Anyone here got a black dog and had another dog owner (generally with badly behaved dog) excuse their dogs behaviour because their dog ‘doesn’t like black dogs’?
It’s happened to me countless times and seems weird! And possibly BS?!
Anyone got a different coloured dog and had same excuse? E.g. ‘sorry my dog’s being aggressive he’s scared of yellow dogs…’
I had a hamster that had a similar thing about darker coloured gerbils
I just put it down to racism
I just put it down to racism
Callous
I'm told it is because other dogs can't see the facial expression of a black dog and default to a fear/threat response. No idea if that's true though.
Our current black dog play bows so much and has a really long whippy tail going mad at the other end that she seems to get the message across that she is friendly.
I've heard it, but our Henry loves black dogs, and big ones too. Pub we go to has a regular Doberman in too, some people look horrified to see that and our 12kg Cockerpoo rolling around the floor wrestling.
I'd say it's just bad socialisation.
I suppose if you're one of those people that anthropomorphizes Dogs and believes they experience the full gamut or emotional and psychological responses as Humans, then I guess you have to accept Dogs can be a bit Racist too.
I don't think my cat is Racist, but he is generally a bit of a bellend.
I’m told it is because other dogs can’t see the facial expression of a black dog and default to a fear/threat response. No idea if that’s true though.
I’d imagine that’s not true. Dogs are primarily driven by smell over sight to start with. Does sound like a crap excuse for a badly trained dog. We used to have a massive black Newfoundland and never had it happen to us.
Isn't it because they’re not very Instagrammable?
Both dogs I've had aren't altogether happy about boxer dogs. I don't think boxers speak dog. I've heard the black dogs thing too.
If you have a black dog and another dog doesn’t like black dogs of course you going to hear that. One of my mother’s dogs doesn’t like labradors as their neighbours are aggressive to him through the fence.
Yes as mentioned its actually the fact dogs read facial expressions differently to humans. And black dogs faces are harder for a dog to read hence the aggressive/scared/reaction !
Winston Churchill famously had a problem with black dogs.
My late spaniel was pretty chill and uninterested in / around most other dogs. Liver coloured spaniels however it was another matter. She didn’t seem to like them at all! We got her as a 9yr old rescue so guessing something happened in her past with one.
Someone said that to us the other day.
Did not like black dogs and especially not labs, it was a tiny thing on a lead growling at our dog as we walked past them.
Someone we know had a dog that did not like black people, that was awkward.
Uncles dog was scared of cows as it got zapped by an electric fence with cows right on the other side so blamed the cows. Its real easy for animals to get a fear of random things.
My sister's lab doesn't like other big dogs. Fine with small ones, but propper barky at big ones - has to be held tight when we spot one.
black dogs faces are harder for a dog to read
Dogs faces aren't very expressive, what are they expect "to read"..... a quizzical raised eyebrow? A subtle knowing smirk?
Surely bared teeth or folded ears is all they need to notice? I can't see what difference their colour would make.
Isn’t it because they’re not very Instagrammable?
How very dare you.....
From Mrs Bloke's Insta account. The butter wouldn't melt little s**t we call Barney
#Blacklabsmatter
Black dogs are generally regarded as sinister or malevolent, and an omen of death.
Someone we know had a dog that did not like black people, that was awkward.
Isn't that fairly common in areas where they don't often see black people? Dogs can also be funny about people with disabilities such as a bad limp, or people with large and usual hats.
Walking a paranoid German Shepherd who is highly suspicious of strangers, and insists on staring intensely, can be a rather embarrassing experience.
Black dogs are generally regarded as sinister or malevolent, and an omen of death.
'Generally' doing some heavy lifting there.
I have a (unreasonable?) worry about black labs in particular. I've just had loads of bad experiences with them as a person, and also them going for our dogs in passing in the past.
For me it applies to all dogs regardless of colour.
I had a black lab that barked at tall people or people wearing hats. He was also scared of people who had hiccups.
Friend of mine has a black Retriever bitch. She doesn't mind other black dogs - unless they are collies!
I've a black whippet/lab cross - never had another owner say their dog was scared of mine do to her colour. My dog however is very cautious, and can be aggressive with dogs that are larger than her (absolutely fine with smaller dogs).
May be the dog in question had a bad experience with a black dog and now associates black dogs with that fight.
We had a dog that didn't like black dogs, hated with a passion German shepherds but loved to a worrying extent lurchers
He got on fine with Dave who is concerned that folk might not like him
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Yes as mentioned its actually the fact dogs read facial expressions differently to humans. And black dogs faces are harder for a dog to read hence the aggressive/scared/reaction !
do you have anything to back that up? Genuine question and not a dig btw. Everything I read/have read about canine communications has sight as pretty much the third of their senses. Smell way out in front as their primary way of understanding the world, followed by smell and then sight in third place. They’d be more affected by the smell of another dog than the look of one.
My dog is small and black and she doesn’t like large or white dogs.
I put it down to jealously of their glorious, white, flowing locks.
Barney looks awesome and Dave looks well sound.
My lab has a thing for blokes in hats. He's adopted...
We have a light coloured 2 yr old cockapoo who gets on with most dogs, he likes big black dogs and plays away happily. He is off the lead for play often and well socialised.
There is a black labradoodle nearby that had a go at him as a pup. Every time he sees it he goes apeshit, total Rambo mode and needs strong restraint.. weird !
Winston Churchill famously had a problem with black dogs.
That was the subject I was half expecting to read about.
They’d be more affected by the smell of another dog than the look of one.
Oh so now we are getting proper racist...... it's not that black dogs look different, it's that they smell different.
Edit: Someone should organise diversity classes for dogs - more interaction between dogs that look and smell different. It seems as if there might be a need.
I have a (unreasonable?) worry about black labs in particular. I’ve just had loads of bad experiences with them as a person, and also them going for our dogs in passing in the past.
That’s funny @longdog , I was reading this thread thinking about what I had assumed was my unique but consistently bad experiences with black labs. Not all black labs, but if I get hassled by a dog out running off road , it’s very likely to be one. It’s been the same for years.
Hear it quite a lot when taking our black lab out. It's a bit self fulfilling sometimes. You get people frantically pulling their dogs back and virtually shouting that they don't like black dogs. No wonder their dog has an issue.
I'm reasonably confident the expression and body language thing might be a factor. Yes smell is important but it varies from dog to dog. Our dog is very visual. He is also a bit racist and has even barked at black people on TV.
I don't think it is anything about the colour of our lab/collie cross pup, as it seems that mainly little yappy dogs don't like him
Doug is also concerned that black dogs apparently aren't 'grammable...
On the other hand, Doug also might appear at times to be slightly malevolent and/or sinister...
We've also had the 'they don't like black dogs' thing said to us. It's nonsense.
Doug himself doesn't have issues with any particular genre of pooch. There are local dogs he loves, and some that he (to us) irrationally hates. In both cases the feelings are generally mutual and as we chat to the other owners they also really have no idea why as we spot each other in the distance, rein both our dogs in and pass each other as far apart as possible with a knowing nod and rolling eyes.
<img src="[img] 
[/img]" alt="Esther" /
Esther rarely has a problem with other dogs- she just ignores them!
do you have anything to back that up? Genuine question and not a dig btw. Everything I read/have read about canine communications has sight as pretty much the third of their senses. Smell way out in front as their primary way of understanding the world, followed by smell and then sight in third place. They’d be more affected by the smell of another dog than the look of one.
https://companyofanimals.com/uk/why-does-my-dog-dislike-black-dogs/
Lots of info on tinternet 🙂
BIL and SIL dog doesn't like black dogs. They've said it's because of difficulty reading their facial expressions.
When we take Rufus out some dogs take a general dislike to him, but normally smaller dogs who I guess feel threatened so kick off as they can't run away due to leads.
Look at the magnificent bastard 🤣
Heard it loads from loads of people, sister's dog hated them - labs in particular.
According to that link:
If you have a black puppy it is really important that you invest time in these early socialisation experiences. Sign up for puppy classes that include reward-linked introductions to dogs of every description
Why? Surely it's not the black puppy that will grow up to have a problem.
The headline of the article even asks, "Why does my dog dislike black dogs?". They are the ones that need to go to diversity classes!
Talk about victim blaming.
I've heard it a couple of times, doesn't help that Lulu is a fairly large Belgian shepherd:
FWIW she's very boisterous and always looking for a chance to play, but otherwise great with other dogs - but I can fully understand that smaller dogs see her as a threat and I generally try to cross the road if I see one coming.