Dogs can also notice changes associated with **stress or fear**. A nervous person may move awkwardly, tense their body, or behave differently, which can make a dog cautious. This doesn’t mean the person is dangerous; the dog may simply be responding to unusual behavior.
Previous experiences matter too. A dog may develop negative associations with certain clothing, smells, voices, or types of people. On the other hand, dogs can form positive associations with people who consistently treat them gently and respect their boundaries.
Research suggests dogs can pay attention to human social interactions and recognize helpful or unhelpful behavior. However, this doesn’t mean they can identify liars, criminals, or morally bad people. Dogs can trust someone who isn’t trustworthy and fear someone who is completely
