2006-12-21 03:45:48 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Racism is a human concept and animals do not understand these human concepts.
If a dog is afraid of men, but likes women, it has nothing to do with racism but more likely it's a lack of socialization with men, or being mentally or physically abused by men.
Animals also have a "sixth" sense, an instinct, that we humans will never understand. They are able to feel emotions and traits about others, whether it be human or animals. These innate instincts are what helps animals distinguish friend from foe, and it's not racism.
My last thought is that a dog can be trained to appear "racist". If a caucasian dog owner is racist against black people, he can certainly train his dog to be vicious towards black people. But then again that has nothing to do with racism, just behavior modification.
spazrats
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Dog Obedience Instructor 30+ years experience. Presently working in a CKC Registered Club
2006-12-21 08:12:59 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, animals can not be racist. They do not operate on the same level as humans. They operate on a much different level. Instinct. Animals may have instincts that tell them to stay away from some people or not to trust some people, but it has nothing to do with race. Animals pick up on many things that humans can't notice. Animals can tell if someone could be a danger to them, or if someone is just not very friendly. It isn't about race. Racism is born of environment, and society. Animals don't have this in their lives. They live in a world of Hierarchy which is about power. Not color.
2006-12-21 11:55:55 · answer #2 · answered by sunnychick 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They can, and they can't. If a dog is mistreeted by a certain race, even if it's only two individuals, they associate that race with badness. If a dog is mistreeted by a man, the dog will like women more.
A dog can be trained to dislike caretain people, also.
I don't think that it wouldn't be considered racist in the same way people are. People base their veiws on stereotypes *most often, but occasionally they see it like a dog does* and a dog bases it's veiws on experience. But I don't think animals are naturaly racist, though in the wild an animal of a different color may be shunned from a group because their genes can be passed on, resulting in, say, a monkey that stands out and gets eaten because it can't blend.
Animals don't stereotype, but in the wild, on off color animal could bring the whole group down, so I guess that could be seen as racism?
2006-12-21 11:55:15 · answer #3 · answered by mandy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Animals can't be "racist" 'cause there aren't any animal "races." And guess what -- modern genetics has proven that the bigoted division of humans by skin color & facial features aren't "races" in humans, either -- there is in fact more genetic variation *within* a local group where everyone looks alike than between greatly-seperated humans. That means the local white-supremacist KKK leader has more genes in common with an African tribesman than he does with his equally-white next door neighbor. These "races" are meaningless genetically, and are simply holdovers from certain cultures who thought themselves superior to other humans (which is wrong) and used externally visible differences as their criteria for being superior.
Besides, haven't you ever had a male dog? Those little guys will attempt to have sex with anything...your leg, a cat, a pig, ANYTHING. Where's the reproductive sense in that?
2006-12-21 11:58:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmmm ... I don't think anybody is born racist, I think it has to be taught. My dog didn't like men when I first adopted her, but that was probably a result of something that happened to her while she was on the streets. After a couple of weeks of twice-daily walks, she was comfortable around everybody, and would even go up to the homeless men who hung out in the park.
Now, there are certain dogs that she avoids, but I think this has to do with subtle signals that they send to each other through scent and body language that we humans don't pick up on.
2006-12-21 11:58:48 · answer #5 · answered by Donna B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think animal have more sense than some humans, they are not racist they love who ever takes care of them, dogs are color blind anyways!
2006-12-21 11:48:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No they are not, but if the owners are then the dog may seem racist. the dogs will feed off of the owners energy, and if the owner tightens up around someone because of race then the dog just thinks the owner is feeling threatened, and therefore growls or even attacks, seeming racist, when they are just protecting their owners.
2006-12-21 11:53:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no animals aren't racist, they have a lot more sense than some humans. however, sometimes animals chase other's off for some reason, whether its because they are competition over females, or over territory. but definitely not racism.
2006-12-21 12:00:15 · answer #8 · answered by tweetybird37406 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dogs aren't racist, they sense energy. If they sense a negative, aggressive, or overpowering energy or if they've had a bad experience with someone who has a similar energy to someone, they are going to be agressive, stand-off-ish, fearful, whatever.
2006-12-21 15:17:19 · answer #9 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are not racist which shows they have more sense than humans.
2006-12-21 11:49:10 · answer #10 · answered by Faith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋