Reading humans, how dogs see it. - Page 1

So, I'm curious on your guys thoughts about this.  I just went walking this morning, and we typically see people. My dogs may look their way for a second or two, but typically.....that's it.  Well today, my dog Buck....who is a Husky, looks at this one guy who is about 30 feet away.  He was very intense with his look towards the guy, but it was like he didn't like this guy, or sensed something bad about him.  This was a good 30 feet away though. As we get closer (the guy was in his yard talking on the phone) Buck still looks  so I corrected him, and walked back and forth a couple of times until Buck quit looking.  It sort of reminds me of a time we were at Petco, where Buck met a few people he liked....and then a guy that worked there came up to Buck with a treat and wanted him to sit.....Buck turns around in the opposite direction and sits looking the other way. He didn't like that guy, opposite reaction, but still.........Anyway with the instance today, the guy wasn't approaching us, we were just walking towards, and then by his yard.  As I walked by I heard him talking on the phone, and he sounded like a pretty rough character, someone I wouldn't really trust either.   But what are your thoughts on this part.....How far away can dogs "read" someone? 30 feet? 25 feet?  20? Only closer than that?  And what type of behaviors do your dogs show when they sense someone they don't trust? Avoidance? Ignore? Become more intense? Etc?  And what other isnight do you have on dogs "reading" humans? Do your dogs behave differently when you're physically sick or hurt? Emotionally hurt? I do know with Buck, if I am any of those, he tries to comfort me....the others do not. He is also very in tune to me more than any of the other dogs as well.

Certain people walking past our house, usually on the opposite side of the street will get a direct, persistant questioning bark from my dog. I can tell by his bark if he just wants to alert us of a possible shady character. I  always go and see what he is noticing. I always say good boy, you are a good watch dog, but then if I am not concerned about the individual I will just say something to the affect of, "It''s okay, this person is not our worry." He seems to feel good then, that the situation is under control.

(Most people know to cross the street in front of our house, they don't always seem to trust the e-fence sign, LOL!)

That does not look like a husky in  your avatar??  What a beauty.  Anyway I think it's the scent more than the picture.  I learned this with my prior service dog whom was mostly blind from pannus.  His nose did the work and it was a sensitive nose.  I think they get the scent for say at least 100 yards prior to your even seeing that person/object.  So at that point they have already made the decision if the person/object is a threat.  I think your guy was protecting you as husky's will do.  If you have a grey one watch people back away;  and shake in their boots.  They are very intimidaing looking and can stare a person down.  Dogs definitely feel your pain both emotionally and physically.  No question about it.  Have a great day  Nan

 haha Nans, no no.....That isn't a Husky in my avatar.  There are certain agouti colored Huskies who look like dark sable Shepherds though.....here is Buck along with his parents. That's a good point about the scent.  I wasn't thinking about dogs using that for some reason....but yeah, that and even detecting certain phsyical problems before they happen in certain people. Or like the Shepherd who would help that kid who has seizures.  I do remember k9 cops,  he said the dogs would track the guy from a certain scent.....a fear scent, but he had a name for it that we release when we're afraid. Anyone know?

Buck  

 

His mom, Sierra

 

And his dad, Max. These were a few weeks back when there was snow at the house. I usually take pictures of them all together, but I got a few separate photos of them.

 

Fear pheromone? 

www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/dec/03/fear-smell-pheromone

GSD guy08:  do you race them.  I used to have siberians also;  love that breed, so gorgeous and magestic;  smart and somewhat aloof all at once.  Sort of a complex breed;  but lovely.  we showed them in conformation;  didn't really have time to race but enjoyed watching friends dogs race and compete;  had to work to pay the dog feed bills, etc.  Love the breed though.  Enjoy them  Nan 

GSDguy- JMO,  no one but myself or my wife is ever allowed to tell my dog to sit or anything else, let alone get a treat.

If your dog does not like someone, you probably shouldn't either, JMO

Very nice looking dogs.

Kim

 Pirates Lair, don't worry, they don't listen to strangers, treat or no treat lol. I taught them well.  I let friends pet them, and people I know or trust. In public I do allow children to pet the Huskies since they all are fantastic with little kids.  But other than that, if someone tries to tell them to do something.....if they could show the person the middle finger they would lol.

Nans, I have a sled/cart coming Thursday. It has wheels on it, a brake, and a setup for three dogs. I'm so excited. I'll try to post video when we start doing it. They've run along side a "gator" before, but we haven't done any racing or anything. Had to work to pay the dogs food bill? How many do you have? Mine all eat roughly 2 and 1/2 cups a day and maintain 42, 44, and 53 lbs in weight for the three of them.  Definitely not the breed for everyone, but this and the Shepherds are my favorite two. 

Beetree I'll give that link a look here in a little bit.

 Mindhunt, this is why sometimes I like dogs better than people lol.  It's easier to trust dogs more than a lot of people.

And Nans, I'm going to try to have a camera with me the first few times I do it. I've taught them on command already to speed up, slow down, stop, obviously they know how to come here, but they can do left and right as well. Should be a lot of fun, and they'll enjoy it so much more than just walking each morning.

Beetree that sounds like what I was referring to....but I keep thinking they used a certain name for it. I use to have all of the k9 cops on my DVR, but erased most of them. Otherwise I'd go back and look at it.