In my experience animals are very good at telling bad people from good. I'm not saying you should write this guy off immediately but if it was me I would be on my toes.

Well, I don't know if a dog can exactly pick a partner for anyone but if there's anything I know about dogs is that they are good judges of character. They can usually sense if a person is also a dog lover. And they can also sense if people are scared or wary of them.

I would go for the opposite of what people had said already, maybe your dog was a little jealous because there was, definitely, something in the air going on there, and you can't blame the guy for that!

That being said, just be in the lookup for any aggressive behavior that could come out of this situation because that could be a problem.

Like others have responded before me, dogs are very skilled at sniffing out the truth. If someone means you harm, chances are they'll catch onto it faster than you will.

Yet, dogs can also be jealous. I mean, who wouldn't be? Suddenly a new human is getting the affection that they want. Of course there's going to be tension haha.

I believe it is just a jealousy side of thing in this case, because both of your dog and the new guy haven't properly introduced. The guy came to your house and you showed affection so your dog just wanted to know who he is sharing your love with. Other than this, I don't think he smells the "bad guy" case!

If you are in your yard, and your neighbor approached the fence, and your dog gets aggressive, then I believe he smells something "bad" about the guy.

Ha, this is an interesting question and the straight answer has to be not... 🙂 I mean, surely that we are attached to our dogs, but at the same time we need to draw a line.

As for your dog [USER=14]@Annemarie[/USER] surely that he was feeling a connection between you too and he felt that guy might get in the way! Dogs are very clever. 😉

Many animals are able to sense moods. Cats and Dogs sometimes to this extremely well. If your special one is a dog person and seem like a good person, then your doggy will aggravate to him/her much easier and like her. Animals are smart and fair. They won't try to lie to you.

However, this isn't a fairy tale or movie! Don't expect magic. Haha.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I will give it another go (obviously - because I like the guy ... and I want to see where it goes!) It's always difficult, I guess, when you come to someone's home for the first time anyway. I think we were both a bit nervous to be on my home turf and wondering where the evening would go. So maybe that's just what was going on. In any case, I agree, it's not as if my dog showed fear or barked in aggression. It was more just a less-friendly reaction than I was hoping for or expecting. I will continue to see what happens. Thanks again!

No problem. 🙂 I think that the next date you should try it without the dog, try to see how that works out and if you do like the guy you can start introducing him to the dog in a non-competitive environment.

[USER=65]@oportosanto[/USER] - That's a good idea. Butters (my dog) often goes to my sister's apartment (not only to be dog-sat but also because my sister loves him and loves to "borrow" him and spoil him). Maybe I can send Butters there next time my guy comes over, and if we keep going as I think we'll be going I think we can gather at my sister's house - and Butters and my guy can get to know each other there. It's a good suggestion!

Hmmm... Well, dogs can sense if you're uncomfortable in a situation or in a person, that I know of. They pick up on these cues and that's why they are wary of strangers. I guess even if a person doesn't personally like another person, dogs pick up on that sense as well. In your case, it might be that the guy makes you feel something and the dog senses that as a new feeling.

In any case, dogs are very much experts in reading body language and using their sense of smell. If they do have reservations about other people, it's wise to be on the lookout as well.

Good luck!

I've been in a situation similar before, just that it was a friend of mine. This started when I was around 10 years old, I had a different puppy back then. Everytime my dog saw this good friend of mine, he would go crazy aggressive, it was hate at first sight for them. It was so obvious everybody noticed and we used to make fun of it. I keep that friend for almost my entire life until a few years ago when he totally betrayed me. I can't help to think my dog somehow knew about it.

[USER=55]@Fermin420[/USER] - Wow! That's some story! First of all, so sorry that your lifelong friend wound up totally betraying you. That is AWFUL. Reminds me of that saying "The saddest thing about betrayal: it never comes from your enemies". I wish that could be different, but I've had it happen myself and there's nothing worse than getting a knife in the back from someone you loved and trusted as a friend.
Meanwhile though - I wonder if your friend had some deep dark seed of mean-spiritedness towards you that your dog sensed? Something so small that it was almost invisible, but just enough for your dog to see? The way animals can hear that high whistle that we humans can't hear at all.
My dog wasn't bad to my guy - just not as friendly. So we shall see. But thanks for the story, Fermin420.

[USER=55]@Fermin420[/USER] I wonder if your friend had some deep dark seed of mean-spiritedness towards you that your dog sensed? Something so small that it was almost invisible, but just enough for your dog to see? The way animals can hear that high whistle that we humans can't hear at all.

I can't believe what you just wrote, that's exactly what I think! So accurate its ridiculous. Just be careful not to confuse this with your dog being jealous or dominant. Based on what you said about your dog being just not that friendly, I think you can discern the difference. Also, I think our dogs warn us of things all the time, we just don't get it.