Question:

Neighbours fearful of my dog? Cultural Issue?

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Hello,

I own a small Jack Russell Terrier who is very friendly, well behaved and is always on a lead. I live in an apartment building with mostly Indian and Pakistani families none of which whom own any pets. There are many shared security and fire doors leading to the front door of my apartment. I've noticed that whenever my dog and I are entering/exiting a door and one of the neighbours is there they often jump back as if frightened and then give myself and my dog a wide birth when passing by.

I want to be respectful of my neighbours in case I'm missing something cultural. Today though one of the men jumped about a foot and screamed like a little girl... I thought that was a bit much.

Can someone please shed some light on this situation? I'm completely dumbfounded. Are Indian/Pakistani persons afraid of dogs for any particular reason? How are dogs viewed in India/Pakistan? How do dogs fit into their religious beliefs or the caste system?

If you're of Indian/Pakistani descent I'm particularly interested in your thoughts.

Thank you so much for everyones insight!

Anna

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5 ANSWERS


  1. You are missing cultural, and possibly religious differences.

    I live in the U.S.A.  I raise meat goats, and have customers from about 30 different countries, via the local University.

    So I see a lot of different cultures, and quiet a few religions.

    Universally, my customers are extremely afraid of my dogs.  I've spoken to them about it, to learn why.

    People of the Muslim religion don't like dogs.  They consider them to be dirty animals, like pigs.

    However most of them fear/dislike dogs for another reason.  In most of the countries they come from, dogs are feral, or semi feral...they are NOT trusted sweet pets.  You are VERY likely to be bitten by a dog in other countries.  

    Very few of those countries (like India) vaccinate dogs.  Rabies is a fact of life in those countries.  People in those countries are taught from childhood to fear, and stay away from dogs with good reason.  

    So you are dealing possibly with religion (thought most from India are Hindu or Buddhist). Childhood taught fear of being bitten.  Fear of contracting rabies.  From Pakistan they are probably Muslims.

    If you are dealing with religious issues, your neighbors consider you dirty, icky and bizarre for keeping a dog in your home.  There's no reason to be mad about this....it's simply a cultural/religious difference.  

    I've been able to work it out just fine with my customers, so they are able to be on my farm, and walk around, without fearing a dog attack, or the dog l*****g them.

    The dog's saliva is concidered especially unclean by Muslims.  A bit of a problem when you own a friendly dog who wants to sniff or l**k people.

    You should have been on my farm the day my herding dog escaped the house, when I had about 20 customers here.  Shouts, yells, people leaping about like human popcorn, even jumping onto the hoods, and roofs of their cars.  My herding dog thinks everyone in the world loves him, with not a mean bone in his body.

    As a side note, some of my customers are simply facinated by my Great Pyrenees.  They have never seen 125 pound dogs that are pure white.  They seem to presive them as bears, or lions.  Some of them have gone into corrals with the goats, and Pyrenees, as a show of macho bravery.  I had one customer who particuarly like the Pyrs.  When he showed up alone one day, he went into the pen with me, to pet the Pyrenees.  Completely taboo for his religion...but there were none of his friends there to witness him petting the dogs.

    ~Garnet

    Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years


  2. Find out if they are Hindu or Muslim.

    If Muslim assure them that Jack Russells are "saluki" "hounds" .

    Whether they are Hindu or Muslim ask what prior (bad) experiences they have had with dogs?


  3. I have no clue on that one! But, it is possible that they are accustomed to having " Sicked " on them by the Hierarchy as a punishment. Also, the Egyptians placed " Dog-like" statues in their Tombs as a Protective Measure. In their eyes the Dog you have may symbolize an Ancient Fear of These Creatures of Predatory means. Many East Indian people Revere the Cow and Fear the Wolf ( Dog).

  4. I'm not sure, but i also have a fear of small dogs.

    Larger bia'''s love me.

  5. Bohemian_Garnet deserves to be given your best answer :)

    what she wrote was correct

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