Ok, so this has happened maybe about 5-6 times in his life...
but it just happened yesterday...so I wanted to get y'all's opinion.
On walks, Oakley pretty much ignores people. If he does actually pay attn to them, its cause they have a treat or something, lol. Usually people *want* to pet him, but he is too busy sniffing around to care.
Anyways, there have been ~6 people now that he VICIOUSLY reacts to. All have been at very close distance...i.e., we are calmly walking towards them, and right as we pass he FREAKS out...like horrible, vicious barking.
Luckily, after the first time, I've been able to pretty accurately predict every other person...usually its a cracked out looking african american (I don't think its that he is racist...but unfortunately as close to detroit as I lived, most cracked out ppl walking in my neighborhood were black).
He has been leashed every time, so other than one scared dude, no injuries occurred.
Once I was at a party with him & this white dude walks in (that seemed high on something) & Oakley FREAKS out at him...he was obviously not leashed, but luckily, he was just viciously barking & did not bite. I quickly removed him from the situation.
Yesterday, I didn't see it coming though. There was a very pleasant looking black man (he was probably homeless), and right as we passed Oakley flips.
So what gives?
To be realistic, I don't think this is ever something I could train out of him...there is obviously something he is reacting to that he is only sensing at a very close distance. Is it possible that they are all on a certain drug? Maybe one that Oakley's previous owner was on?
Anyone else's dog do this? Anything I can do other than just do my best to try to predict the people he is going to react to & just cross the street?
Thanks...
but it just happened yesterday...so I wanted to get y'all's opinion.
On walks, Oakley pretty much ignores people. If he does actually pay attn to them, its cause they have a treat or something, lol. Usually people *want* to pet him, but he is too busy sniffing around to care.
Anyways, there have been ~6 people now that he VICIOUSLY reacts to. All have been at very close distance...i.e., we are calmly walking towards them, and right as we pass he FREAKS out...like horrible, vicious barking.
Luckily, after the first time, I've been able to pretty accurately predict every other person...usually its a cracked out looking african american (I don't think its that he is racist...but unfortunately as close to detroit as I lived, most cracked out ppl walking in my neighborhood were black).
He has been leashed every time, so other than one scared dude, no injuries occurred.
Once I was at a party with him & this white dude walks in (that seemed high on something) & Oakley FREAKS out at him...he was obviously not leashed, but luckily, he was just viciously barking & did not bite. I quickly removed him from the situation.
Yesterday, I didn't see it coming though. There was a very pleasant looking black man (he was probably homeless), and right as we passed Oakley flips.
So what gives?
To be realistic, I don't think this is ever something I could train out of him...there is obviously something he is reacting to that he is only sensing at a very close distance. Is it possible that they are all on a certain drug? Maybe one that Oakley's previous owner was on?
Anyone else's dog do this? Anything I can do other than just do my best to try to predict the people he is going to react to & just cross the street?
Thanks...