Online Community Debates Whether Dogs Can Sense If Someone Is a Dog Person

A Rottweiler named Munchen could turn a normal visit into a full-on wildlife documentary, except the “wildlife” was a huge dog with opinions. If someone wore black, a hat, a uniform, a white coat, or even carried the vibes of a dog person, he’d start rumbling, then warn-bite, all before most people even realized they’d done anything wrong.

And the messy part is, it wasn’t random. This family had visitors lined up with rules, like “don’t approach” and “don’t stare,” and Munchen only seemed calm when he was left to his own guard post. Then the twist arrived, their elderly aunt, the one who refused country walks, feared cows, and wouldn’t even come into the house when the teenager had pet rats.

Still, from the first moment she walked in, Munchen was all in, and it made everyone question whether he was sensing “dog people” or something deeper.

This is the question - plain and simple.

Quora

People shared personal stories, drawing from their experiences and insights.

I have to say no, not always.My Rottweiler, named Munchen, was at times pure evil; he would take an instant dislike to anyone wearing black, anyone in a hat, anyone in uniform or a white coat, anyone who owned a dog, or people who claimed to love dogs.The dislike manifested itself as a deep rumbling growl, followed by a warning bite (not breaking the skin) if the person didn't take the hint and back off. He was huge, so almost everyone backed off.I would warn all visitors to the house not to approach or stare at the dog, as he was generally okay if left alone. If it seemed he was taking an exception to anyone, we would lock him upstairs out of the way.For the eleven years that he lived, we were constantly alert to the safety of other people, and it worked—he never hurt anyone, although a few might have wished they had been wearing brown trousers.When my elderly aunt came to stay, I was worried because she most definitely was not an animal person; she wouldn't even go for a walk in the country in case she encountered any wildlife or farm animals. She was convinced that all cows were out to kill her.When I was a teenager and had pet rats, she wouldn't come to the house, even though they were in a cage in my bedroom. Anyway, I told her not to look Munchen in the eyes, as he took that as a challenge, not to touch him (I knew she wouldn't do that), and just to ignore him if possible.From the first moment he saw her, Munchen was in love. For the two weeks she was with us, he sat quietly by her side until she had the courage to gently pat his head, and he just leaned into her with his eyes closed.The next time she visited, he got very excited to see her and insisted on escorting her around the house and gardens, always being very gentle and gazing adoringly at her. I believe that dog would have defended her with his life.Janet Bristow

We agree that this is how dogs read our emotions.

One of the changes that made dogs into man’s best friend was their ability to read emotions in human faces. They know when you’re happy, they know when you’re upset, and they know if you’re the kind of person who likes dogs.My lifestyle doesn’t permit me to own a dog, but I have treats in my pocket, and even the dogs I encounter who don’t know me know a sucker when they see one.
Rik Elswit

We agree that dogs can sense a good person from a bad one.

I would have said yes until I read the answer from “Pooch’s” owner. That makes me think it’s not so much that the person isn’t a dog person, but that the person is a good person.I definitely believe a dog knows the difference between good and bad people. My ex had a friend who would come over and always talked to and tried to pet my dog. She would go nuts and start biting his ankles and chasing him. I had to hold her every time he came over.Sonya Wilson

This is another good perspective.

I am not sure whether or not they can sense who is a dog person. But I do believe they can sense whether or not a person is trustworthy. Dogs, and even cats, will cozy up to individuals they feel comfortable being around, even if they have just met.John Hansen

The moment Munchen spotted anyone in black, hat, or uniform, the growling and warning bite kicked in, and visitors learned to back off fast.

It’s like the debate over refusing dog sitting for a friend’s aggressive Great Dane.

When OP warned the house guests to avoid eye contact, it worked, but it also set the stage for the aunt to be treated like a walking risk.

The aunt, who thought cows were out to get her and wouldn’t even tolerate pet rats in the next room, arrived anyway, and Munchen’s behavior flipped instantly.

After two visits where he quietly sat beside her, then escorted her around the house and gardens like a devoted bodyguard, the whole “dog person” debate got messy.

We must agree that there are many factors to consider here, and most people do agree that dogs possess some sort of sense. While they may not always know whether someone is a dog person, they definitely can distinguish a good person from a bad person.

Nobody can agree on whether Munchen could “sense” dog people, but the aunt’s visits definitely proved he could pick favorites.

Wait, the office dog adoption drama got worse, after this coworker refused. Declining Office Dog Adoption Sparks Controversy