Did not like cable guy

[hellzbellz]

Hello, I don't usually post on this forum but i do read a lot on here. My family and i have a rescued rot (male) neutered, he was a year and four months when we got him and he will be turning three in October. He's very friendly, loves other animals. Has his CGC and is in training to become a therapy dog. Just the other day we had a cable guy come over to hook up something. My dad was home by himself mind you he is in a wheel chair. He heard the guy in the drive and was growling. Guy comes in he is still growling, guy pets him still growling hair is raised. So my dad called him over by him. Guy went into the other room he kept his eye on him growling watching him. My dad moved up to the other room and he sat directly in front of his wheel chair, at that point anywhere my dad went our dog was right by his side. He's never done that to anyone who has been in our house and we have had other cable guys. For whatever reason he did not like this guy. Could he possibly sense something, maybe a threat. just would like some of you experinced people to give some insight into his behavior. Thanks.

[TJK291]

Not sure about the dog, but the cable guy has sure got a lot of nerve petting a growling rott...

[gail pang]

Not that this is your problem, but we had a guy come to our home
to work on various things. Well, Rufus would have a natural fit,
my husband would talk to him and still that hair was still standing,
but he would still be by his side. Husband being a retired policeman
sensed that the dog knew best since this was out of norm.
Having four rotties
around at the time and only one would act up, I didn't think anyting
about it. Come to find out this guy turned out to be one of largest
drug dealer in the county. Sometime scents they pick up will alarm
them.

[SABELLESMOM]

Not always. Some dogs use this behavior to warn off something they fear or are unsure of. If nothing is done, it becomes a behavior they'll use all the time.

He growled and went to your father. He was saying "keep away" when there may well have been absolutely no visible reason to behave that way. Now, the man came no closer. What does that tell the dog? Perhaps he feels he's been successful? Do ya think?

The problem is it may be totally erroneous. The man works for a company. Most of the time these folks are bonded and insured. Not a likely suspect, is he?

The adult, in this situation, needs to teach the dog what behaviors are appropriate. No threat = no growl, period. So you father could have 1) told the dog to stop, and 2) made the dog lie down near him.

A Rottweiler is supposed to be a "wait and see" kind of guy. It should mean, "OK guy's in the house. Grandpa let him in. I'll just sit here and watch."

Similarly, a dog may bark at people walking on the sidewalk. Now, is EVERY person walking by a threat? No. Of course not.

But the dog may have barked, and the person kept walking. So now what is he thinking? Right! "I chased him away." Dogs need guidance. They do not come pretrained.

I agree some dogs do have better instincts than others. But, given the circumstances, I do not believe this is such a case.

[Tywaknya'sBABY]

Yup, I agree especially if he's never acted that way before with other service men. You already know he can sense when your sad or depressed. They can sense things that are impossible for us to see (don't want to go off on a tangent on the ghost shyla barks at )
Something about that man set him off...or maybe he owned a cat and had cat hair all over him