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I have a friend who despises dogs. It’s not like my friend, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of being ostracized, is disinterested in them; it’s full-blown hatred. “Jane,” let’s call her, claims she doesn’t know why. What gives? How can you dislike all dogs?
Does this sound like someone you know? Or maybe you’re a closeted dog denier and find yourself asking the question, why don’t I like dogs? In either case, there have to be reasons, right? For those of us who adore our loving, loyal furry friends, it can be difficult to grasp. I’ll break down the psychology behind not liking dogs to help you understand those in your life who aren’t enamored.
What Are The Statistics Of People Who Don’t Like Dogs?
When I started researching this topic, I went down a steep rabbit hole. My first question was, how many people don’t like dogs? Jane is the only one I know who hates them — of course, there could be more. In our canine-obsessed society, there’s certainly a stigma about disliking dogs. The social pressure likely makes many stay silent about their disposition. Perhaps for this reason, there’s not much “data” on this psychological phenomenon.
A 2010 survey by the Associated Press and Petside.com of nearly 2,000 adults in the U.S. found that only 2% of all survey respondents said they dislike dogs a lot, according to DVM360. That percentage was a lot higher for people who dislike cats (15%). Is that because it’s more socially acceptable to say you hate cats vs dogs?
While down my rabbit hole, I also found an interesting Reddit thread entitled “How much of the U.S. population secretly dislike dogs?” Of course, there were “theories” of everything from 1% to 50%, but it’s clear from comments in this thread that it’s widely considered taboo to be dog-averse. In reality, I don’t think there’s any way to pinpoint an accurate estimate of dog dislikers. However, I think it’s safe to say there are many who walk amongst us.
The Psychology Behind Not Liking Dogs
Why do some people not like dogs? People who hate dogs certainly have their reasons, whether they’re entirely conscious of them or not. In severe cases, people can develop cynophobia, which is an extreme fear of dogs. According to The Cleveland Clinic, cynophobes (those diagnosed with an overwhelming fear of dogs) can experience intense anxiety or even a full-blown panic attack when they hear a dog bark, see a film featuring a dog, or visit a location where a dog could be present.
1. Lack Of Exposure
Some people have never been around dogs during their childhood or for most of their lives. For them, our canine companions are simply foreign furry beings they don’t understand. Without prior exposure to dogs, their knowledge about them is quite limited. It’s a common human tendency to feel uneasy or fearful about things we’re not familiar with.
2. Traumatic Past Experience
One of the most understandable reasons for disliking dogs can stem from a bad past experience, like being attacked or bitten by a dog. Other situations can also leave long-lasting psychological scars, such as being chased or barked at by a dog as a child. People with these experiences can be more vulnerable to developing cynophobia.
3. A Belief That Dogs Are Ill-Behaved
For those who haven’t been around well-behaved dogs, it’s completely understandable why some people don’t like dogs. Of course, this largely comes down to owners who don’t train their dogs well and not the dogs themselves. If not well-trained, our furry friends have a penchant for many misbehaviors — jumping on people, constant unwelcomed licking, begging for food, invading your personal space (like sniffing crotches), and many more. Pups with bad manners can be just as annoying to dog lovers.
4. They Smell
Let’s face it, our furry friends have an odor, which, for some dog-averse people, can range from a mild musky scent to downright putrid. Many owners are oblivious to eau-de-dog because they’ve lived with them for years and have become accustomed to the smell. Then, there are those who don’t care if their dog stinks. For people who are super sensitive to certain scents, dogs can be a huge turn-off.
5. A Bias From Your Upbringing
People who were raised in an anti-dog family may carry this attitude into adulthood. After all, if your parents told you that dogs are bad your entire childhood, it’s understandable to not like them — especially if you’ve never had a positive experience with a dog. Others may have been raised to believe that a canine’s place is outdoors and dogs are too dirty to come into the home.
6. Religious Beliefs
While there’s no singular religion that completely denounces dogs, some branches of Islam view dogs as ritually impure or unclean and discourage contact and ownership with canines.
Why I Don’t Like Dogs (Video)
Did you know there’s even a YouTube channel entitled “I Hate Dogs,” which has over 14,000 subscribers? Although not associated with that channel, Sunflower Bryant, a comedian and video creator, made some waves when she posted this YouTube video several years ago.
The Stigma Of Being A Dog Disliker
If you stop and think about it, there are a lot of examples in our culture of pro-doggos who find it perfectly acceptable to have a strong bias against people who don’t like dogs — sometimes to the point of being hostile. You may have read or heard statements like, “You can’t trust people who don’t like dogs” or “If my dog doesn’t like you, I probably won’t either.” These days, it takes a lot of courage to come out as dog-averse.
Andrew Hager, director at the Presidential Pet Museum, told HuffPost in 2019, “People believe that someone who has a good relationship with a dog must be a good person, because they believe animals can judge character. You see this play out all the time in movies, where dogs growl at the bad guy.” The stigma of not being a dog person can affect dating (e.g., “Must like dogs” on dating apps), friendships, and other personal relationships.
An Online Forum For Dog Haters
This frustration is evident in the subreddit forum r/Dogfree. This forum, which has 71K members (many from the U.S. and the U.K.), is for those who don’t like or own dogs to have a safe place to discuss modern-day dog ownership and its effects on society. Weigh-in from dog owners is disallowed.
Intertwined in this forum are complaints about our “cult-like” dog culture and personal experiences of being shamed for not liking dogs. As one poster put it, “If I even dare say I don’t like dogs, I’m the devil with no soul.”
A running theme among members is that they hate dogs (non-service dogs) in restaurants, the grocery store, etc., because it’s unsanitary, and many don’t have good manners. “It’s totally accepted in society and law that some dogs are misbehaved, and we all just have to put up with it,” said another poster from the U.K.
Respecting People Who Don’t Like Dogs
As you’ve read, there are many reasons for a person to have an aversion to dogs. And it’s okay. It isn’t your place to convince someone to like dogs, much less your four-legged family member. What’s the best thing you can do? Make sure you train your pup.
Whether you have guests over to your home or you’re out in public with your pooch, teach your dog to stay by your side (heel), don’t allow them to jump on or lick people, and keep barking to a minimum. See our reviews of the best online dog training courses if you need affordable assistance to brush up on your dog’s manners.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Sally has over 20 years of experience in human health sciences communications, including 10 years as an expert on pet health conditions and treatment. She loves to research and write about all things dog-related. She is part of a team of dedicated canine professionals and long-time dog owners at Canine Journal. We test and research the best pet products, not only for our own pups but for all of our readers.
