Don't like certain people?

[MacFish]

Vegas comes to work with me everyday so he meets 20 people a day minimum. I have had no problems with him so far. In the last couple weeks Vegas met someone he just can't stand! First time, it was a lady and her 2 kids. The next time, she just brought her son. Since Vegas growled and barked both times at the boy, I figured he just didn't like him for some reason. She came in today with her daughter and Vegas flipped out again so I guess it's the whole family he doesn't like.

He doesn't look like he is going to bite or anything but as soon as he sees this family, he barks and growls the whole time they are in there. I grab him as soon as I see them, and put him in his crate but every-time he hears their voice, he starts barking again.

I don't think there is anything bad about the family. They seem nice enough. Is it possible they are some wacko family and Vegas senses it? Or is it normal for dogs to just not like certain people?

Luckily, the Mother seems to understand and doesn't get upset. The kids seem pretty nervous so I know that doesn't help matters.

Any ideas?

 

[Boxer_21]

As I've learned, boxers are wary of strangers. They can and do sometimes sense things about someone that we can't. Maybe he senses or feels that something isn't right about this woman.

It's weird, but it's also possible that he just doesn't like her period. There may be no special reason, but maybe there's something about the way she carries herself or something.

As I read somewhere from Dan (Tulsa_Dan), dogs are like people in that they will like some people, but not others. Sometimes there may be no special reason and that's just the way it is. :rolleyes:

Good job socializing him. I wish I could bring my boys to work with me everyday. :(

PS. I'm very glad to read that you're not trying to force Vegas into meeting this woman up close and personal. That could do more bad than good.

 

[Az Boxr Lovr]

Hi...I have run into the same situation with Joe on three occasions. He did not like a boy that came over to visit my daughter, (which is fine with me:D ) he didn't like a man at the vets and he didn't like a police man. I have no idea why he singled these people out, but I'm sure they did something wrong in their past and he picked up on it!:p

Cheryl and Joelovicon

 

[tanya22]

So far Ava loves everyone. ( a puppy thing I think).
My previous boxer was like Vegas. She was exposed to the public every day. There were 3 people she did not like. She never learned to either.
I even think she snaped at the one lady. The lady, Connie, said the dog was playing and the nip was an accident. Jasmine was 13 and did not play with strangers. I was very careful after that but never did figure out why she picked the 3 people. lady, teenage girl and hispanic male. The teenage girl did talk to Jasmine in a high pitched, annoying voice but other than that?

I hope Ava continues her happy go lucky ways.

 

[douma]

Avra comes to work with me every day since puppy and now she is 3y and 4months old
Usually, she would meet about 5-10 people a day (they are not clients,ét's wholesale) and most of them she had met before,but she always bark and growls when they are out of the door and then we open it,sometimes she would still growl and sometimes she would wag her tail
So,when someone of us speak with this person ,someone else would play with Avra or if we couldn't at this time ,then i would tell her to stay and give her treats until the person go away.
I think,one of Boxers attributes is to be wary of strangers

Sophia and Avra

 

[douma]

...and i want to add that when a child comes with his/her parent to our work,i'm veeery watchful because Avra growls much more then, she doesn't like people who stare her and usually children are very afraid of her,so they would look at her eyes very hard:(

 

[sparsey]

I've found that with Ruby, if someone is afraid of dogs, she picks up on it and that sets her off. It's like she knows they are afraid and wants to scare them. I think sometimes she doesn't like certain people as well. Angel seems to like most people. She usually wants to meet everyone that is out walking when we are.

 

[Zannie]

madie is alittle standoffish until she knows ya then shes good my akita hates drunk people or anyone who is off it's wierd then he does have a list of people he just don't like and he lets them know it its been realy hard i raised him with nothing but love and did sociaze him as a pup but he still is a dog that i need to watch very careful............

ann

 

[MacFish]

I guess I will have to watch him more closely. Until now, he has the run of the place. I don't want the kids to corner him so I always pull him away before they have the chance.

It is very odd. He loves everyone usually.

 

[jazzzman]

What is Vegas' history? How old is he? Is he intact?

:confused: