Not meant to offend

[Lilavati]

I've had three encounters with people who were profoundly afraid of dogs since I've gotten Sarama. By this I mean people who cringe away from her, or swear at me for walking within 10 feet, or nervously say. . . "He doesn't bite does he?" . . .

Everyone one of these people has been a black man. I can't figure it out . . . is there some reason why more black men would be terrified of dogs than anyone else? Sarama doesn't look like a scary or vicous breed, and she's manifestly friendly (not that people who are afraid of dogs would notice, but she's not slavering at the mouth)

I don't mean to be racist at all, I'm just puzzled.

[chanda]

i think it's just a coincidence that all of those people were black.

[Chewbecca]

Weird.

I guess I have never noticed that. In fact, I find more white people afraid, or act weird, around Ella than black people.

The black people we've encountered on our walks are all very interested in her as far as complimenting her is concerned.

I had one guy, on our walk once, that didn't even ask what kind of dog she was, nor did he ask her breed. He simply asked, from his van, "How old is she?"
It kind of weirded me out a tad because as soon as I answered and told him she was spayed, he drove off and it was just a question that seemed out of sequence. Most would think he would have asked "what breed is your dog?" or "Is that a pit bull"?<---which is the most common question I get about her. Nor did he ask, "Is that a girl or a boy?" Just, "How old is she?"
It also weirded me out because pit bulls are the number one dogs stolen. Especially in an area like mine where just across the river they are fought.
My best friend's friend used to work for our local AC.
She lost count of how many times they had gotten called out to pull a dead pit bull out of tree because it apparently lost and was hanged.

My specific neighborhood doesn't have a lot of pit bulls (if any besides Ella) in it. But, like I said, just across the river, it's not uncommon to see a pit bull tied in a yard.

[Lilavati]

Originally Posted by chanda

i think it's just a coincidence that all of those people were black.

I thought it was until the 3rd one . . . I frankly expected more scared white people too . . . but after three grown black men being terrified of her I had to wonder if there was something going on . . . the way she looks (though I can't see what about her) or maybe lots of black people having bad experiences with dogs? It could be coincidence . . . it just sticks in my mind because two of these encounters were unpleasant (one of them ended with me grabbing her and saying 'dont hurt my dog, don't hurt my dog' before I fled) and the third the man was so clearly frightened that I felt bad, even though she was well away from him.

I have had lots of people, of all races, interested in her on walks, including a walk my fiance took her on in which a kid with a put bull was WAY too interested in her . . . but that's not really what's puzzling me now.

[shazbot]

I have noticed this also. I think it may be the way they were brought up. I've dated a few black guys who were petrified of my dogs. Once they got to know them they were fine with exception of one guy, who broke up with me because he was so afraid of them.

[smkie]

Many people of color i have seen in public express fear of dogs. OR if not fear, aprehension.

[Lilavati]

Originally Posted by smkie

Many people of color i have seen in public express fear of dogs. OR if not fear, aprehension.

Anyone know why that is? Is it something they are taught? Bad experiences? I'm just trying to understand so I can avoid the situation in the future.

[Zoom]

I've had similar experiences...not sure why. Some lady about had a heart attack in the parking lot yesterday when I came walking out, because Virgo was trying make a beeline for her to get some attention. She relaxed when I said they were friendly and kept on walking though.

[milos_mommy]

Honestly, it could be where they grew up. Around here, a lot of the black people grew up in NYC, Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn mainly, and i don't think they saw a lot of dogs there. My guess is the dogs they did see were, quite possibly, dog-fighting dogs who were aggressive.

[corgipower]

i had that with my corgis...i was taking them to a show and go, and the neighborhood was predominantly black. one of my trainers told me before i went that black people were afraid of corgis. i thought he was joking. a local black family came in to look and the kids went off and petted some of the dogs -- GSD's , rott's, dobes, am staff's. they got to me and the corgi, and got very nervous, hurrying past and cringing.