wow... I wish I had some solid advice for you original poster, but I don't.
My dog came into my life from a person who used to be on STP who got her out of a kill pound, as Loki was a To Be Destroyed dog
Well, it turns out that in the wrong hands, yes... Loki was not a good dog, and the person who got her out of the pound decided it was time for Loki to go.
At one point, a person on STP was in contact with her about adopting Loki... but I was not cool with it, plus me and Loki were starting to bond, as I lived in the front house and she in the back.
When I saw the free to good home sign go up, I knew I was not going to allow that to happen so I adopted Loki, knowing that I was adopting a stubborn apparently high strung dog.
Well, it turns out that was all Loki crying for help, all my dog really wanted was a safe home, where she could be loose 100% of the time inside, none of that crating shit like she was enduring with the last owner... and man, all of Loki's so called bad behaviors were gone in like 3 days, and within a week she had become the model dog.
Now - I never had a dog, and never wanted a dog - I was a cat person, but I was determined to make this work and in retrospect I did it all wrong because I just figured we'd make it up as we go along, which we did...
I swear she can read my mind.
I also swear she can read other peoples minds - because she will bark - or growl - without being prompted, if she see's something - or senses something that could mean either danger or a threat.
It is incredible what a good judge of character she is too, good people she is cool with right off the bat, questionable get the growl... which I reward her for, because she to me is doing good.
So, again.. I got my dog a little over two years old, she is now 12.
She is still an exceptional judge of character - and I never did anything to tune her into figuring out other peoples vibes.
Now - if I could get her to like other dogs, that would be nice... but it's completely ok with me ifshe wants to be the only dog.
Good Luck !!
Remember - there are no bad dogs....
George + Loki xoxo