What makes a dog like you?

[Silverclocks]

A colleague bought their dog to work today.

I'm afraid I'm not a dog person. I usually consider them cute from a distance and am saddened to hear about harm coming to them but don't particularly want them close to me. I'm not a dog hater at all, I'd just prefer owners kept them to themselves!

Anyway this was a very cute curly poodle cross thing, very placid nature. Visibly nervous and shaking first thing, but seemed to settle. Initially stayed close to his owner but then spent most of the day under my desk (out of about a dozen possibilities) practically sitting on my feet

I was ridiculously flattered

watch out they will get into your soul. It is just because you are the nicest person in the building and the dog sensed it

(I expect it was because you were calm and indifferent. You did not hassle the dog or expect anything from them so they felt calm and relaxed in your presence)

They just know if people are good or bad.

My dad is like that, but he's a huge dog person. Any aggressive/scared/barking dog instantly goes quiet and wants tummy tickles and head rubs. It's bizarre

Well my spaniel likes everyone. I mean everyone. Thankfully she also has excellent recall and loves us so much, she doesn't stray far.

I also have a poodle Cross (rescue so not sure exactly what), she can be the same.

She likes people who are quite aloof. She wants to come to you. She always picks the person that isnt actively trying to get her attention. She also seems to pick up on who really doesn't like dogs.

Once she has decided you are the right mix of nice but that fussed she will come and sit by you.

Awww 🥰 Clearly she wanted to recruit you over to the dark side 😂 You will become a dig person after all

My father is absolutely not a dog person. Yet when he has visited, every one of my dogs, over the years, has chosen to curl up against his feet and go to sleep there.

For some bizarre reason DP seems to have the magic touch with dogs. I had DDog long before I met him, and he has always been very aloof with strangers. The first time DDog met him, in a group setting, he went and sat on his lap. I was flabbergasted. On another occasion a dog rolled over and asked for belly rubs. Turned out it had taken months for that dog to go near the male owner after being rescued, and the dog's owners were equally shocked that their dog was happy with belly rubs from someone she'd met 5 minutes ago.

My dog will accept you if you feed him something or throw a ball, but it's very transactional in nature. For him to actually like you on a deeper level it seems to require you to walk him many times.

My guess is that this dog is a bit worried about people and wants to suss things out in her own time. If others were seeking attention that was a bit much for her so she gravitated towards someone who was leaving her in peace!