors brother on the weekends. My husband worked nights. This guy insisted on paying me in person. He thought he was some kind of ladies man and made moves on a lot of women. My dog was a huge German Shepard who would sit in front of me, bare his teeth and growl softly until he left.

 

[Andy B]

Sorry I don't see how you can say the dog knows if there is nothing shown to know! He is a co-worker with your wife and yet you still put what he may be known about?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I believe that dogs know when you are an animal person. I definitely think they can sense it. My DD has been talking about being a vet since she was 3 ("animal doctor" back then). Every dog we meet gravitates towards her. I believe they can just sense her feelings of love towards anything four footed and furry.
I've trained her to ask everyone if she can pet their dog prior to her putting her hand out. It scares the crap out of me some days to be perfectly honest.

PD - good thing the weirdo left.

 

[phorsenuf]

I had my annual pig roast this past weekend. About 50 people.... anyway, during the week, one of my wife's coworkers called to say he was attending. He left a voice message. When I heard it, my first thought was "That guy sounds kind of strange".

When I gave my wife the message, she agreed that he was "different".

Anyway, the guy shows up at the party and is in my kitchen. My Golden Retriever is outside. She is the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever had. Totally trustworthy. And a little bit of a coward, I always thought.

Anyway, someone let her in the kitchen, and right away I saw she wanted to find something.... Well, that something was this guy! She ran over to him and started barking and snarling at this guy!

He took one look at my dog and said "I have to go; dogs always do this to me".... and he said his goodbyes, and my dog went back to being "normal"...

Dogs just "know".

If my dog started barking and growling at a guest in my home he would get locked up. My guess is your wife's co-worker left because he was afraid of the dog and was made to feel unwelcome in your home by you not doing anything about the dogs behavior. Sometime dogs can sense when someone is afraid and that makes the dog act up.

As far as him being strange and different, maybe he just has a hard time with social situations. It's not an uncommon thing.

 

[sbell111]

Agreed. Allowing your dog to bark and growl at a guest is beyond rude. If I were the guest, I would have left, also.

 

[Veronica Lodge]

Sorry, I think the only thing your dog "knew" was that this guest was uncomfortable around dogs. I know a lot of dogs can sense that apprehension or discomfort.

It sounds to me like this man may have just been a bit awkward in social situations and it came through in his phone message, your dog sensed his apprehension when the man arrived, and he used it as an excuse to leave. I hope your wife apologized for your dog and for the fact that you didn't crate up the animal so he would feel comfortable enough to stay a while.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I believe that dogs know when you are an animal person. I definitely think they can sense it. My DD has been talking about being a vet since she was 3 ("animal doctor" back then). Every dog we meet gravitates towards her. I believe they can just sense her feelings of love towards anything four footed and furry.
I've trained her to ask everyone if she can pet their dog prior to her putting her hand out. It scares the crap out of me some days to be perfectly honest.

PD - good thing the weirdo left.

My grandmother was NOT an animal person, yet every dog seemed to be drawn to her wherever we went..it was hilarious! She of course would pet them, then fuss as we got in the car about how she doesn't even like dogs...

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Anyway, the guy shows up at the party and is in my kitchen. My Golden Retriever is outside. She is the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever had. Totally trustworthy. And a little bit of a coward, I always thought.

Anyway, someone let her in the kitchen, and right away I saw she wanted to find something.... Well, that something was this guy! She ran over to him and started barking and snarling at this guy!

He took one look at my dog and said "I have to go; dogs always do this to me".... and he said his goodbyes, and my dog went back to being "normal"...

Dogs just "know".

Agreed. Allowing your dog to bark and growl at a guest is beyond rude. If I were the guest, I would have left, also.

But...according to OP, someone let the dog into the kitchen and this was an initial reaction...not ongoing... Seems the guest didnt' even give them a chance to do anything with the dog before using it as an 'excuse' to leave.

Guests who would leave so quickly probably wouldnt' have had fun anyways

 

[pooh_bear.614]

I agree that pets "know" things 100% but I also think they know when someone is afraid of them. Im terrified of dogs because I've been attacked by several bad doggies so I think they sense that and act up as well as picking out the "bad seeds"

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I had my annual pig roast this past weekend. About 50 people.... anyway, during the week, one of my wife's coworkers called to say he was attending. He left a voice message. When I heard it, my first thought was "That guy sounds kind of strange".

When I gave my wife the message, she agreed that he was "different".

Anyway, the guy shows up at the party and is in my kitchen. My Golden Retriever is outside. She is the sweetest, most gentle dog I have ever had. Totally trustworthy. And a little bit of a coward, I always thought.

Anyway, someone let her in the kitchen, and right away I saw she wanted to find something.... Well, that something was this guy! She ran over to him and started barking and snarling at this guy!

He took one look at my dog and said "I have to go; dogs always do this to me".... and he said his goodbyes, and my dog went back to being "normal"...

Dogs just "know".

You're absolutely right. They also know when people don't really like them...in other words, people who are trying to fake it (like my roommate's girlfriend....the dogs won't have anything to do with her. In fact, last time she was here she called one to come over in front of my roommate and the dog literally turned his nose up at her and walked over to me.) Dogs are extremely intuitive.

 

[Disneefun]

The dog I had growing up used to bark at every guy except my dad. We called her "man hater" and joked that she only liked dad b/c he paid for the kibble. Every male neighbor, contractor, etc. got barked at, but not the women. When I started bringing dates home she barked at every single one and snarled at a few. The only one she didn't bark at was my now DH. When I brought him home, she just went right up to him, nuzzled his leg and sat at his feet. It was like an endorsement. It was like she was saying, "This one's good for you. I approve."

 

[raysnkaysmom]

The dog I had growing up used to bark at every guy except my dad. We called her "man hater" and joked that she only liked dad b/c he paid for the kibble. Every male neighbor, contractor, etc. got barked at, but not the women. When I started bringing dates home she barked at every single one and snarled at a few. The only one she didn't bark at was my now DH. When I brought him home, she just went right up to him, nuzzled his leg and sat at his feet. It was like an endorsement. It was like she was saying, "This one's good for you. I approve."

aww...thats sweet