Chewy went after our neighbor!

[Chewy's Mom]

When we got home from the dog park last night around 9pm, I let Chewy out of the back of the SUV as usual - not on a leash. We do this all the time, and he just runs and bounces his way to the front door. Well, last night, he jumped down and ran growling and barking at our next door neighbor. It freaked me out, and it scared our neighbor, who just froze in hopes that Chewy wouldn't bite him.

My hubby had to go and get Chewy away from the poor guy, and had to put him on leash to get him inside. Chewy has never done this before. Do you think maybe he was in guard dog mode since it was dark outside? The neighbor is a man in his 40's who is not a "dog person," though his wife and kids love our dogs.

At the time this happened, the neighbor was in his driveway, inbetween his two trucks, so maybe since Chewy couldn't clearly see who it was, do you think he could have thought it was a bad guy lurking around? But he was still barking and growling even after he saw it was just the neighbor. Chewy didn't bite him, but really ran after him and scared the guy. I just don't know what to think. He has been acting more aggressively the past month or so, and it's just such a change, because he used to be the most passive pup in the whole world. He is neutered, and he has met this neighbor before. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[candi&champagne]

Champagne has done something similar but it was in my yard and the kids were running around and she got right into theis one childs face...she didn't break the skin but she snapped at her and she has done this to this one girl only and it has happened twice...is it my dog or the girl that is the problem here?? I have to wonder since she has never done that to anyone else and only her twice??? Any suggestions?

 

[KC]

I think you are right - he probably didn't recognize him! My doggies have even barked at my hubby when he came in the house late and was sort of in the shadows! Chalk it up to a lesson learned - don't let him go off leash unless he's enclosed. I don't know how many times I've heard . . . "he never ran after cats before" or "he never seemed to mind kids on bikes before." There is always that first time for everything! I'm just glad everything turned out OK! Now that you know he'll do that - I'm sure you'll leash up! It's such a helpless feeling to watch them dash off away from you - especially toward another person! Hope your neighbor was understanding!

 

[Chewy's Mom]

Yup. Chewy definitely goes back on leash duty. Wishful thinking that he'd never run off like that, I guess. And yes, the neighbor was understanding - but scared. I just felt awful about it.

 

[P's Poppa]

Prince did that same thing to my wife. She was outside one night watering the flowers on the dark side of our house. I was taking him for a walk in the field, he didn't know she was out there and she came from behind a bush. Its a good thing he was on lead, she said a few times,"Its MOMMY, Its ME...MOMMY! Then he calmed down. It scared her a little, but we know he will protect his family....