[reeskujo]

So we take Seigi to Petsmart with us yesterday to get his dog food and as we're going through the parking lot some guy who said he once had a female Akita asked if he was friendly and if he could pet him...I said sure as he generally loves people and I want him well socialized...

Well the guy approached him calmly,crouched down and put out his hand to let Seigi smell him and to my surprise Seigi backed off and wanted nothing to do with him,he hasn't been around any other men other then hubby since everyone at the vets office is a female so I figured that was the reason...

Then we get to the check out and the lady at the register who was elderly asked if he could have a treat and I said sure but he has to sit for it...Well not only did he refuse to sit but he smelled the treat, backed off and turned away from her...

Then one of the groomers who herself has to Akita's asked if he could have a treat and I figured what the heck will try again...He not only sat for twice but took the treat...

Hubby not having the experience that I do with the breed was a little worried he was afraid of them...However this is common for Akita's..Their very aloof with strangers and very selective as to which ones they will have contact with so I guess even at his young age of 5 mths he's already developing that part of the personality..

It's funny because every other woman and child he had seen in the store he wanted to go up to and play...I guess their was something about that guy and the lady at the register that just didn't sit well with him!

[Marc]

There was a study done in which people were asked to smell t-shirts worn by members of the opposite sex. The ones they found most appealing were worn by people who were the most genetically different than themselves.

If people can make this distinction, then dogs certainly can. Perhaps your pup only trusts people who it thinks are most like you.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by reeskujo

So we take Seigi to Petsmart with us yesterday to get his dog food and as we're going through the parking lot some guy who said he once had a female Akita asked if he was friendly and if he could pet him...I said sure as he generally loves people and I want him well socialized...

Well the guy approached him calmly,crouched down and put out his hand to let Seigi smell him and to my surprise Seigi backed off and wanted nothing to do with him,he hasn't been around any other men other then hubby since everyone at the vets office is a female so I figured that was the reason...

Then we get to the check out and the lady at the register who was elderly asked if he could have a treat and I said sure but he has to sit for it...Well not only did he refuse to sit but he smelled the treat, backed off and turned away from her...

Then one of the groomers who herself has to Akita's asked if he could have a treat and I figured what the heck will try again...He not only sat for twice but took the treat...

Hubby not having the experience that I do with the breed was a little worried he was afraid of them...However this is common for Akita's..Their very aloof with strangers and very selective as to which ones they will have contact with so I guess even at his young age of 5 mths he's already developing that part of the personality..

It's funny because every other woman and child he had seen in the store he wanted to go up to and play...I guess their was something about that guy and the lady at the register that just didn't sit well with him!

Smells, odors etc can affect the action many times. I took in a Myers Parrot that was just a year old. Young couple purchased it when it was a young chick. Very friendly and loved to sit on their shoulders and give kisses. The wife was out gardening one day and came in the house. Upon passing the birds cage she reached over to pet her. The bird went into full attack mode. Obviously something on her hands triggered it and after several weeks of being dive bombed and attacked the wife conceded that the bird would never accept her again. I have her now. Same with a young Staffie this past weekend. I approached and the man sitting with him noted with all the commotion at the dog show he was very timid so probably would not show any interest. I squatted and put my hand out, it took but a second and his tail started wagging and he was nudging my hand. The surprise came when I told the man and his wife that it was a beautiful Staffie. The woman looked at me and said she could not believe it, someone actually knows what it is. I guess everyone was referring to it as a Pit. There is also the hesitancy issue that people have where dogs can sense but others may not see.

[reeskujo]

That's just what I told hubby...Being Seigi is so people friendly I knew it had to be something he smelled on the man and the cashier because he's always wanting to go up to people and play...

However at the same time many of my male Akita's reacted the same way to men they didn't know...They were fine with women but if it was a strange man they would back away so it's not that unusual for the breed but as far as that cashier it had to be something to do with smell because he never refuses a treat and when I gave it to him he took it...It must have been her perfume or maybe even a smell of her pets...

Being we live in a small town going to the pet store is really the only socialization he gets with people other then a few of the neighbor kids so I make sure to take him with us each time as socialization to people is critical especially with an Akita.

[lil mutt]

I think too, they have natural instinct and react differently to every person. I personal feel sometimes that on the very first impression, I feel I don't like some people without any particular reason, I just feel it. I think this is the same with animals towards others...

[dugogota]

To me, if my dogs don't want to socialize with a person, I take note. Dogs are sensitive and I trust their instincts.

[reeskujo]

Originally Posted by dugogota

To me, if my dogs don't want to socialize with a person, I take note. Dogs are sensitive and I trust their instincts.

I agree and it's very typical for the breed!