What are your dogs tells, that he or she is serious and do you take them serious?

[TWW]

Just wondering if every ones pup had a tell, when you knew he or she means it?
How much do you trust it to dictate matters?

Mouse is pretty easy since he was around 9 months. His head rolls forward with all the wrinkles and the hair in the center of his back kind of makes a line like a ridgeback has, and he locks up.

Back story is neighbor beside me has a grandson that just got out of prison and is staying with him for now, me neighbor and Mouse get along great. Grandson, I have never seen Mouse go into full blown "I don't like you mode" with a person across the street, more than 20ft away across the street, Mouse just locks up and stares at him, with all the tell he hates him.
I know the guy has never been close to him or even on the same side of the street as him.

Guess the problem is neighbor knows I work a lot and mow the property next time mine which I bought and will fence in this summer when I take down the old fence, and I mow a friend next street over, and has asked if I would want his grandson to mow it for me (using my mower) for 30 dollars a week. (Actually very cheap for the amount of mowing).

My problem with it is guess, I just trust Mouse to much, with all he has done for the wife.

Am I just being nuts?

 

[Bob Felts]

TRUST YOUR DOG. PERIOD.

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[Max's mom]

Max has only reacted to two people this way. We are constantly around people who are recovering addicts/alcoholics/homeless/just out of prison. Some of them have shady pasts and probably still not very nice people. But, we volunteer doing therapy work there and I feel good that Max is accepting of all these folks. I am also relaxed because I know I am safe. He reacted to a paramedic at my husbands work that I do not care for, but it was just the "death stare" as I call it. No hackles. No growl. Now there's creepy guy who lives in the next neighborhood where we walk. He often cuts through our neighborhood on the way to his house. I ALWAYS know when he is walking through because of the way Max sounds barking and growling at the window. This guy stands with arms crossed in his driveway and questions me about why I have a dog so big, why my husband lets me walk the big dogs, asks where my husband is....He is very creepy. I avoided his house for a while by altering my route but Max can still see him in the yard as we are walking and he gets tense. There have been times he has absolutely frozen and growled a very deep but quiet growl. We worked with the trainer on this and she said he was probably reading my vibes because I am creeped out by the guy (did I mention he set his house on fire to get his renters out?). Part of it is that Max recognizes him and remembers how I feel. I think he also knows deep down that the guy represents a threat to me. The trainer encouraged me to not allow or praise that behavior and suggested that I treat him when we are near that guy or his property to distract Max. I've been doing this for months and have seen improvement. Max looks to me for a treat as we approach the house and I treat him several times and talk sweet to him as we walk by. I even greet the man nicely and with a calm voice when we walk by. Max sometimes tenses up especially if he is in our yard and the guy walks down our street. I have to admit, the last time he said something nasty as he walked by about my big dog out and could bite people, I called out to him that the only way my dog would bite him is if I told him to bite! Long way around saying that your dog probably senses your anxiety/unrest but also may just have a feeling about the person. I'm glad Max has a protective side, but it scares me that if Max feels he really needs to protect me...I may not be able to stop him. Max would get someone bad coming in my house before I could get and load my gun.

 

[Smokeycat]

When Kryten is serious his head and tail come up and he becomes a statue, no movement at all. I've noticed that he seems to be very sensitive to other people's fear and most of the people he has reacted to were afraid of him on sight. He has also reacted to individuals that were just creepy and he could tell before I could. After a couple of times I learnt to trust his judgement because he isn't biased by social norms or a desire to see people as good or bad. His instincts are better than mine. I just thank him for letting me know (doing his job) and keep going.
So to answer your question. No your not nuts. Mouse has shown that his instincts are strong.

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[glen]

I would trust him, when ours ar serious they stand so tall tails erect heckles stand up all the way down to the tail, we can also tell by there bark or growl.mouse is a good boy id go with his instincts.

 

[teodora]

I've never seen mine in full blown mode with humans. I've seen Jack once, with a previous neighbour's staffy. It was scary. But all the people he meets are his new best friends - he barks doing his job when someone approaches the house, but it's very obvious he means no harm, that bark is meant to inform only. With the staffy: he just froze. I touched him and I couldn't feel the usually soft puppy touch: he was like a stone. He didn't seem to be breathing.... The staffy turned around and took off, yelping out loud like he's been already been bitten. I've never seen that dog again around us.

 

[season]

I think it's 50 50. Just like we aren't always right in our judgement of people or situations neither are our dogs. Or more like we aren't correct in our judgement of what our dogs are reacting too. We can make things up in our heads that help us rationalize what we think our dogs are thinking. Although I know dogs have a good sense of things I'm not going to allow it to be my compass for every judgement/decision I make. I trust my gut.


Carpe Diem

 

[TWW]

I think it's 50 50. Just like we aren't always right in our judgement of people or situations neither are our dogs. Or more like we aren't correct in our judgement of what our dogs are reacting too. We can make things up in our heads that help us rationalize what we think our dogs are thinking. Although I know dogs have a good sense of things I'm not going to allow it to be my compass for every judgement/decision I make. I trust my gut. Carpe Diem

In part . Thought I know exactly who and what the reaction means, Mouse has only ever keyed on one other person like this before (a drunk yelling at the wife for walking such a big dog).
Guess my biggest issue is he is the only person ever Mouse has keyed on like this before I ever knew who it was (so had nothing to do with my reaction) and the guy has never been within 20ft of Mouse and if we are in the front yard when he comes out neighbors house, Mouse stops and head rolls forward, hair goes up and he becomes a statue, just watching the guy.


End of the day, There is no way Trish if Mouse reacted would be able to stop it, and it just don't feel right to me, so will go with Mouse and my gut
.

 

[fila4me]

I trust my girls.They have never been wrong before. In my experience, my Filas are pretty good judges of character. They have no signs that any who don't know them can read. They look relaxed to others, but I can feel the internal growl come up the leash. If said person gets too close, within 10-15ft. they will growl very low, but it can be heard, they do not break eye contact. I tell said person to back off and do not make eye contact. If they still don't listen the growl gets louder and hair from top of head to base of tail stands up and they will position themselves in front of me or in front of my kids (if they are with me) they will push the kids back to me. Usually doesn't go farther than this. Since only a complete idiot would not take heed. Only one time did it escalate past this point and the dude was bit on the arm. He suddenly reached in to my girls 6ft radius around us and she bit him and was back sitting at my side before he truly realized what had happened. He kind of looked in huge disbelief that she actually got him. He was a friend of a friend of my kids dad and we were in our front yard. He had one of those "all dogs love me" attitudes.

 

[Max's mom]

fila4me, you described Max's deep quiet growl.

 

[angelbears]

I love/hate that growl. It didn't happen a lot but when it did I knew shit was about to go down if I didn't get things under control. Cane would always go off when people were out around his yard but when he would freeze with that intense growl and head down, it was business and his business was protecting us.

 

[season]

I trust my girls.They have never been wrong before. In my experience, my Filas are pretty good judges of character. They have no signs that any who don't know them can read. They look relaxed to others, but I can feel the internal growl come up the leash. If said person gets too close, within 10-15ft. they will growl very low, but it can be heard, they do not break eye contact. I tell said person to back off and do not make eye contact. If they still don't listen the growl gets louder and hair from top of head to base of tail stands up and they will position themselves in front of me or in front of my kids (if they are with me) they will push the kids back to me. Usually doesn't go farther than this. Since only a complete idiot would not take heed. Only one time did it escalate past this point and the dude was bit on the arm. He suddenly reached in to my girls 6ft radius around us and she bit him and was back sitting at my side before he truly realized what had happened. He kind of looked in huge disbelief that she actually got him. He was a friend of a friend of my kids dad and we were in our front yard. He had one of those "all dogs love me" attitudes.

Having your dogs bite someone is a great way to get you in trouble and your dogs taken away. A "six foot radius" might be your rule but that isn't going to fly if someone gets bit and decides to press charges. No dog on leash should be biting anyone. That looks like the owner has zero control over their dogs. If you have your dogs in public you can't expect everyone to obey a "six foot radius" rule. Heck, some sidewalks aren't even six feet wide let alone 10-15'.

 

[season]

In my opinion if you know your dog's tells and they are ones that no one else can read and you know your dog's are capable of biting someone (wether they are friends on your property or strangers on the street) then it's your job to protect your dogs from themselves. Period. Don't rely on the person who got bit to understand the invisible six foot radius rule or to magically be able to read your unreadable dog's intentions. To me that is negligence. For me I protect my dog. I don't allow ppl to come up to him and just pet him. They listen to me. No questions asked. No repeating myself. They know I mean what I say. If Solo ever bit someone while under my leadership then that's my fault.


Carpe Diem

 

[fila4me]

Having your dogs bite someone is a great way to get you in trouble and your dogs taken away. A "six foot radius" might be your rule but that isn't going to fly if someone gets bit and decides to press charges. No dog on leash should be biting anyone. That looks like the owner has zero control over their dogs. If you have your dogs in public you can't expect everyone to obey a "six foot radius" rule. Heck, some sidewalks aren't even six feet wide let alone 10-15'.

Obviously you do not have Fila experience . The radius mentioned is not my rule, it is that of majority of Filas out there . I am not a novice with my breed, I was giving what they will do in the situation of a stranger. As I stated in my comment, this was in my yard. But I can and do take them out in public, without them biting and with the ability to keep strangers away. With over 22yrs with this breed you become very good at keeping people away . It's my responsibility to protect my dogs when I need them to be out in public. Not to worry if I'm rude to others in the process, so it works. A Fila will bite on lead if pushed, they are who they are. My first Fila bit a man that came up to us in the dark while she was in a leashed sit n stay. I was getting something iut of my car so indidnt see or hear him. He deserved it and she did her job. The man took of running away. Crazy things can and do happen at a dog show or a working weekend. My dogs are always very well trained, but they are still Filas. No amount of training or socialization will take away their ojeriza , it's genetic and what they are bred for.

 

[fila4me]

In my opinion if you know your dog's tells and they are ones that no one else can read and you know your dog's are capable of biting someone (wether they are friends on your property or strangers on the street) then it's your job to protect your dogs from themselves. Period. Don't rely on the person who got bit to understand the invisible six foot radius rule or to magically be able to read your unreadable dog's intentions. To me that is negligence. For me I protect my dog. I don't allow ppl to come up to him and just pet him. They listen to me. No questions asked. No repeating myself. They know I mean what I say. If Solo ever bit someone while under my leadership then that's my fault. Carpe Diem

You certainly have assumed a lot by my comment. I am far from negligent , if I was my dogs would have killed someone by now. To the dude in my yard choosing not to listen to me, my bf, my kids and my dog, then basically having us cornered....he deserved every bit of it. I never said he should have known my dogs signs or limits. I stated, what the post was asking for. He didn't need to know them as I was telling him to back off and not politely either, since I need to explain every detail. I protect my dogs also, always have. No where did I ever say I let anyone come and pet my dogs. That would be insane. I am the first to educate others on the Fila. I had an amazing mentor, who taught me so very much about Filas and Dogos.I guess because I don't comment as often as I used to, weekly chemo kicks my butt , you don't know me. But believe me or many on this forum, I am far from negligent , careless or whatever other term you would like to use when it comes to my dogs.

 

[fila4me]

I love/hate that growl. It didn't happen a lot but when it did I knew shit was about to go down if I didn't get things under control. Cane would always go off when people were out around his yard but when he would freeze with that intense growl and head down, it was business and his business was protecting us.

He was a good boy! Hope you guys are well!

 

[season]

Obviously you do not have Fila experience . The radius mentioned is not my rule, it is that of majority of Filas out there . I am not a novice with my breed, I was giving what they will do in the situation of a stranger. As I stated in my comment, this was in my yard. But I can and do take them out in public, without them biting and with the ability to keep strangers away. With over 22yrs with this breed you become very good at keeping people away . It's my responsibility to protect my dogs when I need them to be out in public. Not to worry if I'm rude to others in the process, so it works. A Fila will bite on lead if pushed, they are who they are. My first Fila bit a man that came up to us in the dark while she was in a leashed sit n stay. I was getting something iut of my car so indidnt see or hear him. He deserved it and she did her job. The man took of running away. Crazy things can and do happen at a dog show or a working weekend. My dogs are always very well trained, but they are still Filas. No amount of training or socialization will take away their ojeriza , it's genetic and what they are bred for.

That helped clear things up for me. I apologize for how I came off. My bad.

 

[season]

You certainly have assumed a lot by my comment. I am far from negligent , if I was my dogs would have killed someone by now. To the dude in my yard choosing not to listen to me, my bf, my kids and my dog, then basically having us cornered....he deserved every bit of it. I never said he should have known my dogs signs or limits. I stated, what the post was asking for. He didn't need to know them as I was telling him to back off and not politely either, since I need to explain every detail. I protect my dogs also, always have. No where did I ever say I let anyone come and pet my dogs. That would be insane. I am the first to educate others on the Fila. I had an amazing mentor, who taught me so very much about Filas and Dogos.I guess because I don't comment as often as I used to, weekly chemo kicks my butt , you don't know me. But believe me or many on this forum, I am far from negligent , careless or whatever other term you would like to use when it comes to my dogs.

Again, thank you for putting me in my place. I need that once in awhile. I apologize for coming off as a jerk.

 

[fila4me]

Again, thank you for putting me in my place. I need that once in awhile. I apologize for coming off as a jerk.

Much respect for your apology. No harm done.

 

[season]

Much respect for your apology. No harm done.

Thank you. I was stupid.