Have you ever noticed your dog immediately warming up to one person while barking, hiding, or keeping its distance from someone else? It can seem like your dog somehow knows something you don’t. But can dogs really tell whether someone is “good” or “bad”?
The answer is more complicated. Dogs don’t judge people according to human ideas of morality. Instead, they are extremely sensitive to **body language, tone of voice, movement, facial expressions, scent, and emotional changes**.
A dog may feel uncomfortable with someone who approaches too quickly, stares intensely, leans over them, or uses a loud voice. Another person may seem safer because they move slowly, avoid direct eye contact, and allow the dog to approach first.