Funny Behaviour, Please Explain

[poochmad]

We have some Sudanese people living up the road and every time, they go past the house, Henschke goes off his nut. The first time he did it we were very surprised as he only barks if someone strange comes up to the door, so we thought it was a once off. Nope, next time they walked past he did it again. And still does it every time they go past. At first I thought it was because there are many in the group, but after observing him not worrying about large groups of kids chattering past, realised that wasn't the case. He will bark at them with the front door open and behind the screen door and when the front door is shut and he can't see out.

Any ideas?

[Keira&Phoenix]

Has your dog ever seen people of that skin colour previously?

It may just be tht he wasn't socialised to people of that skin colour so he is unsure about them.

[poochmad]

No he wasn't but sometimes he can't see them as they walk past (I know it's them because of the language) and he still barks. He only ever barks at them when they walk past the house.

[wuffles]

My dogs don't bark at noisy kids going past (unless they are on scooters) but they will bark at noisy adults.

[Swizzlestick]

No he wasn't but sometimes he can't see them as they walk past (I know it's them because of the language) and he still barks. He only ever barks at them when they walk past the house.

Maybe he associates their speaking/voices etc with the people he sees when the door is open and knows it's the same people (did that make sense?)

One of my dogs is scared of a Chinese lady she has met a couple of times. When I thought about it, this particular lady is the only Asian person she has had any contact with. I just think it's because she hasn't seen anyone who looks quite like her before.

[Dxenion]

Can you recall anything happening the first time this group went past and other than an assumed difference in skin colour, was there anything else about them that made them stand out (style of clothing, scent)?

You stated that the first time Henschke did this, you were very surprised - how exactly did you react as he may have linked your reaction to this particular group.

How did they react as they may have inadvertantly rewarded his behaviour as well ie he barked + they jumped back = reward (to the dog). A similar thing can happen with the relationship between dogs and posties ie the dog sees the postie and barks and chases the postie + the postie rides away (which they were going to do anyway) = reward. Each time it happens, it reinforces the behaviour until you train a new incompatible behaviour (in the dog, not the postie).

Were you with him the second time it happened? What did you do? Without knowing the details, it's possible that you may have reinforced the initial response.

If they come by at a regular time and you are happy for him to only react the same way he does with a group of kids, you could train him not to react and/ or replace this current beheviour with a new incompatible one.

[Jigsaw]

Just wondering if it being a large group of adults different tones of voice, different speech rhythms, accents, maybe even a different pattern in their walk alerted him initially. Possibly now when you hear them you become more alert after his initial reaction and now he sees you reacting and he becomes more alert and vocal. Sort of a circular thing.

[Erny]

Dark coloured skin can be just as foreign to dogs not socialised to it, as they might to people sporting beards, wearing glasses, hats or smelling of cigarettes or alcohol. My boy did a double-take the first time he saw a person with dark coloured skin. We were out and about at the time and I did the same things as I would be it for any other new or novel event (ie treat it as normal) and he doesn't care the difference now.

[toshman]

Just wondering if it being a large group of adults different tones of voice, different speech rhythms, accents, maybe even a different pattern in their walk alerted him initially. Possibly now when you hear them you become more alert after his initial reaction and now he sees you reacting and he becomes more alert and vocal. Sort of a circular thing.

I suggest you say hi to these people next time they come past - and ask them if it's OK for you to bring your dog out and introduce them - you'll make new friends, and so will your dog!

[sas]

No he wasn't but sometimes he can't see them as they walk past (I know it's them because of the language) and he still barks. He only ever barks at them when they walk past the house.

Could it be due to different scents due to diet? Why he wouldn't appreciate that scent I have no idea...or maybe he associated the scent with them and because he wasn't socialised with people of darker skin he's uncertain of them? Could be so many things huh.

[Tim'sMum]

One of my dogs (Danni) took exception to a Chinese lady who often walked in the park where I used to walk my dogs. She loved the dogs and would often collect lost tennis balls from the tennis courts nearby and throw them onto the oval for dogs to play with. Danni would have nothing to do with her...and would bark at her, yet Tim was happy to be patted by her.

I put it down to perhaps she smelt different to people of European descent...due to diet?

A friend's dog took exception to people wearing big broad brimmed hats...and would bark and back away.

Danni is a barker and will bark at the screen door at anyone walking a dog along the street. I keep a spray bottle of water (which she hates) near the door and all I have to do is hold it up for her to stop barking.

[poochmad]

No he wasn't but sometimes he can't see them as they walk past (I know it's them because of the language) and he still barks. He only ever barks at them when they walk past the house.

Could it be due to different scents due to diet? Why he wouldn't appreciate that scent I have no idea...or maybe he associated the scent with them and because he wasn't socialised with people of darker skin he's uncertain of them? Could be so many things huh.

Whenever he barks, we always check out what he's barking at, but never pat him (so as not to encourage him) and then he stops. The first time he barked at them the door (wooden door), but behind the screen, was open and he could see them. Perhaps you are right, MEH, he barked because of the accent and the scent, something different. At this time we went to check it out and he didn't stop barking when we approached him. If I remember correctly they stopped in front of our house and looked and pointed at him then walked past and then a few double backed, all the while he was going off like a banana. The people who doubled back then walked past again.

Now when I think about it, he may have interepreted them stopping and looking (and pointing) as an aggressive action and now associates their scent and talk with that first time.

Thanks for making me remember, as I had completely forgot about it. Now it makes a lot more sense.