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Ok need a bit of advice. Have just got back from my second walk of the day with nel. All was going well till we were about 500 metres from home when a stranger called to me from 20 feet away for directions to a street nearby. As I attempted to lok up where the road was on my phone nel for no reason at all started to snarl and bark quite loud and harshly at the male. The man had not moved towards me and nel has never since I have had her been anything g but soft and cuddly towards all humans and dogs alone. Had she picked up on something I had not reference the man or was the outburst of aggression something I need to be concerned about?

After I walked away from the man towards home nel was happy and quiet again any advice would be appreciated.

Just think its something they do bark at nothing - mine will bark at the wind on occasions - Wouldn't worry x

So the man directed you to something away from him? so your attention wasn't on him?
he might of made a movement she wasn't keen on or sent out a bad vibe, yes they do bark at nothing sometimes, but snarling in his direction maybe she didn't like him, his scent, just like us we get that vibe of someone and we feel uncomfortable around them.

Agree with Janey - except that it probably was not nothing that Nel was barking at. It probably was something, but it's difficult for humans to know exactly what. Whenever my dog has snarled at people (thankfully very rarely) it has always been at men, never women.  It may not be due to the way they look, maybe it's their smell (given the greater importance of this sensory feature for dogs). Either way, just like us, dogs probably like some people and dislike others. We would probably snarl too at people we dont like, but we've got rather clever at masking things. I wouldnt worry about Nel's behaviour, but ensure she's onlead in a public space where appropriate, to ensure she doesnt get into any trouble.

She is always on lead on main roads. The man might have made a move towards me or gave a funny gesture my way as I had my head looking at my phone.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. They pick up on things that we don't and are often a better judge of character

Don't worry about it. Rolo loves everyone, and then out the blue for some reason he'll decide that someone is not nice... they won't have done anything obvious, just be walking past or stood on a corner. They are very intuitive and pick up on so much we don't see. I trust his judgement more than my own at times

I wouldn't read too much in to it. They very often pick up on things that we have no idea of. It could simply have been an obscure gesture or even the deodorant that the man was wearing.

As long as it's not a recurring thing just put it down as one of those things.