Can't visit friend as her dog is racist

The neighbourhood I live in is very mixed but the pets are all very divided on which ethinicities they are confortable with. Most of the cats belong to a black family opposite us and won’t come over for attention when called. I thought my dog was racist but she actually only got her hackles up and threw herself in front of us when certain specific people walked by, not all people of colour. We watched carefully and realised it was just anybody heading to the crack house on the corner. So she must have smelled something about them. But sometimes it can seem racist.

our friends dog was absolutely awful though. Asian people were the victim of choice, and elderly people and those who walked with limps or canes. She was a cocker spaniel and her eyes bulged at the sight of these people and she would start snarling. I think maybe she was trodden on when she was younger by that demographic.

My late old girl hated men in high viz jackets and rigger ( builders' ) boots. I suspect she had been kicked

As to the barking:

Lack of socialisation

Flappy clothing

Can't distinguish faces properly if human is wearing veils etc

Negative associations- has been hurt or abused by someone the dog perceives to look similar

All mentioned previously.

But also traditional Muslim culture regards dogs as dirty and many Muslim women I know are truly scared of dogs. Dog will pick up on the scent and body language , and this coupled with unfamiliarity could trigger the behaviour, which of course escalates the fear factor and so the situation intensifies.

Doesn't sound like an issue in OP's case happily, but OP please heed advice of not using the spray. It's the worst thing you could do. Treats all the way.

One of my dogs was racist. It sounds absolutely ridiculous but it is a thing with dogs who aren't use to lots of different types of people. He also was terrified of ginger men. We were in a very white area and the occasional coloured person we had encountered had been petrified (even though he is small, calm and friendly) usually shouting or screaming at him even when he was on lead.

I actually would ask people in the park if they could help him with positive reinforcement training. Just walk passed and say hi and throw him a treat I gave them. I would ask if they could just do it a few times then they could go about their business and they didn't actually have to have contact with him unless they wanted to. It worked. He has no issues with anyone now. It also helps that our area is a lot less white now too. He just loves everyone.

I would suggest some positive reinforcement training with you and the dog outside of the dogs home, then go home with the dog. Coming into the dogs home when the dog is already defensive will be a disaster. Meet in the park, go armed with treats and toys. If the dog shows any signs of being unhappy take steps back until they are calm and start again. Always allow the dog to choose to come closer and reward every positive move it makes with praise and treats.

It may take multiple visits, it might resolve in one visit. It will depend on how receptive the dog is and why it has the problem. Could be because they just aren't use to people of different colours in which case positive interactions will teach them very quickly that everything is fine. If they have had a previous bad experience then it may take longer. If it is a rescue that had an owner that caused it trauma who was a particular colour then it could take a long time to resolve, if at all.

My Dog is a 'transpobe' as she barked at a man in a dress.
🤷

Also the owner of a racist dog.

One of our rescue dogs has a problem with black men. So yeah, clearly came from a former home with racist leanings. We have done all we can to discourage it and she is a million times better than she was. I think it's weird your friend has already decided their dog will have a problem with you. I would recommend that you meet them somewhere outside of their home with the dog, so you're not in the dog's territory and then if the dog's ok with you there, walk back to their home together. Do this a few times until the dog gets used to you and your scent and then you'll probably be ok. The dog will follow their owner's lead to a certain extent, so if your friend is getting stressed whenever they see a person of colour when with their dog they may be aggravating the situation.

My friends dog is sexist and ageist, she barks at old males! 😬

I love this!

Agree with this post. Please take a toy and treats to make it a positive experience rather than negative correction spray 😬

Hey.
Dogs dichromatic vision. People of darker skin makes it difficult for them to read facial expressions and pick up on ordinary visual cues they would in lighter skin people.
does the dog react the same way to black dogs? my dog did, and responded with anxious agression. as they can’t read expressions, it puts them in a state of uncertainty, which for this dog is fight rather than flight.
gradual exposure to ensure they can become familiar with you and your scent, rather than just the colours they can’t interpret could help.
begin by meeting in. Public place, with high value treats. Let the dog associate you with something positive. And then move onto the dogs own home, again with the same high value treats. It shouldn’t take long to correct this behaviour, but ensure the dog is kept on its lead.

I hadn't heard of this until my sister said yesterday that her dog always barks at black people. Again, it's probably lack of familiarity.

😂😂😂❤

Sorry not rtft but the Guide Dogs association put this out earlier this year

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/blog/bearded-and-tattooed-volunteers-helping-to-socialise-the-next-generation-of

I'm just imagining a labrador getting pissed on Carling and going on a Tommy Robinson march now.

Maybe he's got a 'stop the boats' poster in his kennel?

Did your dog hate Fisherwomen as well 😏 or was it sexist

Some dogs don’t like men or don’t like women but it doesn’t mean the dog is sexist 🤣 Dogs don’t think like that they just like what they like and don’t like what they don’t 🤷🏻‍♀️If your friends dog doesn’t like the colour of your skin then your friend could do what they would do with anything their dog doesn’t like…they would keep their dog away from that thing. Your friend could put the dog in another room when you visit but if she doesn’t want to do that then don’t visit her. But Dogs aren’t racist or sexist or anythingist 🤣 Only humans do that stupid stuff ☺️

What a load of rubbish!!! Visit your friend

I have a friend of colour come visit and yes the dog went bananas

Because I live rural, very rural, where everyone he had contact with till that point had been white

All my other dogs which I had whilst living in London were fine. Sometimes we came up against something new and they would cower or bark - daft things, concrete bollards, a wheel chair user - things they werent used to seeing and we hadn't come across when socialising

Hes fine around people of colour now, not that he sees that many. Dog next door shyed away from me one day, cos I went to stroke her with my thick winter gloves on, she had never encountered those before

Dogs need socialising very early in life. Even before they are innoculated, they need to be carried and taken places to see different from their norm and if that doesnt happen there will be mistrust until they are taught there is nothing to fear

But racist dogs??? Heard it all now

Also my boyfriend had a dog who only went for junkies - don't know how he knew he just did lol

My dog HATES trans people. Its awkward when we’re in female toilets sometime

@Oakcupboard I read that parrots are also fixated on a specific sex - some only like men, others only women. It’s a big problem as parrots live very long lives and very few men now want to rescue birds, so there are lots of lonely parrots looking for re-homing with a man 🙁

A friend of mine has a young Border Collie bitch who is currently in a phase of going berserk at people with mobility aids such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, crutches etc.

Having an apparently ablist dog isn't a great look. He's trying to socialise/desensitise her, but it's a bit tricky.

We had a dog who was a misandrist - no back story as she was born at our house, so never suffered any abuse. Absolutely hated every man except my Dad. No problems with strange women.

@KikiShaLeeBopDeBopBop and how do you suggest broaching cultural racism with this particular dog?

Those would seem examples of cultural racism more than anything else