Dog seeing other dog question / theory

I don't know if this will sound totally off the wall, but I gotta ask just
to see what you think.

It has been my experience with my pet that, if one dog sees (hears/smells
for that matter) another dog first, they are usually the aggressor or
whinner.

What I mean, and an example is when I walk my dog down the block and another
dog sees him from their yard that dog will start barking constantly and my
dog will want nothing to do with it. If on the other hand, my dog sees a
dog in their yard first (say the dog has his back turned or is not paying
attention), my dog wants everything to do with it. Same goes if someone
walks their dog in front of my door and my dog sees it after it has passed
or is passing he does not care, if he sees the dog coming a block away he
goes crazy for it.

Make any sense? Is it just my dog or others have similar experience?

TIA

"buzzsaw" <t-tye.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:2tidnUoMP_ObESHfRVn-vw@comcast.com...
> I don't know if this will sound totally off the wall, but I gotta ask just
> to see what you think.
>
> It has been my experience with my pet that, if one dog sees (hears/smells
> for that matter) another dog first, they are usually the aggressor or
> whinner.
>
> What I mean, and an example is when I walk my dog down the block and
another
> dog sees him from their yard that dog will start barking constantly and my
> dog will want nothing to do with it. If on the other hand, my dog sees a
> dog in their yard first (say the dog has his back turned or is not paying
> attention), my dog wants everything to do with it. Same goes if someone
> walks their dog in front of my door and my dog sees it after it has passed
> or is passing he does not care, if he sees the dog coming a block away he
> goes crazy for it.
>
> Make any sense? Is it just my dog or others have similar experience?
>
> TIA


I don't know if it's "just your dog" but this would have to be a very
individual thing based in an individual dog's temperament. MY dog, a Great
Dane, will react to seeing another dog by freezing, then approaching it in
short hops, sometimes literally, waiting for it to see her. No matter what
breed or size it is, she will react to it finally noticing her by
immediately signaling inoffensiveness--if she's far from it she'll lower her
head and slick her face back and squint, avert her gaze and wag and crouch a
bit. If she's close to it she'll do that or lie down depending on size--she
lies down for the little dogs. If the other dog acts aggressive, my dog will
back off or even run a short way, and lie down and show her belly and wag if
it follows her, and if it acts nonchalant, she'll carry on the inoffensive
act but will walk in wagging for a butt sniff. If the dog just postures that
it wants to be dominant, she'll wag harder while looking more helpless until
it gets the message that there won't be a contest, and if it acts friendly
whether initially or after a greeting, she turns into a total puppy-like
goofball (she's still only 16 months old). She play-bows and runs in
circles, and keeps this up with a big goofy grin, always making sure her
head is near the ground when she is near the other dog. She's trying to
entice them into her very favorite game, chase-the-Dane.
--Katrina