How come black people are more scared of dogs than white people???

Question

Seriously I was walking my 6 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy around, and every white person was like, awwwwww what a cute puppy, and every black person was like "Does it bite?" and acting affraid of the little thing. So why is this??

Answer 1

I could respond with a comment about you making a generalization, but you're actually claiming personal experience with this, so I'll respond to the implied -- and more appropriate -- question "when I walk my Spaniel puppy, why do the white people I meet by and large treat it like a harmless object of affection (awwwww) while the black people I meet by and large treat it like a potentially unpredictable bodyguard (does it bite?)"

And my rephrasing of your question pretty much answers itself. We're all different culturally, and different cultures treat different things...well, differently. It's entirely reasonable to assume that some folks you meet have been raised in a culture that keeps dogs as a means of protection, while other folks have been raised in a culture that keeps dogs as objects of affection or amusement.

That such a cultural divison should exist across racial lines wouldn't be surprising, either -- even if the expectations were reversed, with the white folks asking if the dog bites and the black folks giving it a cuddle. That's because cultures are sharply divided over racial lines, as they are over economic and regional boundaries.

Could I make up a plausible explanation for why the black folks you meet treat your dog with a mixture of fear and respect? Sure. I could do the same about why the white folks you meet think your dog is a widdle biddy cuddlebug. Actually doing either, however, would entain making baseless assumptions and generalizations, and I'm not prepared to do either.

Also: make sure you're not reading your own expectations into their behavior, or even telegraphing it. For instance, suppose you're a little afraid of black people. Not a palatable idea, I admit, but suppose you are, just a little bit. And suppose that when you meet a white person, you allow your dog to romp and play, but when you meet a black person, you unconsciously reign your dog in and keep a taut leash. Or perhaps you even just tense up, and your dog senses it and does the same. If I met a dog owner who choked up the leash when I walked near, I'd assume their dog bites -- because I have a dog that bites, and I choke up the leash when I walk near anyone, black or white.

And in my experience, everyone I meet -- of any race, region or socialeconomic background -- treats him like a widdle cuddle bug anyway, because he's tiny and ridiculous looking. Oh well.

Answer 2

This isn't so much of an answer to the question as it is an conservative remark on both the person asking the question and the 1st 2 people's "answers". I don't feel that there's anything wrong with asking a question like this. I personally have observed the same thing, black people on the most part are afraid of dogs they don't know. That doesn't change any when they're on a leash or not
I don't know why this is but it's just how it is. Now to go thru the trouble of posting a question that doesn't really have an answer says something about you. Idk, maybe you wanted to see if any funny answers came back. But you can't answer a question like this. The people who tried, well hopefully you just wanted the points.
. It's sad that we're afraid to say anything dealing with race and that we have to go thru so much to prove we're not a racist.

Answer 3

I don't know your dog, you, nor was I walking by when this happened, but from my experience with dogs and people... yep you are generalizing.
It really depends on who you meet (no matter what shape or size), and the size of the dog sometimes would matter (but yours is a puppy!) When I walk our huge German Shepherd even though he wouldn't hurt a fly, everyone feel like crossing the street, because of his size and how he looks right at you and if you don't know him you might think he's tense and ready to attack.
Dogs are very sensitive so they might pick up from you any tension or change in your movements or mood that you might not even notice... and if you hold him back or closer to you then people would definitely think the dog's agressive.
Dogs (and cats) have been men's companions for so many thousands of years, and in every continent (even though in some they consider them as food as well)... I think in this case it might be a mixture of coincidence and maybe your dog reacting a certain way and these particular people you met being a bit more careful out of bad experiences or natural caution. (I myself am more cautious with certain breeds known to be agressive, but I try not to generalize and pay attention on how the dog and it's owner is reacting)
I think it's also a bit more polite (and even smarter) to ask anything, if the dog bites or whatever instead of just "aaawww..." and getting down and petting them directly assuming the dog won't bite! Even if I never had a biting dog I never liked people petting them without saying or asking anything...

Answer 4

I've also noticed and wondered about this. People aren't afraid of what they are used to... I'm not sure, but maybe because until pretty recently - the last few decades - black people faced severe discrimination, and they had more problems securing jobs and loans to buy houses, etc. the last thing on their minds was getting a dog. You kind of need a place to have the dog and disposable income to properly care for them. So instead of realizing how great dogs can be, they instead just saw negatives.

Hopefully now things have improved dramatically (and will continue to get better), and more people will enjoy getting dogs for themselves and/or their children, and realize that unless a bad owner raises their dog poorly, dogs can be great friends and companions.
That being said, I've met alot of black folks who either have and love dogs or have no problem with most dogs.

Answer 5

THE POINT of this is not to say it's not true, because this lady has had this experience. It is not helpful to bring up that OTHER races might also be afraid, you are just missing the issue. The point is to come up with some possible HYPOTHESIS for why blacks might be afraid of dogs. From a Sociology point of view, you can come up with ideas of why this theory might be true. Obviously, you are talking about a large and varied population, but I would bet that if you took an actual survey, more blacks would be afraid of dogs than whites.

I have had the same experiences, and in general, blacks seem more fearful of dogs. The only people I know who are terrified of dogs are a couple of my friends who are black.

This is partly because of ignorance; same reason anyone would be afraid. Because of their housing situations or for socioeconomic reasons, blacks are less likely to own pet dogs, and therefore, are fearful out of ignorance because they are not familiar with dogs. Many blacks live in city areas and are poor, so they might not be able to afford to care for a dog.

Lastly, many blacks who do own dogs use them for protection, especially in low socioeconomic backgrounds- and they train them to be aggressive. Sometimes in their culture they also keep chained dogs, or yard dogs and not in the house. This is unfortunate for the dog and also causes a protective, poorly socialized dog who can be a menace to locals in the neighborhoods, especially children, and therefore, people become fearful.

Answer 6

I agree, I've met many people that are afraid of dogs, most are black. It may be that they have less experience with dogs. the typical white family has a dog or cat, I don't think that's a typical thing for blacks to do. Perhaps they don't have the money or the interest. PS> this has nothing to do with racism, as people alluded to, it's just a fact. when I visited NY city, the chinese restaurants had dead geese hanging in the window. This did not attract me to their rest. Perhaps chinese people see this as normal and appetizing....diff cultures........

Answer 7

Could be 2 Answers to this Question

1. The Western Culture is more assertive to Trained and Clean Dogs and Animals, Where as the Dogs in Black to Asian Country's are more Strays which often Bite and are Prone to Disease.

2. The Dog does not see so many Black People so is more likely to turn Inquisitive of them and may show a more Aggressive Behavior then the White People they see every Day.

Answer 8

One reason could be that fewer balcks living in the cities own a dog. Then again, it has been my experience to note that blaks seem to be more carful around animals than whites. Most white person just think that they know all about dogs or whatever, and they are the ones that are not carful and probably most often bitten. But, don't try to classify what a person thinks about a dog based on their color, this could just be one or two persons who are afraid of dogs.

Antonius

Answer 9

Its not just Black people, I have friends from India and they are terrified of most animals. Years ago I ran a home care agency and several of the Ethnic People were afraid of a variety of animals. Several cultures are afraid of Cats believing they contain the souls of people that have passed on. I had one young lady that was afraid of fish.. If only Blacks were afraid of dogs they wouldn't be used to guard. I hope this question was just worded improperly.

Answer 10

There smarter? lol Maby they are more cautious. I got attacked 3 times by a dog. I am white and I have a healty fear of the dog's business end. I always ask the owner before interacting with a dog. Only the owner knows the disposition.