Can dogs sense when a person is a bad person?

[friend of m and j]

I have read a lot of stories about dogs sensing whether a person is a bad person or a good person. If you are walking your dog in the park and meet a friend your dog is likely to leave your side and run over with his tail wagging to greet your friend. If a few minutes latter you meet a guy you know who is a..hole and a scumbag your dog is likely stay by your side as if to protect you. If the scum bag keeps coming toward you and speaks to the dog and reaches down to pet him, the dog is likely to start growling at him. And if the scum bag keeps it up you might have to restrain your dog to keep it from biting him.

I think someone should give Barron (Melania's son) a dog for his birthday or for Christmas. It wouldn't matter if it was a Chihuahua or a pit bull - just a breed that has a reputation for protecting it's master.

How long would it take before it bit Trump?

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, I'd trust my dogs more than not, but I think they are just very good at reading body language

And face it, the assholes in our lives tend to project it physically. While people who are kind, compassionate, welcoming, project that as well.

[RainCaster]

2. Not all dogs get out right

I had a GSD APB mix once that got it right always, even when I didn't. But I now have a beagle that refuses to get acquainted with an old friend, no matter what. Everyone agrees that he's a good guy. YMMV

[Patterson]

17. Beagles are very aloof

[Me.]

3. I've Allways Heard & Believe

you can tell a lot about a person by the way babies and dogs react to them.


Have to ask...M & J on 6th Ave. NYC.?

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Heard the same,

seems to be some truth to it.

[napi21]

4. YES! Dogs know when not to trust someone. ALWAYS, is a person has a dog, the first

bit of advice I give them is "Always trust your dog." When a dog reacts to someone with either a low growl, or they lay their ears back and they back away, he's telling you I don't like this person. You may not know why they're reacting this was, but in time, you'll find out.

[marybourg]

5. No. They can sense how their

owner responds to her/him.

[TrunKated]

7. good and bad are not always simple...

... they can read some things, but often bad people are good to pets and certain small groups of people, but are very bad to others.

And often sociopaths can hide their evils.

I've been discussing this with some friends and family and we've come to the conclusion that sociopathy can be on a scale. Good to your small tribe; manipulate immoral and very bad to others, with no remorse or empathy.

[tblue37]

9. Hitler loved dogs. nt

[Dale Neiburg]

8. I would hope it wouldn't.

It would likely be a case of, as the old poem put it:

"The man recovered of the bite, it was the dog that died."

[Beringia]

10. I don't think so

I think most dogs react by deciding whether you are the alpha or they are the alpha.

Some dogs have been bred to not even behave as wild animals normally do, a tiny dog might charge a crocodile, just read about that the other day.

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. That whole alpha stuff went out years ago.

It's not even true in wolf packs. Depends on what's going on at the time. Mostly the packs are loosely structured.

Dogs can sure sense aggression. They can also sense if a person is acting weird. Or if their behavior is off.

Some dogs don't like men. Some don't like women. Some are threatened by kid's unpredictable behavior.



But it also depends on the breed. Some breeds are careful around any strangers. Others love everybody.

If you see a dog's hair stand on end don't reach out to pet him.

I work with dogs every day.

[samnsara]

11. i had a large female Akita mix who could..i think they are sensitive to certain body movements..

..that make them weary of certain people.

[StarryNite]

12. Some dogs are good at sensing things like that.

Others, not so much.

[Harker]

13. I've never been bitten by one...

so I'd like to think they sense my camaraderie.

[kurtcagle]

14. Smell and body language

Dogs can smell pheromones, including those produced by fear (either in their owners or in strangers interacting with their owners), but they also react to the body language of the "alpha" of their pack, which is usually the owner. They are usually also sensitive to people who are sick (such as with cancer), as this changes the body chemistry in enough ways to change how people smell. They're also usually more predisposed to be protective of their owner's "pack", again, determined by the scents that related people have.

I've often found that, when confronted by a dog, the best thing you can do is to put your hand out, palm down, and let them sniff you while acting in a non-threatening manner. If they still act aggressive, then moving into a non-threatening stance is best, while not running away.

[Codeine]

16. Balderdash.

Dogs are just dogs. People want to ascribe all sorts of nonsense powers to them but they’re just dogs.

Here’s one demonstrating a remarkable sense of evil;



Leopoldo II posing with a pooch who seems unconcerned by his genocidal tendencies;



Peron and wife with puppers;