Right up the street from my house is a small store which i walk up to if i run out of milk or soda or anything like that. I always take my GSD with me when i go there. When you go through the first door you are in a small room where they keep flyers, newspapers and stuff like that. I always put my GSD in there and put him in a sit stay. When i go through the second door the register is right in front so we never loose visiual contact of each other. I take him up there with me probably 3 - 4 times a week. Everybody knows him and there is no problem with people going in and out while he is waiting for me. Anyways, i went to the store earlier and put him in his usual place. While i was waiting at the register several people walked in and out. No problem. Then a man came up to the door and my GSDs hackles went up and he started growling, like a real deep rumble in the back of his throat kind of like a primal growl (for lack of a better word). I have never heard that kind of growl coming from him (the second set of doors doesn`t close completely which is how i was able to hear him growling in the first place) I went up to my dog and told him to stop which he did but he never took his eyes of the guy who was still on the other side of the door. I then told the man to step away from the door so i could come out with my dog. He backed away and i stepped outside with my GSD. I apologized to the man but he didn`t even listen to me. He looked at my dog (who started growling at him again as soon as the guy made eye contact with him)just turned around and walked away. Once the guy was leaving my dog totally relaxed and went back to being his usual lovable self. I`m kind of perplexed at what happened since my dog usually thinks that we all have been put on this earth to pet him. He has never done anything like that and in the 2 years i`ve had him we have been up to that store countless times and never had a problem. As a matter of fact while i was still standing there trying to figure out what went wrong several people walked by and there was no reaction from him whatsoever. Any ideas what could have caused this behavior?

Fear, on this weirdo's part, picked up on by your dog,
who can smell it.
For all you know, his guteral noise prevented a holdup.
You'll never know, and likely don't really want to!
It at least warned you and this dude, "Be alert, I am!"

I always say that dogs are the best judge of character <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Sounds like your dog didn't like this guy and he was probably no good...

Are you sure that the guy didn't rob the store after you left?

My Maggie is an Excellent "A" hole detection dog. She loves everybody and wants pats, pets and hugs from most all. but every now and then she takes an unexplained dislike to someone. Further investigation usually reveals that that person was a "A" hole of sorts. If Maggie doesn't like you, I don't like you. Trust your dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

No as far as i know the store hasn`t been robbed but the night isn`t over yet and anything could happen i guess but i doubt it. Thanks for everybodys input, i think that weird sounding growl coming from him freaked me out the most. It just sounded so "wild" almost more like a wolf than a dog. Honestly, i don`t think i would be upset if i never heard it again.

Your dog does not know a bad person from a good person regardless of what people may think. I believe he made eye contact with your dog & didn't look away which your dog most likely felt as a threat or challenge.

I had a similar situation this week when we took our dogs back home to visit family. They were in their crate and had a bunch of people in and out all day long and didn't get upset until one guy walked by and they went nuts. I don't know if he was teasing them or what, but I do know he owns a monster of an Akita, which they may have picked up on. Maybe that guy had the scent of another dog on him...