Dog growls and has its comb raised at a stranger who is watching?

My dog ​​and I were just going for our usual evening walk. Suddenly, my dog ​​didn't want to go any further. I glanced across the street and noticed the man standing in his driveway, looking over. He was smiling friendly. My dog ​​simply didn't want to go any further. The man hid behind his hedge and saw us. He saw the man again and suddenly he started barking at the man, and his comb went up. On the way home, he turned around several times, and his comb stayed up. When he saw our house, he started running. And now he's my normal cuddly little darling again. I wonder if that's that dog instinct.