Petrified Londoners!

[PILhip]

I have a small, white, fluffy poodle X. I live 2hrs from London now, but often return to the where I used to live in East London. Where I am now, people want to pat my dog, say hello etc. In London, they squeal to get out of the way, walk on the road to avoid the dog and visibly look petrified. Are people worried about being mauled, think it has rabies or just not used to seeing dogs as pets?

There are millions of dogs in London, op. I sincerely doubt anyone is afraid of being mauled by your little fluffy poodle.

Maybe the person looking 'petrified' was bitten by a dog like yours. Not everyone wants to pat a dog. I certainly don't.

There are dogs everywhere in London, and people aren't concerned by small fluffy ones.

I was wondering if you are showing confirmation bias, and what you think of Londoners when you're not with your dog

Pehaps they are still traumatised by the rabbit in the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail?

I feel this post may have undertones of islamaphobia, or anti semetism. It's plainly rubbish that people run out the way of dogs in London, and then there's the reference to East London.

What

Not in London but I'll cross the road if a dog comes near, don't want them to sniff/lick me, I just want to walk by in peace. Perhaps that's all it is.

It's not just you OP, I had to take my dog on the Elizabeth line the other day and people were flinching and edging away and definitely didn't want him anywhere near them. And he's a cute golden retriever, where we live everyone's all over him wanting to pet him.

I do think that people in crowded urban areas are noticeably more nervous of big dogs, I certainly am more nervy than I used to be - I saw an XL bully the other day with HUGE chain around its neck and the owner struggling to control it, while wearing a coat with the hood up, facemask and sunglasses on - I crossed the road to avoid them.

I think you are imagining things?!

I live in east London. My ds is scared of dogs so will move out of the way. However he is unusual - most people don't take any notice of dogs. Given more people live in east London than the whole of Wales, it seems a bit unlikely all of them would be petrified of dogs and fling themselves out of the way.

OP - I've never really experienced that on a large scale but I see some people sometimes who are scared of my tiny bat-noodle dog (in fairness he looks like a miniature dobermann)

East London is notoriously busy and streets are pretty narrow, so dogphobic people will be in higher concentration + they'll have less space to walk around your dog.

And on top of that, I think you just notice it more. You're not home anymore, you're a bit nostalgic of your old area, you observe people, and then you see it.

What the fuck have I just read?

Er no. I have a poodle and live in London. No one has ever looked petrified of her. In fact people mostly want to say hello and pet her. She hates strangers though!

On trains I don't want someone's dog near me because I don't want any dog hair or smell on my clothes. Same on buses. London is full of dogs and I rarely see anyone running out of the way, and they are usually terrified of all dogs.

Ok...

Not just you, OP.

I had to take mine through London a few months ago on my way to visit family for a few weeks. Train to Victoria then walk to Charing Cross. People literally flinched away from them in St. James’ Park and on the roads. People left the train carriage when I got on the train! I grew up in London and honestly the change in attitudes over the last few years is staggering - way more terrified people now than 10/15 years ago.

Things have got more extreme, I think. People are either massive dog people or they’re terrified - hardly anyone in between. Where I live (countryside) people are way more relaxed - often get stopped and people ask to pat my dogs.

Population east London = 1.9m
Population Wales = 3.2m

I was nearly bitten in the face by a small/medium Pomeranian and now I will get far out of the way to avoid any of them, regardless of how small. I am fine with much bigger dogs but those little dogs are very aggressive and I don't want to be anywhere near one.

I live in London and love seeing little dogs.
I smile at them and sometimes give a pat on the head if the owner is ok with it.
Giant dogs I sometimes avoid. A neighbour has a XL Bully that's more XXXL. He's bloody massive and the neighbour always looks stoned - so yes I avoid that one.
I think it's your imagination @PILhip .

I've also wondered about this! We have a golden retriever like a pp, and a while back had to take him into central London - round where we are people love to say hello to him/have a dog chat, and I was really surprised by the number of people who seemed to actively avoid getting close to him when we were in London.

It’s extremely believable, and doesn’t sound at all embellished, that people regularly squeal when they see your poodle approaching 😂

I live in East London with a small terrier, people are always wanting to pet him, stroke and give him attention🦮

It does baffle me, the anti-London sentiment on here. It's dirty, scary, no supermarkets, no community...and now Londoners are petrified of dogs 😂

I have read many bonkers thing on here but this might actually take the (dog) biscuit.

I take my poodle cross all around london nobody seems to mind and lots love him.

I don’t think there’s anything of the sort. Perhaps you need to have that sort of mindset to see it.

Maybe they were edging away because they didn't want to be covered in loads of golden retriever hairs should your dog have brushed past them. I don't mind dogs, but I don't want to arrive at my destination covered in dog hair or slobber, nor have grubby paw marks on my trousers.