Dogged
Something happened last week and I’ve been mulling over whether to write about it or not. The reason why I wouldn’t write about it? Potential to offend people. But, when has that stopped me before? So, as always, I am writing this with the understanding there may be more than one angle to my store.
This is a story that has two sides. One side that involves a dog and her owner. Another side that involves mostly mothers and their children.
If I haven’t introduced you before, this is our dog, SoMi:
Yeah, she looks a little bad ass there (part of the reason I love this photo). But, she doesn’t always look like that. In fact, she more often looks like the photos below.
She’s cute, right? Yeah, I thought so. =)
We have owned her for over three years now, so I’m used to what happens when we take her for a walk. People take one look at her and make a huge arc around us. Some walk to the other side of the street. Other dog owners pull their dogs (big and small) into the grassy parkway. Mothers snatch up their children as if my dog is frothing at the mouth or as if I’m strutting around with my made-for-fighting dog, neither of which are remotely true.
It’s canine racism at best. I kid you not. I watch those same people walk by other dogs without a problem. But, take a black dog and issues shoot to the surface.
I’ve done a number of things to combat this problem in the past. First, I make SoMi sit on the sidewalk. When people see she’s an obedient dog, at a minimum, they trust I have her under control. Sometimes, they even realize she’s a nice dog (which she is) and may come over to pet her. I also make eye contact with people. I smile. Say hello. It’s amazing how just my demeanor will change their demeanor and impression of my dog.
I have also been in a number of situations where kids really want to pet SoMi. Sometimes parents tell their children that they have to ask before petting the dog (which I love – teaching kids to be responsible and respectful!). Other times, parents take one look at my dog and begin to deny their child the chance to pet her (way to pass along that racism there). In both those situations, I will normally make SoMi sit and tell the parents she’s friendly. In most, if not all cases, the parents relent and let their children pet SoMi, who is always sweet and obedient.
But, you know what? This responsibility I feel to make others believe black dogs can be nice gets really tiring. I shouldn’t have to prove my dog is nice when she’s done nothing to suggest she’s mean. People are supposed to read a situation, assess it and then decide whether there’s danger or not. I live in a neighborhood full of dogs. We don’t have a population of strays. Or super-aggressive dogs. We live in a family-friendly area, which includes lots of family-friendly dogs. People aren’t supposed to take one look at a dog, see black and freak the fuck out. That’s just ignorant.
So, the other day, I was running with SoMi. Same 3-mile loop we always run. It was a sunny spring day, so there were lots of people out and about. Anytime we approached others, I’d just pull SoMi’s leash so she stayed close to me and not hog up the whole sidewalk. Generally, unless another dog is involved, SoMi isn’t interested in other people, so this approach to running with her works.
As I was pulling SoMi close, I noticed this woman look at me, freeze momentarily, grab at her toddler, swoop her up and pick up the pace they were walking. As I ran by, I was so annoyed by this seeming ignorance, I barked, “She doesn’t bite.” And kept running by. I heard the woman say something to the effect of, “I was just trying to be safe.”
And that’s where my dilemma lies. I get that every mother out there will do anything in their power to protect their children. I get that some people are afraid of dogs. I get that SoMi isn’t a little dog (which, in my experience, I’d argue are generally much less tolerant of children than big dogs – Napoleon complex, anyone?). I get that some people (probably most people) don’t want other people’s dogs all up in their stuff.
I want to fully appreciate where these mothers are coming from. But, I always come back to the idea that you have to read the indicators in a situation. And if I am to remove myself from this situation, what do I see?
I see an adult woman. Making eye contact and smiling. Walking or running with a dog. A black dog. Pulling the dog close (i.e., controlling the dog). And that’s it. There is no dark alley or growling dog or intimidating human involved.
There is only one indicator (a superficial one at that) stating danger. And that is my dog is black. And if you want to drive me really insane, then you should go ahead and tell me that all black men dogs are dangerous. Ahem.
And that’s it. I barked. SoMi didn’t. Who’s the animal now? More importantly, am I out of line for being frustrated* with the situation?
* It should be noted that I am not currently frustrated with the situation. I get over shit like that quickly. But, I do think this topic is worthy of a conversation.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:16 am
I can definitely understand how you would be frustrated by that- it’s not a good feeling to have scores of people leap out of your path.
For what it’s worth, while you may be in a family area without strays, even just with my dogs I do the same thing. Where I live, which is a beautiful old established neighbourhood with running trails along the river, there are lots of dogs, and while they’re friendly they don’t know how to meet people or dogs. There is a lot of politeness when approaching, but if we let the dogs greet each other, most dogs we meet are extremely high energy and are too excited to be meeting, and their owners are oblivious. Maybe your neighbourhood isn’t like that, but for ours avoidance is learned- and I see it with the families with little kids too.
If that’s not it, for what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s that she’s a black dog, I think it’s her doberman markings. Even though she’s a sweet girl, I think the doberman points on her eyes just remind people of a powerful, strong guard dog -- one that some owners don’t properly train because they want them to be aggressive because they’re a “tough” dog. I think that visual cue is what people are responding to more than anything.
It might be silly, but I think that people have powerful visual associations like that. My mom has a german shepherd husky cross who looks like a light shepherd -- but she has pure blue eyes. She’s a DOPE and has no brains at all, if you tapped her when she’s relaxed, she’d fall over. But because of the colour of her eyes, people assume she a shepherd/wolf cross, and they cross the street.
As lame as it is, when I was with her I always tried to be super friendly and just… remember that people are really scared, so I would try to be an educator. If little kids were patting her I would say “You know she likes you because wagging her tail and looking away from you, that means she wants you to be in charge. When a dog looks in your eyes they’re saying “give me some space”, isn’t that funny?” just as a way to talk to the kid, but also as a way to help non-animal people with kids know what to look for when they’re around dogs that might not be as well trained.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Ok, I’m going to come at this from the other side. I’m sorry im not sure what breed So-Mi is, but many dogs including Staffies, Bulldogs and many of the dogs which are black and tan like Rotweillers and Boxers have all been tarred by the press as ‘violent’ dogs.
So people see these dogs and think that there is always a threat of violence surrounding them. That’s why people avoid them.
However, 99 times out of 100 the dog is well behaved, safe and doesn’t have a shred of violence in him/her. But it can take that one time for a child to do something to annoy a dog for things to go wrong.I wouldn’t want to be the dog owner if that happened.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:44 am
I am actually sort of jealous that you get that reaction. I would love it if people would ask before their kids ran over to try and pet Maya. Maya is terrified of people, especially kids because they are so unpredictable. She gets so worked up that she sometimes pukes when people are all over her. I mean think about it. The kids running over to her are like 10 times her size at least, and they are so seemingly out of control that she has no idea what they might do. If someone 10 times my size came over screaming and jamming their hands in my face, I’d probably puke too.
Anyway, that was all totally off the subject of your post, sorry!
Having met your dog, I don’t understand how anyone could be afraid of her. She is the most well behaved dog I have ever met, and you are a very responsible pet owner. I’m sorry people are reacting this way because it really doesn’t make sense. Obviously you don’t expect everyone to be a dog person and want to come over and meet you/her, but to actively avoid you seems a bit over the top!
April 27th, 2010 at 7:54 am
I do agree with Kyla in that people may be scared of her doberman type markings, but I also completely agree because its because shes a black dog. There is a horrible stigma associated with black dogs and a widely known fact that black dogs are the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. It is canine racism and it needs to be stopped.
A friend used to have a black pit bull which she rescued as a puppy from a shelter. Her neighbors even went so far to circulate a petition in an attempt to force her to get rid of the dog, even though the dog had never hurt anyone, never escaped her securely fenced in yard, and never went outside without a leash on. Her dog was one of the NICEST dogs I’ve ever encounted in my life. There wasn’t an agressive bone in her body. People reacted though the same way they react to SoMi.
Frankly, that would piss me off too. My last dog was golden mix, to look at her one would think she was friendly. In her old age, she hated people and let them know it (she never bit anyone, just growled and snapped) often surprising people. They would become startled and say “Oh! She looked so friendly.”
Yeah, don’t judge a dog (or people) by their looks.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:55 am
There have actually been studies that show that black dogs are discriminated against than other color dogs, they are the most likely to end up in shelters and worse. This is utterly heartbreaking. My good friend had the sweetest Rottie but, people were terrified of him. If they only gave him a chance.
As a dog owner, I am the one to pull my dogs away from all other dogs, not because of what type of dog they are but, because my little one is a nipper. I would rather do a slow introduction rather than letting the dogs race to sniff each other.
I have a similar but opposite problem. People assume that my dogs are friendly. While my lab is a love sponge my little one is not that friendly especially with kids. So when people come up and assume it is okay to pet her, I take issue. I warn people that she does nip and advise them to focus their love on our lab then after my little one calms down then they can pet her. We are working with Rosie to get her out of the nipping stage so that she can be less afraid.
I love it when kids ask if it is okay to pet my dogs. I think that is a great step when they learn that asking is being careful.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:30 am
i can see how this would frustrate you for sure. somi is nothing but adorable (especially in that little outfit, you KNOW that’s my favorite!).
i think like kyla said, people associate more the breed (that they “think” somi is) rather than the color, with something bad that they have heard or experienced. and the media. just this morning i heard a report on some dog attack with a particular dog breed. but does that mean ALL dogs of this breed are dangerous? certainly not.
i wish people would be more open minded and understanding. not judge so quick. i get why it’d irk you.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:31 am
This sucks. And, you’re right. Small dogs are more likely to bite a child, in my experience. But, people move way out of the way and move their children when I walk CHICO. He is a Chihuahua for God’s sake. I don’t understand why so many people are so afraid so obviously well behaved, beautiful animals
April 27th, 2010 at 8:40 am
I have a black dog. A Lab mix, actually.
The sweetest effing dog you’ll ever meet, total suck, scaredy-cat more than anything, and I’ve had some people scream at me to get the dog away (while walking through a communal lobby of our building), among stuff that you’ve described. Seriously?! I get that people are afraid of dogs but jaysus, its a 50 pound LAB. Who just wants to sniff your crotch.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Oh I hear you. I have a black lab in Caracas, at my parents, and every time I walk her on the street people flee. She’s such a sweetie too, no one would guess it though, she has a loud bark and if someone ever comes close to the house with anything other than good intentions she gets furious. I can see why people fear, and it IS in part because she’s black. I know that if she were a golden retriever everybody would be gaga eyes for her. But also, it’s because she’s big. Big dogs, of any color are intimidating, especially for kids and kids’ moms. Although, I agree with you little dogs, naturally, tend to be much more temperamental, angry and aggressive than big dogs, unless they’ve been trained to do so. I’d say keep doing what you’re doing, it’s not SoMi’s fault at all, but you can’t help people’s instincts either.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:49 am
I can see why you’re frustrated. I can’t say why the mothers in question do what they do… I know as a mother myself, I always remind my children to ask if they can pet a dog. Not only is this respectful of the dog (who would want a lot of people just randomly walking up to you and touching your hair?), but it allows the person with the dog to verify that the dog has a temperament that will allow this.
As with many things, I think people react based on stereotypes. And the woman in the park? Maybe she didn’t want her child accidentally running in front of you and trip you up. I wasn’t there, so I can’t say. But I don’t think anyone is trying to be *intentionally* mean.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:07 am
That is interesting. I see tons of dogs on the running path I frequent and I never ‘avoid’ them. I mean, I will be the first person to say I have a bit of a fear of dogs, which is totally irrational. And completely my fault because it stems from a bite I got as a child when I tried to ride our dog like a horse… seriously. Anyways, dogs make me uncomfortable but I trust that the owner wouldn’t bring a dog to a area with lots of families with children if their dog had ‘issues’ with others. And I certainly don’t judge a dog by its color -- that is just ridiculous! Or even by its size, really.
I only get really uncomfortable when I run in an area where people don’t keep their dogs on a leash. Then I might cross the street and run on the other side of the road because I know that the dog will probably sense my discomfort and it seems like it makes them even friendlier -- and even though I know they are just being friendly, I still get the panicked feeling… Which is stupid, but it is what it is!
I think SoMi looks so sweet. She’s obviously a well-trained dog so people need to calm the hell down & stop acting like you have a chained beast at your side.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:11 am
SoMi is adorable in her little booties.
My friend had the biggest blackest dog I’ve ever seen and people were always terrified of him but he was the most gentle sweetest dog ever. I’m more afraid of the little yappy ankle biters than the big black slobbering babies.
Just more proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:12 am
I’m having a hard time forming a coherent thought because there are cute pictures of a gorgeous dog in adorable snow boots. My brain has turned to mush.
I think a possibility is that people are unfamiliar with a well-trained dog and are misinterpreting your actions. I don’t want to generalize and say “people without dogs”, because frankly I feel there are a lot of people that own dogs without really understanding their dog, and they might be just as likely to misunderstand something they see. Anyway, I think to someone unfamiliar, they might think you are pulling SoMi in close, or having her sit, because she’s a lunger. People seem a bit backwards about that stuff and think those crazy dogs that jump all over you are friendly and OK.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:21 am
I have to say I don’t think its SoMi’s color, but perhaps the breed. I’ll be honest with you, I get nervous when I see a Rottweiler or a German Shepard for example unless I know the owner. I do get a little nervous around very large dogs only because they are so big and I am quite small so I’m scared they can topple me over, but I don’t usually react in such a frightened way. Generally, I smile at all dogs and owners because I love dogs so much and really hope to have one of my own someday.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Oh and P.S. SoMi IS adorable. You can see it in her eyes.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:24 am
I am well aware that my opinion may not be popular. I grew up in house with dobermans (typical dog which incites fear) who were gentle and kind. BUT no matter how well mannered and kind a dog is, it is still an animal. And I am not sure I would ever have a lot of trust with an animal around my child. Especially and animal that is as big or bigger than my kid. (For me size is more important than color -- I guess I am a size-ist.)
Kids can move quickly and scare an animal or accidentally hurt the animal and the animal will react like an animal. That is only human nature. I know SoMi would probably never, ever, ever hurt anyone. But what if he did?
I was bit by friend’s dog out of the blue. A dog that knew me and that I cared for and walked while she was out of town. It was a really bad bite that caused an infection and a nasty scar. The bite was on my thigh, but it could have been on a kid’s face.
I can’t blame an animal for being an animal. But I also can’t blame a parent for being a good parent.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hmm, I see this entirely differently, and I should say up front that I grew up around dogs and my parents still have 2.
I think it is the responsible thing to grab your kid or make a wide arc for ANY dog. Dogs are unpredictable. My parents have one dog that is terrified of kids because they move quickly and are often very loud. He has snapped at a kid before, out of fear, although he’s a love bug with adults.
When you meet a strange dog, it is always safest to assume that that dog is untrained and to proceed cautiously. While I’m sure that SoMi is a very obedient dog, other people don’t know that. I would interpret you pulling her close as “she’s not friendly, so I’m keeping her close to me,” although I know that’s not what you intend at all. Her breed mixes also have a bad rap, so people are afraid of her probably due to that as well.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Honestly, I don’t think the issue is the dog’s color. I see people go crazy over black dogs all the time… labs and similar. I think it’s probably just that the dog looks like she could be part doberman or another breed that people who know nothing about dogs are scared of. And I can totally relate… I know people at the dog park who have rottweilers and pit bulls and are very very careful to make sure there dog never steps a toe out of line because they know that any incident plus the bias against the dog’s breed could lead to the dog being taken away from them. Hell, we wonder if Montana could be part shepherd and I try to avoid documenting this possibility anywhere, just in case, even though she is also perfectly behaved at pretty much all times.
I wouldn’t call it racism, though. It feels belittling to me. A lot of people are afraid of dogs, know nothing about them, and have heard that certain breeds are dangerous. While that is frustrating for the owners of those breeds, or dogs that resemble those breeds, especially when the dogs are adorable and well-behaved like SoMi, it’s not the same thing as the racism that millions of people face every day, from other people. We are all the same breed and we have no reason to be afraid of each other. And yet we are and that’s a huge contributor to racism. And racism can ruin people’s lives. I just don’t see how people being scared of your dog is on that same level. Even though I agree that there is no reason to be scared of SoMi.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:45 am
To clarify, when I said “go crazy” I meant in a good way. As in “OMG that black lab is so cute! Can I pet your dog?” etc.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:20 am
as a mom i’d think maybe it’s cause she’s big and not necessarily that she’s black? i know from my experience that ANY big dog worries me with my kids…not really Hannah anymore cause she loves dogs and knows to ask before she pets and she’s not scared. but livie, yeah i’d be more defensive over a big dog than a little one.
i dunno. just rambling. food for thought. at least you see both sides…that moms sometimes get caught up on safety and dont’ realize how it looks to anyone else. i know i’ve done it before. it’s an instinct you can’t make go away.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:27 am
As someone who is generally wary of dogs--maybe not afraid (anymore) but I am definitly not a dog person and I generally am uncomfortable around them--I might argue that this is more that she’s big than that she’s black. When I saw that picture with the socks, which, yes, is adorable, my first thought was “Wow. She’s real big.” I do the arc around big dogs. They kind of scare me. White,golden, black.. whatever. The ones that look like horses generally send me running in the other direction.
Of course, I don’t have the firsthand experience with this that you do and I can’t say whether dog racism exists or doesn’t. From what I’ve read in these comments it does.
But from a non-animal person, I’d say it’s size over color. I always say I can get to know and love a specific dog, but generally I don’t like them. And the bigger the dog, the bigger the arc I walk. (the one dog I have gotten to know and love was a big black lab named Luna and I love him.)
April 27th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Myabe it’s cause I’m not a dog owner or just naive, but I have never heard of black dog bias. That just seems silly! But here it is…Somi is a sweet dog, I’ve met her I can attest. She never freaked me out. Black labs are sweet dogs too. I can’t imagine judging a dog on color. I know some people may judge on size (although I agree that is silly too b/c big dogs tend to be more mellow). Either way, when you see a dog with a woman, on a leash, behaving herself, you need to chill.
April 27th, 2010 at 11:31 am
To be honest, I judge dogs by their owners. Does that make me judgmental? ;)So be it.
I don’t think of ANY dog as dangerous as long as I don’t see any warning signs.
I generally love dogs, so that might be another reason why I am really open to them being around.
I do understand why you would be frustrated by the situation, especially since you seem to do everything right in terms of handling her outside when other people are present and honestly, that is ALL you can do to make other people comfortable around Somi.
Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be a able to change people’s behavior.
April 27th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Considering my dear Jackers is a black dog I can 1,000% relate to this entire post. I experience the same thing when I’m out with Jack. I also keep him close to me when we are on walks, not because he’s bad but because you’re supposed to share the sidewalk. He doesn’t bark or bite when he sees other people but wags his tail and whines because he wants to say hi. I make him sit before being pet as well, or at least I get down on his level so he’s comfortable.
But does it matter? NO. People cross the street. People look at me funny.
It’s incredibly frustrating. In all likelihood, I wouldn’t walk my dog if he was a threat or if I even thought he would be a threat.
There’s many stigmas that go with black dogs… they don’t get adopted as much (some blame it on the way their photos come out, others on the fact that it’s dog racism.) Either way, it’s just not ok.
April 27th, 2010 at 11:54 am
I think that would be an overly frustrating situation to deal with on a daily basis. I can understand that certain people are fearful of dogs, but this seems a little different. Dog racism, wow.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
i think the big difference here is that you are a RESPONSIBLE dog owner. you have a well trained dog; she behaves appropriately; you wouldn’t take her around children if she didn’t behave well with them. however? not everyone is a responsible dog owner. those dog owners can still be friendly, and well-intentioned, and smile at you, and they can still have no control over their dogs who will lunge and you and growl and be pretty scary. i know black dogs do experience a higher bias than other dogs (my bf has a 115 lb black lab!) but honestly, i would argue that you just can’t EVER trust a dog OR OWNER that you don’t already know. poorly-trained dogs react and behave poorly, and it’s not their fault or because they’re “bad breeds” or whatever; they just haven’t been taught well enough to know better. and you can’t know in advance which kind of dog & owner you’re dealing with.
April 27th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I get the same reaction when I take my dogs for a walk. People totally freak out when the see them and just assume they’re some killer wolf beasts of doom. Or something.
Cute dog by the way.
April 27th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I have never heard of black dog bias (never even THOUGHT of it actually), but now that I have had a few minutes to process it I can kind of see it. It’s terrible to hear they are adopted last and put down most often. How ridiculously sad.
I think that if someone is unsure and feels afraid or nervous, it’s okay to steer clear. I tend to pass calmly and don’t engage a dog with too much enthusiasm since I don’t like to be jumped all over. But if a dog is walking its owner? That is a situation I tend to avoid, black dog or white, big or small.
April 27th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I can see how that would be aggravating. My first thought was (like some other commenters) that it may more be her markings than just her color--she looks a little like a Rotty to me--which is still judgmental and everything, but sadly there are a lot of breeds that have bad reputations.
I can also see the other side a little bit now--not because I would worry about a dog necessarily, more that I know my kid is already fast and grabby. Depending on the age, it might just be easier for a mom to grab her kid than try and deal with touching or grabbing for a dog without knowing better. But, honestly, that’s a once in a while situation that still doesn’t cover all the times you face it.
April 27th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
SoMi is so cute how could anyone jump back. I’d do the opposite I’d want to smother her with attention. Love the dog bone picture. I wonder if part of it in her case is that her coloring is similar to that of a Rottweiler.
As the owner of two pit bulls I feel your pain. The mention that I have pit bulls brings a negative reaction from people. We take them for walks and to the pet stores and they are well behaved (most of the time). When we have them out we’ve had people pull their children away from them. We have had people cross the street on us. We have even had people make rude comments about dog fighting. When someone comes up we have them sit. Ares still has issues sometimes because he gets so excited to see people. But in general they are both very sweet, well behaved dogs. (slightly spoiled)
I think some people are breed racist. I think some people don’t like dogs particularly bigger ones. I think some people just don’t know how to act around dogs. It is an educational piece. As owners we need to have our dogs well trained and show the world they are good, sweet, loving dogs.
April 27th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I get the same reaction with my pit bull. Old men have walked on sheets of ice and women have walked into traffic just to avoid us. I’m not kidding.
It’s prejudice and it doesn’t help that Rocco has to wear a Gentle Leader around his snout so he doesn’t drag me all over the neighborhood. But it looks like I’m walking a murderous dog with a muzzle, so I understand why people avoid us. Doesn’t stop me from telling them he’s friendly, encouraging kids to pet him and introducing him to other dogs. :-) Because, really, it’s up to owners like us to try and change those stereotypes by showing how sweet and loving our “scary” breeds can be.
April 27th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
It’s tough to know for sure what was going through her head, but for me, I would have reacted the same- not out of MY OWN fear of the dog, but Maggie is VERY AFRAID. She sees a dog and practically climbs to the top of my head in 0.2 seconds! So to avoid an absolute meltdown, I would have had to scoop Maggie up and hightail it out of there. (We’re working on this… our neighbors all have dogs and she’s getting better. But last week one of the smaller dogs got excited and bowled her over and… well, you can just imagine how that went over! heh)
I think the bottom line is that people just don’t know. And the news always reports scary stories about toddlers and babies and even older kids being attacked by dogs who have never lunged at so much as a fly before, so it’s nerve-wracking. YOU know your dog, but they don’t. And while I know that you’re being honest when you say ‘She doesn’t bite!’ (because you’re aware of other people and just want to Do What’s Right!) there are a lot of people that probably say that and don’t mean it. It’s tough to know who to trust, really.
Just try not to take it personally! Your dog is cute- black or no :) (I honestly have never felt the color of a dog makes a difference in behavior- it’s more the sizes & breeds that freak people out the most, I’d imagine.) Happy running!
April 27th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
One of my favorite dogs EVER was an incredibly sweet, well-trained Rotti named Mookie (his owner was a Mets fan). I used to borrow him often. Just as they do with SoMi, people would make a wide arc or cross the street when they saw us coming (despite my smiles and eye contact…in Massachusetts no less!) and it killed me on his behalf. The ONLY time this dog ever even growled at someone it was a guy who raised a clenched fist to mug Mookie’s owner. One of my favorite things to do was accompany Mookie and his owner for the dog’s annual birthday treat: a vanilla ice cream. Somehow a Rotti walking down the street is a menace, but a Rotti eating ice cream is adorable. The change in people around us was remarkable.
Personally I think that large dogs are like large men in that they’re typically LESS pugnacious than the little ones, but ignorant people everywhere see size and/or breed and flee.
The human animal is as unpredictable as the canine one, but parents don’t usually snatch their toddlers up at the approach of a large person, even though kidnappings are reported as often, if not more often, than dog maulings. I have a friend who is afraid of dogs and try to be understanding, but in truth, I am baffled.
P.S. She is SO beautiful!
April 27th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
My parents have a German Shepard black lab cross. His colouring is very similar to Somi’s -- black with brown markings. He has always been a gentle dog (more so now that he is a senior but has never been a jumper.) I have encountered the exact reactions that you describe when I walk him. It’s so dumb -- my two dogs (who each weigh less than 25lbs)are more likely to jump all over strangers than my parents’ 110lb dog. It’s ignorance, plain and simple.
April 27th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
If I see a dog that is walking or running along in a calm manner then I will not think much about the animal. I might out of habit move a tad over because I do now know the dog (no matter the size) and would not just by appearances assume the dog is not skittish. I have a small dog and even though he has never done anything aggressive I watch him especially around kids. My theory is better safe than sorry.
Big dogs do make me nervous and honestly the markings on your dog and not the color would give me pause. If I knew your dog then I’d have no problem or you said the dog was friendly.
By the way your dog is adorable!
April 27th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Like Kyla, I think it’s her breed more than her color. If a black lab or a black poodle ran toward someone, I doubt they’d be as scared.
I’m a bit of a dog-ist too. I love dogs, but I get nervous when I see Pit Bulls. I was running one night and one lunged at me as I passed -- scared the crap out of me but her owner said “She’s okay, she’s just a puppy.” I smiled and kept running, but man it made me nervous.
I wouldn’t be scared of SoMi if I saw her though. She looks like a lovebug in all the pictures.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I would first like to state, for the record, that as a dog/cat/all animals lover, I would actually seek out a chance to pet SoMi because she is CUTE!
I would be frustrated if I were in your shoes, and while I agree that it’s mostly just ignorance causing these people to shy away from SoMi, it could also be something that happened to them in the past with some other dog (even if that dog looked nothing like SoMi). They could’ve been attacked, bitten, etc. But if I were in your shoes, my feelings would still be a bit hurt.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I am a dog person through and through! I can imagine that it must be frustrating.
Having said that, I don’t think it’s probably more that SoMi is a black AND TAN dog. While she doesn’t look vicious, people who have had bad experiences with rottis and dobermans probably see that and feel wary. I’ve had amazing experiences with rottis, but I have to say that I still feel very skeptical of dobermans, having been chased or snapped at by at least three in my memory.
April 27th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
That outfit totally takes away any bad ass-ness I thought SoMi had :-)
I think it’s more of a size thing than a color thing. However, DD prefers my mom’s white/black spotted dog to her mostly black dog. They are the same size, so who knows, maybe there’s some truth to the color thing (though in all fairness, her spotted dog is way friendlier than the black one — she’s a b*tch in every sense of the word).
My issue with big dogs is when owners are “owned” by the dog. There’s one huge dog in my building that lunges out every time he sees someone. I’m sure he’s friendly, but I’m always afraid he’s gonna knock me over! His owner needs to have better control over the leash and the situation. I’m a dog person, but I don’t need any large dog doing any lunging. I’m sure we’ve all had that experience (or worse) so we naturally shy away from larger dogs.
Bad owners give good owners like you a bad rap.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I think you are misjudging their apprehensions. I don’t think it is because of the color of your dog, but because of the size that they give you a wide berth. Just keep enjoying your walks and runs together and be glad you have a dog that you care so much about and that you trust.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I’ve never seen this happen with black dogs. For me, it’s just been dogs in general that are larger in size. I hate that I sometimes jump out of the way too but unfortunately, not everyone is very attentive with them and after a few bad experiences of dogs rushing and barking at me or jumping on me thanks to inattentive owners, I get hesitant.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
No, I am totally with you. I think your observations of how people have responded to Somi are valid and obviously for a reason. I am the kind of owner who asks another dog owner upon a walking encounter if my dog can sniff their dog. Sometimes the dog owners say no, other times they wonder why I even ask. More than not, though, I also pull Ping closer to me when we are approaching people — but I will say -- since she is a small dog, no one usually minds if she gets in their BIZnass. Do you think people are “cautious” because Somi is a big dog, too, not just black? Would it be different if she was a white lab? Or a golden retriever?
April 27th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
I’ve never heard this about black dogs, mostly about big dogs. My dog was black but medium sized and we’d get some of what you’re talking about. I think many people instill fear into kids about dogs -- certain breeds and certain sizes. It makes me sad.
(this might be redundant as I didn’t read all the comments ahead of me)
April 28th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hmm. I wish I didn’t have to click through to read every post.
But no dog should be grouped into any group because of its breed or colour. It’s about the upbringing.
April 28th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
As a black dog owner, I don’t get the same reaction you do with Somi. Some people may recoil at Fuzzy Britches, but I chalk it up to them not being dog lovers and because of her size. Everytime I take her on a walk I get compliments on her. This is not to brag, but I have heard about the black dog syndrome and I frankly haven’t seen it. We had a black lab growing up and I don’t remember any problems with him either.
I think if people weren’t raised with dogs, they stay away. Some may be racist, others may have had a bad dog encounter, etc.
May 4th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
People do that with me when I walk a golden retriever as well. I don’t think it is just black dogs thing, I think it is a larger dog thing. A lot of people ajust aren’t comfortable with larger dogs or dogs in general.
May 7th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Well, you already know I love the Little Faces…even if they aren’t all that “little.” I think your dog is a beauty and very sweet looking. I don’t think you did anything wrong in saying what you did. In fact, I’m surprised you don’t find yourself saying it more often. Next to putting a giant pink bow on her head, I don’t know what would change people’s perceptions of a bad ass gal like her, but standing up for her good nature is only understandable. You’re a good doggie mommy. :)
And if I ever see SoMi, I will flip out in the best way because dogs like her make me smile endlessly.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
I read this post a few weeks ago, and meant to comment at the time -- but did not. Then I actually thought about it a couple of times this week at the beach, so better late than never?
I am both a parent of a young dog-crazy child and a dog lover, and former owner of a large blueish Weimeraner.
All the while we lived in Arizona I worked as a technician at a large veterinary clinic part time. The most lovable dog I have ever met was a giant mastiff, the most ferocious was a rat terrier.
Personally, I am more cautious around larger dogs. Not because I think they are more or less likely to be bite -- but because if they are, it would be harder for me to manage a situation if a dog where to try to bite. I have been in situations where I have had to manage both. Small dogs are easier.
I can’t imagine it was because she is black and tan. But, I am pretty sure if you always dress her in that sweater you won’t need to worry about people being intimidated by her :)