doit4thedogz Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 My dog is well behaved and is always on a leash. He is not interested in people and ignores them. If someone wants to pat him he lets them. Whenever I walk him Chinese people look at him with fascination, or are terrifed. Those terrified grab their children in fear, others gesture to me to stay away from them (especially those who don't speak English). I acknowledge that some people may be scared, but I feel frustrated that I am expected to go out of my way to avoid them. Why is it that Americans fear muslims. Muslims must feel fustrated that they are expected to go out of their way to avoid them(Americans). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chichihuahua Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 My dog is well behaved and is always on a leash. He is not interested in people and ignores them. If someone wants to pat him he lets them. Whenever I walk him Chinese people look at him with fascination, or are terrifed. Those terrified grab their children in fear, others gesture to me to stay away from them (especially those who don't speak English). I acknowledge that some people may be scared, but I feel frustrated that I am expected to go out of my way to avoid them. Why is it that Americans fear muslims. Muslims must feel fustrated that they are expected to go out of their way to avoid them(Americans). lolz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Daisy Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I had a GSD x kelpie who was scared of Asians. He would cower and pull me to the other side of the street to get away from them. Figure that one out!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Boo is a magnet for attention from people of an Asian background - I really hate to think how many pictures you'll find of him in their mobile phones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I had a GSD x kelpie who was scared of Asians. He would cower and pull me to the other side of the street to get away from them. Figure that one out!? Perhaps it is a smell thing based on a different diet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaafGSD Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) Many people in this country are scared of large dogs too. Not only Chinese people. Those of us who own GSD's and Rotties know only to well what it's like to take your gentle, loving dog anywhere and have some people nearly wet themselves with fear. All because of what's in some bloody newspaper. I'm starting to notice this alot with my (only) 5 month old GSD... he is hardly intimidating!!! Even apart from his obvious "puppy-ness", he is a well-behaved, happy and friendly boy... but I still have people that steer clear of us giving us worried looks LOL (whether he is off lead at the park or on the lead). I haven't noticed any particular "demographic" doing it more tho. I also have many ppl coming up saying what a wonderful dog he is too and can they please pat him... It does "upset" me a little... I would much rather ppl take each dog on a dog by dog basis... but then we are kinda getting into the BSL thing which I dont want to do edited for spelling Edited November 8, 2009 by RaafGSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninahartland Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) Boo is a magnet for attention from people of an Asian background - I really hate to think how many pictures you'll find of him in their mobile phones! Haha! I know what you mean ! Riley is the same kind of magnet for mobile phone pics! I even had a council animal control car stop once when I was out, was thinking OMG what have I done wrong, but all they wanted was to take his photo Edited November 8, 2009 by ninahartland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSDowner Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 And what breed is Boo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charli73 Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I must say I have noticed this also... It does upset me sometimes.. Ive had an asian lady walking past my house when I had the dog on lead inside the gates and she very obviously walked wide onto to tarmac past my place then back on to the footpath and my dog wasnt even near her???? I get terribly offended when things like that happen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissindra Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I have a small-fluffy-cutesy-dog and my chinese delivery lady is terrified of him. We just make sure he's out of site when she comes so she doesn't have to feel scared. It doesn't offend me, a phobia is a phobia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chichihuahua Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) I must say I have noticed this also... It does upset me sometimes.. Ive had an asian lady walking past my house when I had the dog on lead inside the gates and she very obviously walked wide onto to tarmac past my place then back on to the footpath and my dog wasnt even near her???? I get terribly offended when things like that happen... oh who the hell cares? Some people aren't dog people, why does it matter? does everyone have to adore your dog? You've had ONE asian woman who crossed the steet, so you think it's the entire race? PLEASE. I find this entire thread very offensive. It's all whole lot of generalization and most of it sounds very ignorant. Edited November 8, 2009 by reality_22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 And what breed is Boo? A black male dane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSDowner Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 Great Danes are so beautiful and look docile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Great Danes are so beautiful and look docile. You'd be surprised at the number of people who are apprehensive based on sheer size and because he is entire. Being black does not assist his cause either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cath Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I have been socialising Xito, a now almost 4 month old black Belgian Shepherd Groenendael. He loves all kids, but seemed confused the first time (at less than 3 months old) when a little Sudanese girl ran past him, 2nd time he was great and wanted to play. I told a Sudanese lady that her kids could pat the dog, but the youngest girl, about 3, totally freaked out and screamed. I wondered about his lack of reaction to the older child and wondered if it was a scent thing as the family seemed very traditional and may carry a different scent. Yesterday at Durack I told two young boys they could pay Xito, at first they were wary, but then good. The father explained they had never seen large dogs and were concerned, so he was easing them into it. I was proud of my little boy as he was gentle, rather than his usual boisterous self as he normally is with our kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkabsalom Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Haha never thought I'd post in DOL after being a reader for a few months! I'm a Malaysian chinese who migrated to this absolutely magnificent country 8 years ago. To be honest, I have always been terrified of dogs! Reason 1. People back in our country (and probably other asian countries) keep dogs as guard dogs. So when I was a cute lil high school kid walking past someone's house, a dog (most probably a GSD or rotti) would run up and bark like crazy. Thats just our culture and mentality. I would say most people think like that back in malaysia. Reason 2. There are strays on the roads, who are in poor shape and we do not have enough resources to help all of them. So stray dogs or cats are quite aggresive. Thats why we keep a distance from them. Reason 3. Because of reason 1, we unconsciously developed a stigma for guarddogs (especially GSDs and rottis) and hence the precaution we take. And truthfully, I was pleasantly amazed that dogs can behave so well in australia, it was like one of the mini culture shocks for me. I remember thinking.. "wow...dogs don't bark here" "wow...dogs don't charge up and bare their teeth at you" and also I am fortunate that I have friends who have pets and glad to let me get acclimatized with them. So please don't get offended, its just a natural thing for us to avoid dogs, doesn't mean we are not awe of your beautiful companions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSDowner Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 Darkabsalom, what a good informative post. Thank you . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue & Waldo Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Perhaps an education program/leaflets in different languages would be worthwhile. I have Asian neighbours who asked me to help them teach their child about dogs because they did not want them to be scared. It took their daughter weeks to pat Cindy. Now it takes me weeks to get Cindy away from her! She is getting a Cavalier next week as a surprise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Genki Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) to darkabsalom for sharing her experiences. My family is also from a similar migrant background. My mum was always apprehensive of dogs because she was bitten badly by one (note: an individual experience rather than a cultural one). But my dog-crazy sister and I persisted and we started off with a samoyed, Jasper, followed by labrador and mastiff x ridgeback. Thanks to Jasper my mum now loves the large active boofa types- I don't think she could ever live without one now. We have two young families, Iranian and African, renting next door and the attitudes of each individual are different. Our two are very effective guard dogs (a little too effective with their voices and one has a very deep bark). Both the wives and the children are absolutely terrified of them and convinced that they are fierce and uncontrollable. We are very aware of this and always have our dogs on a leash if they are out in the front yard. The husbands don't seem to have a problem with them and are friendly with us but see the dogs less often than their family. I understand the various reasons as to why the fearful ones have that attitude, however I really wish they could agree to meet our dogs (with the gate between them and the furkids firmly on leashes and behaving on their very best) even just once so that our dogs learn not to bark at them when they go to and fro from their houses. I'm not seeking anything else as our two are still young, boisterous and live in a kid-less house- and those kids are convinced the dogs are killers. It is a problem which needs to be discussed and dealt with as they will be living next door for quite awhile and I don't know how to address it. I am worried that is why the kids never play in their front and backyards (compared to the Sudanese-Aussie toddlers who lived there before them, were always outside and adored Jasper). Any thoughts, suggestions, experiences in the art of persuasion and effective cross-cultural communication for this scenario? Should I write a letter/invitation and leave it with some cupcakes and muffins? Hire a sammie temporarily to join the crew as canine diplomat (there's no chance of my folks saying yes to a third musketeer/scallywag living at our house)? Boarding up the front gate will block their view but not stop their acute hearing. I am about to become a lawyer and I don't even know where to start! Apologies for hijacking but my mum was quite distressed that one of the neighbours pointedly scowled and ignored her in the supermarket and I really want to improve the situation. Here are my two 'killers' (sigh): Edited November 29, 2009 by Ms Genki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Shepherd~ Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 we are not a multi cultral area, but I notice the well preened glamour pusses with kids dressed in clothes like baby GAP like to pull the cats bum, in shopping aeas, and parks. I think it happens within any culture or area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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