I don't know what to think here. My Bella is a perfect dog.
She is Staffy x Mastiff. She'd be 2.5 - 3 now. We've had her since she was about 4 months old.

Over my pregnancy with DD3 & after she was born, poor Bella didn't get much attention I was too sick, or busy & x didn't care. She was going through typical puppy jumping stage then & was a bit big for the kids, so they refused to go into the back yard with her during that time. Though I did try to love her when I could. It still wasn't anywhere near what she needed.

Then we moved into mum & dad's. Bella was suddenly tied up alot & dad would bring out the whip if she barked He wouldn't hit her, but would scare her. My ****ing dog, who I WANTED to bark! I have her for a reason!!!

Anyway, while we were there, her relationship with the kids finally changed. They loved her & she loved them. DD3 hand feeds her & climbs all over her now. DS used to always be found sitting behind her in her kennel.

She's perfect, except her habit to still chew when bored. Barks when needed, but not nasty.

Today something happened. I think I need to know what...
Someone came to fix my door & I asked him to check my clothes line. He went the side gate, I went through the house (raining, muddy boots etc). He asked about her, I said the usual lick you to death...

She turned on him. Not straight away... I don't know if it was a male thing (x treated her really bad on occasion, then dad & the whip). This is the first time she's had her own turf in 6 months. So I don't know if it was all that... she didn't really care that he came into the yard to start with.

It wasn't til he went to look at the back door. DD3 was asleep inside. He was between me & DD... Thats when she went off. She didn't try to bite at all, but it was that attack bark.

She's never done that before. I held her & she was ok, but still made it clear she didn't like him. Even when he went away from the house again.

I feel like maybe I can be safe, that she won't let anyone in the yard, but at the same time I do want people around!! Maybe it was just coz he didn't come out with me that he posed a threat. He didn't come through the door like we do, so he hadn't really been ok'd by me?

I've honestly never seen that side of her before. Do dogs sense things? Like, that I feel unsafe? Does she get that I need protecting right now? Or is it just life circumstances? She didn't have a problem with my brother... but then this wasn't 'her' yard yet. He hasn't been round since we moved in.

I'll have to make sure every one comes through the door from now on, just to be safe. Like I said, she wasn't going to bite, but she wasn't letting him past her either. I had to hug/hold/calm her til he left...