Why do dogs get nervous around African-Americans?

Question

I have Black friends, and everytime I bring them over my house I have to let my dog out, because he will bark constantly? Why do dogs do this?

Answer 1

This is not uncommon. Perhaps the dog thinks they smell strange.

Answer 2

Depending on what the dog's history is, he may have had a bad experience with black people. Dog's will remember traumatizing experiences, and often associate all people of the same group as being bad.

They may have also had a previous owner who was prejudice, and the dog picked up his attitude and sees all black folks as bad people just as their owner did.

To overcome this, Have one of your friends come up to the dog very quietly, from the front. Make sure the dog sees her coming, so as not to startle them. If possible, the friend should squat or kneel down, so they are not towering above the dog. Have the friend slowly offer a treat to the dog, while speaking softly the dog’s name.
If the dog comes to her to take the treat, quiet praise for the dog. If the dog does not come out of hiding or will not walk towards the friend, then have the friend toss the treat towards the dog, but not to where it will hit them. Do this a couple of times, then quit and let the dog relax. Gradually, with each visit, have them toss the treat closer and closer to them, so the dog has to come farther to get the treat. Only do this 3 times or so each visit, or it will lose the effectiveness.

Gradually the dog will see the friend not as a threat, but as a friend bearing cookies. It will also teach the dog that not all people are bad, and they will begin to relax around your friends.

Answer 3

I have heard that the darker a person is the harder it is for a dog to read that person's facial expressions. Maybe if your dog never met any black people as a puppy he is confused by not being able to read your friend's faces and less trusting of them. Of course this is just a guess, I heard this from a vet I worked with, but I have no idea if it is true or not. My dog seems to be less torrent of all black dogs more often(lots of black labs in my area), so maybe there is some truth in this, but he does not seem to have a problem with dark people, only dogs.

Answer 4

It's not all dogs that will do this - dogs that are socialized around all different types of people won't bark at different people. Some dogs pick up on their owners' mistrust of some people - whether it's a certain race or gender or whatever - and other dogs have issues all their own. Mine barks at young to middle-aged men, and I don't know why, except that I got her from a shelter, so it's possible that men meant something bad at one point.

Answer 5

I honestly think it's the way black folks tend to move.
I'm sure the dog sees the obvious difference in color but it's the constant hand gestures and their walk that makes the dog edgy around these people.Poor thing does'nt know if they're a threat or not so barks to let them know he's watching and they best not try anything funny.

Answer 6

Dogs don't care about color. They do notice different scents, actions. Maybe take your dog to meet more of your African American friends. African Americans have dogs who prefer them sometimes. Depends on what the dog has been exposed to and socialization.
When I lived in Italy, my Chesapeake often barked at Italians who visited. He was raised in the USA. As he got to know our Italian friends, he stopped barking at those he knew.

Answer 7

Maybe your friends walk heavier, talk deeper.....Have your friends befriended your dog?
Do you know much about the dogs up bringing? How old was the dog when you purchased him or her....sometimes it really depends on the history of the dog, he or she may have had a bad experience with African-Americans.

Answer 8

um exuse me. but that is a major insult. I'm african american. My dog does not get nervous around me,my family,or my friends. He loves everyone.

Just because you saw a dog that was scared of an african american,does not mean they are basing this on race for goodness sake!!! Dogs will get nervous around anyone no matter what color your skin is.

Your dog just is scared about meeting new people thats all.

Answer 9

Think about yourself! Is it possible that somehow you are telling the dog that the black people are different?
I'm white, I live in a very mixed neighborhood, and my dog doesn't perceive a difference in black & white. She has friends whose owners aren't racist but the dogs go nuts at a black person, and we think it's because they don't in fact have any black acquaintances. Mine is cool with African-Americans, and even uniforms, but god help the skateboarder of either race. And many of my black neighbors have loving dogs.
I'm surprised your dog sees the difference if you keep a biracial social life. This is a hugely curious issue to those of us who aren't afraid to think about it - I hope your question doesn't get hijacked.

Answer 10

I had a black dog that barked at black people. We all thought it was ironic and it really embarrassed me. The dog just wasnt exposed to alot of black people. My sister's dog is afraid of men because there are very few men in our family.

Answer 11

I think it has to do with socialization. Your dog probably didn't meet a lot of African American people when he was a puppy. They look different than you and your family, and he is not used to seeing them, so he gets nervous. Just like some dogs who were raised by women get nervous around men.