Why do dogs in white South African neighborhoods always bark at black people?

Question

I'm not a racists. But I have noticed this during my childhood in South Africa, and recently had a black friend from South Africa tell me the same thing in an email.
Is it that the dogs are just barking at them cause their not familiar people in the neighbourhood, or can people truly teach their animals to tell the differance between races?
Do other people experiance this aswell?

Answer 1

I don't think it's necissarily anyone teaching their dogs the difference between races. Our dogs do that, too, and we're the furthest thing from racist you'll find. It's just that when a dog lives his whole life in an environment with people of a certain race, someone of a different one appears unfamiliar. Our dogs bark at white people, too, but somehow, when they bark at black people, that's what gets commented on. I suppose it can be that people are slightly paranoid, still. Not everyone (and their dogs, as the case may be) is racist in South Africa, but it's still expected of us. We're never going to live down the reputation. It could ASLO be that maybe when certain black people walk past a yard with a dog, their tensed up, expecting the dog to bark at them- and the dog senses that and barks.

It could be anyone of those or a combination. And honestly, I don't think the dogs' racial motivations are the ones that count- it's probably more astute to take a closer look at that of their owners.

Answer 2

Dogs are color blind, and the dog is probably use to seeing light skinned people. To the dog the dark skin people look like a shadow moving causing them concern. If they were raised always around black people they would probably bark at most white people

Answer 3

Dogs can sense when you are scare and they take advantage of that when they can. African Americans do have dogs for animals to protect their homes but at the same time they are terrified of them.

Answer 4

because you are a racist madam. Go burn a cross in someone's yard you bedsheet-wearing ku klux.

Answer 5

they come to spy.......