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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dogs barking at black people

53 replies

PrincessWellington · 12/03/2014 19:20

We are not black. Had a black child in my house. Dogs used to visitors and are fine but we don't have black visitors usually due to area we live. They barked at him - a lot. A coincidence or is it they are registering he looks different?

OP posts:
ShatnersBassoon · 12/03/2014 19:26

Dog barked at black person Confused Grin

Your dog is racist. It couldn't possibly be a coincidence. I'm not saying he gets it from you, but y'know...

Catsmamma · 12/03/2014 19:28

what sort of dog is it? Completely irrelevant but it needs asked. imo

fluffygal · 12/03/2014 19:29

Actually I had a dog once that barked at anyone who wasn't white. Honestly it was the strangest thing, don't have any explanation for it, coincidence maybe?

CrispyHedgeHog · 12/03/2014 19:29

I've seen that happen a lot.. wonder why it is?

I don't have a dog so no personal experience of it though.

JonSnowKnowsNothing · 12/03/2014 19:32

YES! I've seen this happen and couldn't believe it - I honestly thought it must be some "hilarious" trick taught by the owner, but the owner was mortified and had no idea why the dog did this. Most unfortunate!

McFlurry · 12/03/2014 19:33

My dog is racist too. It's embarrassing but the area we live in isn't very multicultural so we have had very little opportunity to socialise him with people of differing ethnicities.

He is also prejudiced against taxi drivers but I can't really blame him for that

littlebluedog12 · 12/03/2014 19:34

If the child wasn't black you wouldn't be saying 'dog barked at blue-eyed boy, we all have brown eyes' would you?! It could be for any reason- maybe he has a cat at home and the dog can smell it. Maybe he stroked another dog on the way home. Maybe he accidentally scared the dog or stepped on him and the dog got spooked.

Hmm
pinkbear82 · 12/03/2014 19:36

My dog is ageist. He goes loopy at 'old' people. and lamp posts oddly took him to see my gran once, he wouldn't go near her and just growled. Gran found it hilarious, old people in street not so much.

CorusKate · 12/03/2014 19:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mrsantithetic · 12/03/2014 19:40

My dog was every ist you can think of.

It was very embarrassing

Slipshodsibyl · 12/03/2014 19:44

My dog was brought up in a country where the local population was dark skinned and always barked frantically at them. It was very embarrassing and she had certainly never been hurt by anyone. My Gardener, , who was from Pakistan, tried so hard to befriend her but she wouldn't have it. She is a real people dog adores everyone else.

My parents had a little dog in the UK who barked at anyone wearing a black coat. She never saw a black person though. Most odd in both cases.

Owllady · 12/03/2014 19:46

Little blue, do you not think a family who are black, living in an area that was mainly full of families who were also black, would not say my dog barked at a white boy, he doesn't see them very often? Or do you think the mum, who hypothetically would be black, would concentrate on the boys eyes?

Genuine question btw

lostblonde86 · 12/03/2014 19:46

Our JRT goes nuts at black people put next door neighbours were black also so not as through she wasn't use to them. I believe it's because dogs can't see the features of the face/skin so well ...Sad

Impatientismymiddlename · 12/03/2014 19:47

Make sure that the EDL are not active in your area as the dog might want to join them Grin

Cakeismymaster · 12/03/2014 19:47

My dog is hattist and beardist - barks at anyone wearing a hat or anyone with a beard.
So a bearded hat wearer would really set her off!

UterusUterusGhali · 12/03/2014 19:50

I had a racist dog once. Sad

Honestly. And my family are olive skinned. It was only African-Caribbean folk.

She was the puppy of my other dog, who was not at all racist, but couldn't abide people with large rucksacks, ceiling fans, and ship's radars.

They were gsdx.

Roseformeplease · 12/03/2014 19:53

Have met a beardist dog and our friend have one that hates glasses.

However, shockingly, friends of my parents taught their dog to chase Arabs when we lived in Bahrain in the 70s.

BathTangle · 12/03/2014 20:01

My dog is umbrella-ist - she went crazy at our neighbour (who she adored) when he turned up under an umbrella - I assume that she didn't recognise him until he spoke to her and the shape really freaked her out!

LadyTurmoil · 12/03/2014 20:11

My friend in Israel has a lovely dog, really soppy and always trying to get on your lap even though she's pretty big.

She barks at Orthodox Jewish people in the big black hats and long coats but, to be fair, they've thrown stones at her in the past (idiots) so I don't blame her at all!

Original poster
PrincessWellington · 12/03/2014 20:14

Four different dogs - two of which are black.

OP posts:
Original poster
PrincessWellington · 12/03/2014 20:15

Littleblue - no he did nothing but he is from Nigeria and was scared so maybe they sensed fear?

OP posts:
Original poster
PrincessWellington · 12/03/2014 20:16

Apparently the dogs in Nigeria bite

OP posts:
PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 12/03/2014 20:18

Lol. Oh dear.

quirrelquarrel · 12/03/2014 20:22

Reminds me of a thread where the OP blushed every time she met a lesbian Grin

Hopefully the black person in question didn't know that he barked at other black people too!

V. interesting Q OP- I wonder if anyone's done research into this. I will ask the scientists I know!

Pufflemum · 12/03/2014 20:23

Omg, I have been busy socialising my puppy over the last few weeks. Have met kids, old people, high vis jackets, cars, golf carts, wheel chairs but no non white people!! I've bred a racist puppy. This problem never entered my mind. Willit be different because the pup is actually black?