Can't visit friend as her dog is racist

[CaliforniaCookie]

I was making plans to visit one of my best friends.
She is white and I'm mixed race.

She told me she was concerned as her new dog who i haven't met, is racist.

Anytime he sees a person who is not white he goes mental.

This is honestly not a fake post.

Not sure how to respond. Advice welcome.

No I'm not interested.

Dogs take the spooks to all sorts of stupid shit. Like I say, my dog shat itself at the Brookside theme tune. I used to have a cat who was petrified of coat hangers.

Worrying about your dog barking at people who look different in some way and being "mortified" is ridiculous. A PP has a dog who barks at old white men. Another who barks at hats. Who cares? Either sort the barking or pull the dog away and get on with life.

Anyone thinking a dog is barking at them because of their ethnicity- maybe you're wearing a stupid hat, or glasses, or shoes that the dog hates. Don't worry about such ridiculous things.

@Spudthespanner I think it's fairly normal to be a bit embarrassed when your dog barks at someone who's just going about their business.

I'm not really surprised you're not interested in the science though, going by your other responses.

Because historically some nasty people have taught dogs to do this.

Bet there’ll be a course run somewhere 😂

I'm a wheelchair user and dogs go mental at me all the time - it's really intimidating and there's recently one started who lives on my road and it is left in the front yard unattended it really goes for me and I don't know what to do. Only a wooden fence protects me.

She doesn't care so I wouldn't bother.

It's true though and there's a good reason why people find it embarrassing.

No, only when someone tells me there is a different sense to racism than the human one.

My cousin's dog hates black dogs. She's a rescue so we're not sure of her history but guessing she was attacked by a black dog at some point in her life. Loves people of all colour however.

My dog is sexist. He hates or rather is scared of men.

Yabu for using the word racist. It's a dog.
This is more common than you might think though

Well it seems half of mumsnet’s dogs are racist, reading this thread 😳

@CaliforniaCookie
I don't know how to answer your aibu- but as a dog (obsessed) lover, and a generally decent person (I think 😬) - your op made me laugh out loud 😂😂 (+ some of the responses too 🤣).....

Honestly, dogs are bloody beautiful/ridiculous/vvvvv amusing - hope your issue sorted soon !!! Xx 🐾🐾

I dont know what you're talking about.

It's not Earth-shattering news that dogs get spooked by random things. What's ridiculous is being bothered because you think your dog hates black people. It's a dog. It could have easily been frightened of men with mullets or women in crocs.

As for people historically teaching dogs to do this- I think wee Jeanie walking her chihuahua that snaps at some black person is hardly indicative of some historical skinhead culture.

By all means be embarrassed that your dog barks at people, at anyone. Worrying that they're barking because the person is black, old, fat, a transvestite, or a Take That fan is ridiculous. It's a dog.

My dog has only ever gone absolutely mad barking at the tv twice. The first time was when they were talking about Saddam Hussein and his picture came up- she went up to the tv and started barking. The second time was at JLo in a film.

Never done it before or since. Pretty weird combination there.

Oh FFS @CaliforniaCookie - don’t turn up with a corrector can, do you want to reinforce the dogs idea that black people are a danger to be feared (and it’s humans need protection from)?

you can’t go into the dogs space (it’s home) and be aggressive. You don’t need to dominate the dog. It’s the dogs home you are not part of its family.

You need to go in and be a good safe thing.

chicken. Chunks of cheese. A selection of dogs favourite treats.

be the most exciting and wonderful person the dog has ever met (bar it’s own humans), not some scary invader it needs to shout at/fight to keep away from its beloved humans.

honestly common sense.

It’s fascinating when people get so invested in something they care nothing about. Especially when they already knows everything and are certain everyone else is an idiot.

I want a dog that barks at know-it-alls.

I’m fairly certain you knew exactly what I meant 🙄

@CaliforniaCookie My dog was afraid of toddlers- simply as she never saw a toddler in her early weeks.

Our old Lurcher from a Traveller’s camp loved children as they probably were the only people to play with her- she was wary of adults-
But none ever showed/show aggression. Or even bark.

Dogs aren't racists. They don't attach a set of stereotypes to an individual on the basis of colour. They are not that 'complex'. It's more likely some other behaviour it's picking up on.

Dogs often don't like people where they cannot fully read their eyes....glasses, hats, helmets and darker skin.
Many digs are similar with black dogs....the black face makes it harder tovread cues. If the dog gets to know OP it will improve.

first hand experience of this!

@AliceOlive

It’s fascinating when people get so invested in something they care nothing about. Especially when they already knows everything and are certain everyone else is an idiot.

You "care" about this? That's pretty much my whole point.

Is it a rescue dog or a puppy? If it’s a puppy it can easily be trained by meeting people and being given rewards by them. If it is an older dog then it might be trauma-related and will be more complex to overcome, but as long as it isn’t going to hurt you, I would. One armed with treats and reward the dog for being well behaved with you.

I looked after a dog for about a month who was racist. I didn’t know his history and thought he might have been mistreated in the past. It was really bad and I wouldn’t go near the dog if you don’t have to. You don’t want to be part of its exposure therapy!

Years ago, a couple used to come into the place I worked with their dog who didn’t like people with darker skin.

It was a little terrier and he’d go nuts.

I am Indian, they used to have to keep a tight hold on him as he’d go for me, snarling and snapping.

How can I know what you mean when even you cannot explain what the non human sense of racism is?