In the past few months Riley has been barking/growling at us, raising her hackles in that scared voice. She'll get all tall and grumble in her throat. It's happened about 6 times, all to us. I'm wondering if she's getting bad eyes (doesn't seem like it at all), bad memory or if its the circumstances..like she's feeling really protective.

I was watching TV downstairs at night with Riley and my dad comes down the front staircase, where it's really dark. Riley sees his shadow and is growling and barking, but even when he's talking she doesn't recognize him. (he's usually in the basement all day though.. she doesn't see him A LOT like us)

My mom was outside the porch (slightly hidden) watering the flowers and Riley saw someone (her) outside and she was barking/growling out on the porch at her, my mom sprayed her a little with the hose and she ran back inside, scared. (Riley sees her almost every minute of the day)

My brother was on the porch on the phone and she saw him from inside. She could see most of him but when I opened the door she kept on backing away.. even when I told her to "get him!" she hesitantly went out there and then saw him all the way and then recognized him. (He's at work until 6:30pm.. but she knows him)

The other day, my mom and I were in the kitchen, Riley was watching us, and she put on a mardi gras mask.. and Riley barked all scared, then she took it off and she was okay.

I was trying on a bathing suit yesterday and I came down and she did the same thing until I started talking and I called her to me. Today I came downstairs with wet hair and she did the same thing!

Other times she recognizes us and is so happy to see us, but just a little modification to us and she freaks out.