Wow. Um. I grew up with dogs -- in fact, we had a Saint Bernard until I was 3.
I know I can't talk you out of being afraid of dogs, it's something you have to experience. But if you think of a dog as the equivalent of a furry two-year-old... wait, you're frightened by humans too. Hrm.
Dogs generally will want to check you out because they have the same fears about you that you have about them. Humans are HUGE and LOUD. No matter how big a dog you are, humans are taller unless you jump up, and then humans get louder. And many of them run up to you and start petting without even asking. And most of them (to a dog) are just freaking crazy. They have no idea that running right at you face-to-face is rude, you might not want to be pet, or hey, you're trying to watch this squirrel over here, do you mind? I mean come on, dude.
When dogs do check you out first, they usually want to know: 1) Are you friendly to the pack or a danger? 2) If you're friendly, are you a risk to their standing in the pack? (note: that only applies for dogs who aren't happy with their standing in the pack) 3) Assuming you're friendly and harmless, do you have anything good to eat? 4) I'm lonely and want attention - will you pet my head or rub my tummy?
I have friends who foster(ed) greyhounds, and they had up to five dogs in the house at one time. When I went into their house it was always pandemonium. The five furry two-year-olds were excited. I sat down on the floor and let all of them sniff me all over. After a minute or two they'd pretty much all clear out. And then - usually in dog-rank order, each one of them would come up to me separately after I'd gotten off the floor and settled into a chair, to say "Hi, just checking in", at which point they'd get an ear scratching and they'd wander off again. Many times I was interrupting them when I came over, and what they really wanted was to go back to playing with the stuffed monkey or looking for dropped food in the kitchen (especially if the human two-year-old was eating).
And the biggest difference between that herd of greyhounds and most dogs I know is that my friends insist that all their dogs (even when it's not their dog) will learn to be polite. Just like human two-year-olds, dogs like to be talked to, they like to play with toys, and they like to be rewarded for good behavior. Just like human two-year-olds, if they figure out that bad behavior is more rewarding (more attention, etc.) they'll do that instead.
Anyway, wrapup: dogs probably feel the same way about you, so if you're quiet and friendly and they were raised right, they'll check in with you when you first meet, and then they'll (generally) leave you alone unless you're the most interesting thing around. And they're mentally very close to furry two-year-olds, which is why humans treat them that way. And cats? Cats are freakin' creepy.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
I know I can't talk you out of being afraid of dogs, it's something you have to experience. But if you think of a dog as the equivalent of a furry two-year-old... wait, you're frightened by humans too. Hrm.
Dogs generally will want to check you out because they have the same fears about you that you have about them. Humans are HUGE and LOUD. No matter how big a dog you are, humans are taller unless you jump up, and then humans get louder. And many of them run up to you and start petting without even asking. And most of them (to a dog) are just freaking crazy. They have no idea that running right at you face-to-face is rude, you might not want to be pet, or hey, you're trying to watch this squirrel over here, do you mind? I mean come on, dude.
When dogs do check you out first, they usually want to know: 1) Are you friendly to the pack or a danger? 2) If you're friendly, are you a risk to their standing in the pack? (note: that only applies for dogs who aren't happy with their standing in the pack) 3) Assuming you're friendly and harmless, do you have anything good to eat? 4) I'm lonely and want attention - will you pet my head or rub my tummy?
I have friends who foster(ed) greyhounds, and they had up to five dogs in the house at one time. When I went into their house it was always pandemonium. The five furry two-year-olds were excited. I sat down on the floor and let all of them sniff me all over. After a minute or two they'd pretty much all clear out. And then - usually in dog-rank order, each one of them would come up to me separately after I'd gotten off the floor and settled into a chair, to say "Hi, just checking in", at which point they'd get an ear scratching and they'd wander off again. Many times I was interrupting them when I came over, and what they really wanted was to go back to playing with the stuffed monkey or looking for dropped food in the kitchen (especially if the human two-year-old was eating).
And the biggest difference between that herd of greyhounds and most dogs I know is that my friends insist that all their dogs (even when it's not their dog) will learn to be polite. Just like human two-year-olds, dogs like to be talked to, they like to play with toys, and they like to be rewarded for good behavior. Just like human two-year-olds, if they figure out that bad behavior is more rewarding (more attention, etc.) they'll do that instead.
Anyway, wrapup: dogs probably feel the same way about you, so if you're quiet and friendly and they were raised right, they'll check in with you when you first meet, and then they'll (generally) leave you alone unless you're the most interesting thing around. And they're mentally very close to furry two-year-olds, which is why humans treat them that way. And cats? Cats are freakin' creepy.