Are you afraid

[Wife of Bath]

of dogs?

Since my boyfriend and I moved from North-South, I have encountered more people who are terrified of dogs than ever before in my life. For reference, he is an extremely sweet and well-behaved yellow Lab, who has never shown an ounce of aggression. He doesn't bark, growl, or whine, and he will allow anyone to approach and pet him. He even lets my toddler nephew poke him directly in the eyeball with no reaction whatsoever.

We have undergone 80% of the training for him to be certified as a therapy dog. When I say he's well-behaved, I mean that.

In the last six months, I've been in multiple situations where strangers have clearly been terrified of him. Crossing the street to get away from us if I'm walking him, yelling at me to 'get that dog under control' when he is sitting calmly by my side, and generally exhibiting behavior that I can't explain in the framework of his or my behavior.

I can freely admit this is challenging for me to understand, as anyone with a basic knowledge of animal behavior should be able to see the dog is completely under my control. Of course, freak accidents do happen and he is still an animal, but none of the signs that would indicate an attack or aggressive behavior are ever present.

So, my question to you all: are you afraid of dogs, or do you know anyone who is? If so, why? Would you be concerned about passing me on the sidewalk with a large dog at my heel?

 

[Adre]

Not afraid, but after being bitten a couple of times as well as attacked by my own twice, I remain aware of their presence.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Be afraid! VERY afraid!
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ija1hkTA--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/ksb891f2llvf2ityov75.png
Don't you doubt me!

 

[GiggLeGasm]

My third son was so afraid of dogs that he would break out into a cold sweat if he saw one on the street. It was bad enough that I started taking him to a local animal shelter every week just so he could get used to the sounds and smells. Within a couple of years, he selected both a dog and a cat. That was several years ago and he's much better around animals.
I work with a woman who can't take patients who have service dogs. She was mauled as a child. There is no physical evidence but she just can't do it.
I tend to walk away because I have very bad allergies and many dog owners think it's ok to let the dogs approach strangers. That being said, I miss my dog very much and don't regret having her at all.. despite the medical side effects.
I do wonder about the humanization of dogs. If I had a pet snake, should I be allowed to bring it to the grocery store and local diners? I promise he would be well behaved and appropriately dressed.

 

[Wife of Bath]

Not afraid, but after being bitten a couple of times as well as attacked by my own twice, I remain aware of their presence.

I can definitely understand that. Do you feel that you can 'read' a dog by their behavior, or are you more comfortable just giving them a wide berth altogether?

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I don't fear domestic dogs, but I usually carry a sidearm because we have packs of feral dogs that show up on the property and in the woods from time-to-time. I think they got one of our chickens last weekend...

 

[Fata Morgana]

I'm not. Obviously if a bunch of chavs have muzzled staffies straining at their leashes I am wary, but that's because the owners are cunts and have ruined the poor buggers.

I used to take out my sister's four Alsations all the time so I'm used to big dogs, I prefer them to little yappers. But as you say some folks just simply pee their pants at the sight of any dog.

I was bitten once as a child but it was my own fault. I was told not to stroke it and I did and he bit me on the forehead! When we got home my mum bollocked me for not doing as I was told and said it was my own fault. Ha!

 

[toubab]

No. I like them. They like me.

 

[Lord Pmann]

Yellow Labs are pretty scary dogs, said no one ever.

I have known a few people who are scared of dogs, but I have no idea why. I've never really seen them as scary animals, save the few pitbulls that have been treated poorly and made to be mean.

And based on your avatar, I doubt if I passed you on the street I would notice a dog. You could have a pink unicorn and I would likely overlook it.

 

[Wife of Bath]

My third son was so afraid of dogs that he would break out into a cold sweat if he saw one on the street. It was bad enough that I started taking him to a local animal shelter every week just so he could get used to the sounds and smells. Within a couple of years, he selected both a dog and a cat. That was several years ago and he's much better around animals.
I work with a woman who can't take patients who have service dogs. She was mauled as a child. There is no physical evidence but she just can't do it.
I tend to walk away because I have very bad allergies and many dog owners think it's ok to let the dogs approach strangers. That being said, I miss my dog very much and don't regret having her at all.. despite the medical side effects.
I do wonder about the humanization of dogs. If I had a pet snake, should I be allowed to bring it to the grocery store and local diners? I promise he would be well behaved and appropriately dressed.

I completely agree that dogs should never be allowed to approach strangers without their consent. Poorly behaved animals are the cause of most of the anxiety surrounding all dogs (and horses, too, but that's a different story).

I guess my concern is more about the responses I get on a weekly basis in public places where it is fairly normal to see a dog, like in a park on the way to the dog park or walking down a suburban sidewalk. If I brought him somewhere that dogs are 'not supposed' to be, especially without his service vest and information, that would be a different situation.

 

[toubab]

Dogs can tell a lot about a human. They understand facial expressions very well, for one thing.

 

[Wife of Bath]

I don't fear domestic dogs, but I usually carry a sidearm because we have packs of feral dogs that show up on the property and in the woods from time-to-time. I think they got one of our chickens last weekend...

Feral animals are nothing to be trifled with. Closer to wolves than they are to Lassie.

I'm not. Obviously if a bunch of chavs have muzzled staffies straining at their leashes I am wary, but that's because the owners are cunts and have ruined the poor buggers.

I used to take out my sister's four Alsations all the time so I'm used to big dogs, I prefer them to little yappers. But as you say some folks just simply pee their pants at the sight of any dog.

I was bitten once as a child but it was my own fault. I was told not to stroke it and I did and he bit me on the forehead! When we got home my mum bollocked me for not doing as I was told and said it was my own fault. Ha!

Right: which is the crux of it for me. I would also be wary of dogs who are clearly exhibiting signs of aggression or not under control. There's no doubt they can do serious harm.

No. I like them. They like me.

 

[RobDownSouth]

I grew up around big dogs, I have no fear of them whatsoever. Been bitten a few times, nothing serious.

My GF is terrified of big dogs, she has a three inch scar on her forehead from a dog bite as a child.

 

[Wife of Bath]

Yellow Labs are pretty scary dogs, said no one ever.

I have known a few people who are scared of dogs, but I have no idea why. I've never really seen them as scary animals, save the few pitbulls that have been treated poorly and made to be mean.

And based on your avatar, I doubt if I passed you on the street I would notice a dog. You could have a pink unicorn and I would likely overlook it.

I do have a pink unicorn, but somehow no one is ever afraid of her. Which is unfortunate, because she would bite you as soon as look at you. Don't even get me started on that damn horn.

Dogs can tell a lot about a human. They understand facial expressions very well, for one thing.

This is certainly true.

 

[Saint Peter]

http://images.tvrage.com/screencaps/14/2746/19124.jpg

 

[DesEsseintes]

Is it perhaps, like so many things, unfamiliarity? I'm not afraid of dogs and don't know anyone who is, but then they are so common here that people are used to them. No child I have taught around here is anything other than affectionate and confident around horses, either, but then it is a very horsey part of the world and most can ride a horse before a bike. Where I taught before, only thirty miles away, it was common to see children shy away from horses on walks, etc, simply because they were unused to them.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

sounds like you're good. Simply place this small tote on the table or carry it in your free hand...

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=1166561

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I try to handle dogs like Cesar Millan does...



When meeting a hostile dog, he ignores it to establish his alpha status.

He also taught me a lot about how to handle the Queen and Princess.

 

[Adre]

I can definitely understand that. Do you feel that you can 'read' a dog by their behavior, or are you more comfortable just giving them a wide berth altogether?

I approach them with no fear. Now the dog that bit my young brother on the dick? He'd be in the doggie cemetery.

 

[toubab]

This is certainly true.

Yes, many people don't understand how perceptive dogs are. They can tell if we're afraid, angry, happy, sad, etc. They've been living with us for thousands of years, so they've learned a lot about us.

 

[Wife of Bath]

I grew up around big dogs, I have no fear of them whatsoever. Been bitten a few times, nothing serious.

My GF is terrified of big dogs, she has a three inch scar on her forehead from a dog bite as a child.

Interesting.

http://images.tvrage.com/screencaps/14/2746/19124.jpg

Why does it have so many teeth?!

Is it perhaps, like so many things, unfamiliarity? I'm not afraid of dogs and don't know anyone who is, but then they are so common here that people are used to them. No child I have taught around here is anything other than affectionate and confident around horses, either, but then it is a very horsey part of the world and most can ride a horse before a bike. Where I taught before, only thirty miles away, it was common to see children shy away from horses on walks, etc, simply because they were unused to them.

I think this is almost certainly a big part of it, if only because I can't think of any other rational explanation.

 

[DesEsseintes]

I try to handle dogs like Cesar Millan does...



When meeting a hostile dog, he ignores it to establish his alpha status.

He also taught me a lot about how to handle the Queen and Princess.

Do you sniff their bottoms to establish friendly intent?

 

[1sickbastard]

I was bit several times as a kid by several different dogs. In addition, I was, for lack of better term, "beaten up" by a largish dog, but the beastie was just playing rough (and I was a small boy), not actually being aggressive or attacking with intent to injure.

Instead of being traumatized, I learned how to read canine body language. As a consequence, I still love dogs (and cats, in fact most non-human mammals) and in many cases prefer the company of animals to any number of humans. The exceptions are those damned toy dogs, which I consider mostly bad tempered and useless.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Do you sniff their bottoms to establish friendly intent?

No, I only do that to chickas with tramp stamps...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

of dogs?

Since my boyfriend and I moved from North-South, I have encountered more people who are terrified of dogs than ever before in my life. For reference, he is an extremely sweet and well-behaved yellow Lab, who has never shown an ounce of aggression. He doesn't bark, growl, or whine, and he will allow anyone to approach and pet him. He even lets my toddler nephew poke him directly in the eyeball with no reaction whatsoever.

We have undergone 80% of the training for him to be certified as a therapy dog. When I say he's well-behaved, I mean that.

In the last six months, I've been in multiple situations where strangers have clearly been terrified of him. Crossing the street to get away from us if I'm walking him, yelling at me to 'get that dog under control' when he is sitting calmly by my side, and generally exhibiting behavior that I can't explain in the framework of his or my behavior.

I can freely admit this is challenging for me to understand, as anyone with a basic knowledge of animal behavior should be able to see the dog is completely under my control. Of course, freak accidents do happen and he is still an animal, but none of the signs that would indicate an attack or aggressive behavior are ever present.

So, my question to you all: are you afraid of dogs, or do you know anyone who is? If so, why? Would you be concerned about passing me on the sidewalk with a large dog at my heel?

I was once mauled by a dog whose owner assured me was gentle and friendly. I kneeled to read the man's meter, and the dog attacked me. I own 3 dogs but stay alert with other people's dogs.