Ask any dog owner; typically friendly dogs will let a female stranger pet them but avoid strange men. Why do dogs naturally fear men?by.
Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but they certainly seem to favor women. Ask any dog owner — otherwise friendly canines will frequently allow a female stranger to pet them, but retreat from unfamiliar men. We’ve all heard that dogs can sense fear, but does their canine insight reveal other, deeper things about us? The reason for dogs’ apparent aversion to some men is almost certainly fear, so what is it about men and dogs? The real question is why do dogs fear men, not whether they can sense fear.
First off, let’s stress-test the premise. Due to anecdotal evidence that suggests dogs are more at ease around strange women than men, kennel owners and veterinarians are known to hire female assistants. Does this make sense? Yes, actually. While female dogs did not appear to be bothered by strangers of either gender, researchers tested this theory with a small sample of 20 dogs in 1986 and discovered that “male dogs were much less likely to approach and make body contact with the unfamiliar man.” ”.
According to Patricia McConnell, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, “We’ve always speculated that it had something to do with the way men walked, or their bigger chests, larger jaws, or deeper voices.” “But we’ve never really known for sure what it was. ”.
According to studies, dogs are just as at ease around familiar men as they are around women. “No specific difference in interaction rate and type between men and women,” according to a 2015 study of interactions between people and dogs in a waiting area of an animal hospital. There were no obvious gender differences in affiliative and play behaviors when it came to dog owners, despite an earlier study finding that men and women speak to dogs differently.
The key may be how men approach dogs. In a study published in Current Biology, participants were asked to decide whether a lit-up human figure was moving away from them or toward them. Male figures always appeared to be moving in that direction, while female figures always appeared to be retreating. McConnell suspects that dogs may share in this perception. Fearful dogs are always more afraid of something approaching them than they are of something that they are trying to approach themselves, the author claims. And men, studies suggest, always seem to be approaching.
McConnell’s theory hasn’t been proven, of course, and experts are unable to state with certainty why dogs tend to be afraid of strange men. But even though we may not fully comprehend the cause of this fear, behaviorists have tried-and-true solutions. Skittish dogs should only be fed by hand, according to veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer Ian Dunbar. This should start with the owner, then progress to strange women, then strange men. Dunbar suggests hand-feeding a fearful Chihuahua named Crystal by inviting several female friends to do so. She gains knowledge of the game she will later play with men from this. Fearful responses are exacerbated by not knowing how to act. You’re going to give Crystal confidence by showing her how to behave around women first, then around men. ”.
As ever with dogs, the key is regular, positive reinforcement. Dunbar advises, “Ignore Crystal if she barks or snaps, but be sure to commend her whenever she is brave.” Tell her how proud you are when she exhibits self-assurance. ”.
Studies suggest that dogs are as comfortable with familiar men as they are with women. One 2015 study of interactions between men, women, and dogs at an animal hospital waiting room found “no specific difference in interaction rate and type between men and women.” And while an earlier study found that men and women speak to dogs differently “there were no clear gender differences in affiliative and play behaviors,” when it came to dog owners.
First off, let’s stress-test the premise. Kennel owners and veterinarians are known to hire female assistants, for instance, because of anecdotal evidence that dogs are more comfortable around strange women than men. Does this make sense? Yes, actually. In 1986, researchers tested this theory with a small sample of 20 dogs and found that, while female dogs did not seem to mind strangers of either gender, “male dogs were much less likely to approach and make body contact with the unfamiliar man.”
Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but they certainly seem to favor women. Ask any dog owner — otherwise friendly canines will frequently allow a female stranger to pet them, but retreat from unfamiliar men. We’ve all heard that dogs can sense fear, but does their canine insight reveal other, deeper things about us? The reason for dogs’ apparent aversion to some men is almost certainly fear, so what is it about men and dogs? The real question is why do dogs fear men, not whether they can sense fear.
Ask any dog owner; typically friendly dogs will let a female stranger pet them but avoid strange men. Why do dogs naturally fear men?by.
The key may be how men approach dogs. A study in Current Biology asked volunteers to assess whether a lit-up human figure was walking toward them or away from them, and found that male figures invariably appeared to be approaching, while female figures appeared to be retreating. McConnell suspects that dogs may share in this perception. “Fearful dogs are always more afraid of something coming at them than they are at approaching something themselves,” she writes. And men, studies suggest, always seem to be approaching.
Because all dogs and people are unique, it is impossible to definitively say whether or not dogs are more attracted to one gender than the other. However, dogs generally have a tendency to be drawn to a particular set of behaviors that are primarily displayed by adult women. It’s not that dogs are exclusively attracted to female adults. It’s that dogs like particular things adult females do. Dogs like women’s softer voices and smaller figures. A man’s larger build, deeper voice, and facial hair may intimidate them. Since females make up the majority of veterinarians and primary caregivers, dogs are more frequently exposed to women throughout their lives.
It’s extremely unlikely that your dog “hates” either men or women; instead, they are likely just afraid of and unfamiliar with the other gender. It’s important to take immediate action. Dog to man socialization is a learned skill. Patience, consistency, and lots of positive reinforcement is key. Allowing a person of the same gender to play with your dog at first will ensure comfort and eliminate fear. As your dog gains experience, introduce the other gender to the mix. If Fido freaks out, that’s okay—that’s totally normal. Your dog will gradually become more accepting of the other gender with continued socialization efforts. And hey, more interaction with people will benefit both you and your dog. Everyone wins. Your dog will develop a love and craving for both male and female company. It’s also crucial to pay attention to your behavior toward people of different genders. Dogs are sensitive to our energy and observe our behavior. If you experience anxiety when you interact with people of the opposite gender, it’s possible that your dog is picking up on these feelings from you. Your unusual responses signal to a dog, “Watch out! There’s something bad here,” to him.
However, dogs don’t only select their preferred companions based on these particular traits. Your relationship with a dog is just as important. For instance, the person who grooms your dog has a calming, light voice and is very laid back. Although the groomer possesses the best qualities, they might never become friends. The reason for this is that your dog associates the groomer with unpleasant experiences like getting bathed and shaved. Your dog will never enjoy going to the groomer because they hate the experience. On the other hand, regardless of gender, a dog will like you if it associates you with positive experiences. The dog will associate you with positive experiences like receiving treats and having fun outside.
Based on its early experiences, your dog’s early life experiences can also determine which gender it is attracted to. For instance, there is a very high likelihood that a dog will continue to be fearful of all men if it was raised by an abusive owner who also happened to be a man. The same would apply if the violent owner were a woman. Even after being adopted by a caring family, the dog only has extremely unfavorable and terrifying memories of men. Due to the significant negative effects these early life experiences have on development and socialization skills, this dog would then struggle to connect with men.
Of course, some dogs are drawn to traits that are typically displayed by men. The dog makes an effort to display respect because it perceives the man’s larger frame and deeper voice as being powerful. These characteristics are reserved for people in positions of power and leadership, according to dogs. Men’s propensity for playfulness is similar to that of an excitable puppy. These tendencies also resonate with bigger dogs as well. The strength and size of a larger dog can be more easily tolerated by a man due to his larger body. These types of dogs perceive greater strength as more attractive. If a woman holds a position of authority, the dog will have a similar perception of her. Dogs choose their alpha leader based on a person’s characteristics and personality. We must keep in mind that dogs have personalities and are drawn to particular things. Depending on their personalities and associations, your dog will gravitate toward one person over another.
Note that this is not meant to deter dog lovers from adopting dogs from shelters. The animal shelters would be even more crowded if everyone out there only wanted a puppy. Even if we have to work a little bit harder to re-socialize and retrain them, dogs are worth the effort.
However, any dog lover who has ever owned multiple canines of any breed will realize that breed alone does not, in fact, account for a dog’s personality. For instance, in a house with two border collie labrador mixes, one dog might bark at thunder and fireworks while the other would rather hide under a desk or table. The environment is another factor that can affect a dog’s personality, and even dogs in the same environment can exhibit some personality differences.
Conclusively, socialization is key. When a dog is a puppy, its bonds with its primary caregiver are the strongest. This occurs up until the six month mark. This is why it is best for all dog owners to get a dog as young as possible. If you adopt a dog that is already a year old or older, you are unaware of how it was during its crucial socialization period. Its previous owner might have displayed odd behaviors or been abusive. This kind of blind entry into dog ownership almost always results in a lot more effort being required to correct undesirable behavior.
A dog’s response to a person can also depend on their height. A very tall person may initially intimidate a dog. However, there are ways to avoid this (since your height is unavoidable). Always kneel down and let the dog approach you when trying to get along with one that is unfamiliar to you. Some individuals mistakenly believe that overbearing friendliness will win a dog over. A dog will be scared if you approach it from behind, make eye contact with them, and spread your arms out in front of them for a big hug.
While it is true that a dog’s affection for you can vary depending on gender, this does not mean you should give up on them entirely just because they are a breed that favors the other gender. It doesn’t matter what gender you are. Your dog will quickly recognize you as its master and form a fierce loyalty to you if you are consistent with your affection and training methods.
FAQ
Why does my dog prefer my wife?
In some cases, even though a couple’s dog is walked and fed equally by both partners, the dog still favors one partner over the other. Frequently, this is just a matter of access or lack thereof. The dog will naturally want to see and spend time with the other partner if one partner spends more time at home with the dog.
Why do dogs prefer men?
Compared to other members of their breed or breeds, dogs that are crazy about guys tend to be physically fit. I observe the propensity of dogs to be infatuated with men most frequently in adult dogs who are still in their prime, which is typically between the ages of 2 and 6 years.
Why are male dogs preferred over female?
Most often, male dogs are kinder and seem to enjoy constant human attention. They typically don’t try to escape the spotlight and will accept any affection you can give them.
Can dogs dislike a gender?
Yes, actually. While female dogs did not appear to be bothered by strangers of either gender, researchers tested this theory with a small sample of 20 dogs in 1986 and discovered that “male dogs were much less likely to approach and make body contact with the unfamiliar man.” ”.