I live in the middle of a busy urban neighborhood and Wallace has shown her ability to assess situations and people many times (she is a 1 1/2). Normally she considers herself the welcoming committee for our building, but one evening someone from one of the bars across the street decided to take a nap on the front steps as we were coming out for a walk. She started barking and would not let me move forward (blocked me and bumped into my legs to make me back up) and would not stop for anything until the guy got up and moved on down the sidewalk. All of my neighbors on the porch clapped for her... She also will act differently depending on who is walking her- the homeless guy that can't come near me, she played with when my dad walked her. If she hears anyone running up behind us (people jogging), she stops and looks and waits for me to tell her it is okay. She has never tried to hurt anyone (she just barks until they go away), but I have full faith in her determination to protect me.