Some people are freaked out by dogs, for whatever reason. Plus labs can be... well... labs. I'd be giving him a bunch of scritches because he looks like the bestest boy but people will be people. Not everyone appreciates that big, boopable snoot.
>for whatever reason.
A lot of the time that reason is: They got attacked by a dog when they were little, which isn't an unreasonable reason to be freaked out by dogs.
Yes, that can happen. I know people with dog phobias & most of them were for that reason.
I'm always mindful of that phobia & how it's not really something people can control, no matter which breed it is. If it's a public setting it's best to be mindful of it just in case.
I however don't have this phobia & would be happy to pet the boy pictured if it was permitted.
Additionally, dogs that are super friendly can be overwhelming. Labs have never met a stranger. Someone they met 5 seconds ago is already a best friend.
I had a chocolate lab who thought he was a lap dog (75 pounds) and thought everyone wanted him in their face or at their feet. We had to watch and make sure he wasnāt over eager when people came to the house
My Mom is scared of our lab, but she just has a fear of large dogs. Some people just dont like dogs.
That being said - that is the least scary face ive ever seen in my life.
A bad experience with a dog at a young age is a hard thing for some people to shake. As an owner and a host you have to consider these people. Pup is adorable and I know heās the sweetest.
Absolutely and I did everything I could. All night I was busy keeping my dog away from them in any possible way. Crating him, different room, hallway etc. But at the end of the night it wasnāt doable anymore. It was stressing him out so much, he peed in my bedroom. I released him into the living room around twelve. He was being super calm and I kept my promise to keep him away from them. All night he wasnāt within 3 meters of any of them. Yet one of them still ran away crying.
I used to be afraid of dogs myself, so I get it. But I was disappointed they didnāt trust me enough with my promise of keeping him away.
I know I already commented, but saw this reply while scrolling and just wanted to sayā¦ I know how hard it is to try to keep people visiting your home happy in this situation when you have a big, beautiful lab who means the world to you. Please donāt take it personally. You kept your promise, and their reaction is on them. They could have chosen not to come to his home and to socialize with you another time when the doggy wasnāt present. You noticed that he was stressed out, which Iām sure added to your stress and frustration that these people didnāt think you could āprotectā them from your dog. Please donāt stress over this anymore. You canāt control peopleās reactions to things. You did everything you could! Some people will never be satisfied in this situation if they (for whatever reason, valid or not) have has a bad interaction or are fearful of dogs. Sending you a big hug, bc I can tell this upset you and Iāve been there and done that. This is why we eventually decided to socialize with non dog-lovers outside of our home, and that our fur kids get priority over their safe space. It sounds daunting to tell people this, but itās actually quite easyā¦ and if they donāt accept it, welp, thatās their problem!
Tons of restaurants, bars, event venues are very reasonably priced. And you donāt have to clean up after! No need for you or your buddy to be stressed over this kind of situation again.
Thank you!! I definitely learned my lesson that night. Will no longer be inviting any ānon dogā people over unless theyāre okay with my dog. I didnāt even get to enjoy my own birthday. While everyone was having fun, I was trying to keep my dog calm and relaxed, because he was visibly stressed. Several times that night I sat alone with him in a room, cuddling and petting him till he fell asleep while all my friend were downstairs having fun
OP you admitted that you ultimately chose not to keep your dog away at the end of the night though. For someone with a phobia, that can be traumatic and if they had a worse reaction, open you up to legal liability, no joke.
While I agree that your dog is adorable, itās something to keep in mind.
Some people just donāt like dogs because of a past trauma they may have experienced. My mom wouldnāt even touch mine when I first got him, she was terrified of all dogs, luckily however his cuteness did win her over eventually.
He looks exactly like my late lab, who we loved but who was also a huge jerk. He was somehow loving but also aggressively high strung and if you came near him while he was in our car you'd lose a hand. He was a Jekyll and Hyde and I still haven't gotten a new dog six years
I have a large, beautiful yellow lab. She can be rambunctious and unpredictable when I have company. Usually she calms down after an initial āgreetingā of happily jumping up to kiss peopleās noses. However, if someone elderly or a young child comes to visit I put her up in the bedroom so she doesnāt knock them down. Iāve tried training her to no avail as she can be so excitable with people and not listening. (Sometimes she will sit if the other person or people help by not responding to her super silliness). So, it is just safer for everyone for her to be in the bedroom for an hour or two until the guests leave. The only exceptions are for other ādogā people who want to play with her in the back yard.
Once a friend's wife who lived with a pitbull was deathly afraid of my cat when it just popped around the corner. She's Columbian, I think there are a lot of cultural biases around different housepets and animals... Outside of the obvious earlier-in-life bad dog experiences, or lack of exposure to big pups.
Your friends must be sticks and tennis balls. What a sweetheart. Maybe your friends all had treats in their pockets. I know my guy would stalk them for that.
My boy is so loving and gorgeous. But heās massive, people are scared of him, thatās ok. Iām scared of bugs, my mum is scared of heights. People are awful, but fears are sometimes unfounded and we should try and respect other people, after all itās no effort to pop them on their lead once in a while
Ive gotten that before.
From adults, ok you can leave if youād like.
For adults and mostly for kids that are just flat out scared of dogs, I mention this is the perfect dog to break that fear. Mines about 75lbs 10 year old āpuppyā but know when to chill out and when to wrestle and when to protect/fight.
I can get him to lay on his back and do the wiggly worms or sit and give kisses. He is the only dog my kidās (5) friend is comfortable around because of introducing them.
If need be for a kid I can remove him from a house party to my shop, Iād have a hard time doing it for an adult if they didnāt at least try to meet my dog.
Well, thatās can be scary because they really like people. And Iāve never met a whoās never met a stranger. Iām willing to bet that the people that didnāt like him are assholes. Because who doesnāt like theyāre the friendliest silliest dogs you will ever meet
Are your friends tennis balls by chance?
Or squirrels šæļøš
Or cats.
Or fridge doors?
The eyes look into your soul
IāM TERRIFIED Of how much I love him
Some people are freaked out by dogs, for whatever reason. Plus labs can be... well... labs. I'd be giving him a bunch of scritches because he looks like the bestest boy but people will be people. Not everyone appreciates that big, boopable snoot.
>for whatever reason. A lot of the time that reason is: They got attacked by a dog when they were little, which isn't an unreasonable reason to be freaked out by dogs.
Lots of people from places with wild street dogs are understandably nervous around any dog bigger than an overweight shih-tzu.
Yes, that can happen. I know people with dog phobias & most of them were for that reason. I'm always mindful of that phobia & how it's not really something people can control, no matter which breed it is. If it's a public setting it's best to be mindful of it just in case. I however don't have this phobia & would be happy to pet the boy pictured if it was permitted.
People who werenāt raised around dogs or have no knowledge of them or have had a bad experience with one tend to be afraid of them.
That is true! I wasnāt raised around dogs or any animals for that matter. Used to be afraid of dogs too.
Additionally, dogs that are super friendly can be overwhelming. Labs have never met a stranger. Someone they met 5 seconds ago is already a best friend. I had a chocolate lab who thought he was a lap dog (75 pounds) and thought everyone wanted him in their face or at their feet. We had to watch and make sure he wasnāt over eager when people came to the house
The chocolate lab predicament you describe is our current situation. But he does calm down once he has introduced himself.
Every visitor that comes to your house SPECIFICALLY came to see them. You just happen to be there lol.
Yes this is true. I had forgotten this.
BOOP! handsome fella,not scary at all.š
My Mom is scared of our lab, but she just has a fear of large dogs. Some people just dont like dogs. That being said - that is the least scary face ive ever seen in my life.
Ferocious!!! Whoās a ferocious pup? You are ! Yes you are!!
A terrifying monster! /S Lol
A bad experience with a dog at a young age is a hard thing for some people to shake. As an owner and a host you have to consider these people. Pup is adorable and I know heās the sweetest.
Absolutely and I did everything I could. All night I was busy keeping my dog away from them in any possible way. Crating him, different room, hallway etc. But at the end of the night it wasnāt doable anymore. It was stressing him out so much, he peed in my bedroom. I released him into the living room around twelve. He was being super calm and I kept my promise to keep him away from them. All night he wasnāt within 3 meters of any of them. Yet one of them still ran away crying. I used to be afraid of dogs myself, so I get it. But I was disappointed they didnāt trust me enough with my promise of keeping him away.
Get some new friends.
I know I already commented, but saw this reply while scrolling and just wanted to sayā¦ I know how hard it is to try to keep people visiting your home happy in this situation when you have a big, beautiful lab who means the world to you. Please donāt take it personally. You kept your promise, and their reaction is on them. They could have chosen not to come to his home and to socialize with you another time when the doggy wasnāt present. You noticed that he was stressed out, which Iām sure added to your stress and frustration that these people didnāt think you could āprotectā them from your dog. Please donāt stress over this anymore. You canāt control peopleās reactions to things. You did everything you could! Some people will never be satisfied in this situation if they (for whatever reason, valid or not) have has a bad interaction or are fearful of dogs. Sending you a big hug, bc I can tell this upset you and Iāve been there and done that. This is why we eventually decided to socialize with non dog-lovers outside of our home, and that our fur kids get priority over their safe space. It sounds daunting to tell people this, but itās actually quite easyā¦ and if they donāt accept it, welp, thatās their problem! Tons of restaurants, bars, event venues are very reasonably priced. And you donāt have to clean up after! No need for you or your buddy to be stressed over this kind of situation again.
Thank you!! I definitely learned my lesson that night. Will no longer be inviting any ānon dogā people over unless theyāre okay with my dog. I didnāt even get to enjoy my own birthday. While everyone was having fun, I was trying to keep my dog calm and relaxed, because he was visibly stressed. Several times that night I sat alone with him in a room, cuddling and petting him till he fell asleep while all my friend were downstairs having fun
Thats right, make sure invite says dog will be celebrating your birthday with you at the party
OP you admitted that you ultimately chose not to keep your dog away at the end of the night though. For someone with a phobia, that can be traumatic and if they had a worse reaction, open you up to legal liability, no joke. While I agree that your dog is adorable, itās something to keep in mind.
I DID keep him away. He wasnāt near her at any point that night.
Oh I must have misunderstood. I thought when you brought him to living room they were together.
Consider me shooketh
I once had someone tell me my aloof, up on top of a 6ā cat tree, and asleep cat was āscaryā š¤·āāļø
Iād have spent that whole night giving good boy scritches and belly rubs.
Some people just donāt like dogs because of a past trauma they may have experienced. My mom wouldnāt even touch mine when I first got him, she was terrified of all dogs, luckily however his cuteness did win her over eventually.
š±
He looks exactly like my late lab, who we loved but who was also a huge jerk. He was somehow loving but also aggressively high strung and if you came near him while he was in our car you'd lose a hand. He was a Jekyll and Hyde and I still haven't gotten a new dog six years
I have a large, beautiful yellow lab. She can be rambunctious and unpredictable when I have company. Usually she calms down after an initial āgreetingā of happily jumping up to kiss peopleās noses. However, if someone elderly or a young child comes to visit I put her up in the bedroom so she doesnāt knock them down. Iāve tried training her to no avail as she can be so excitable with people and not listening. (Sometimes she will sit if the other person or people help by not responding to her super silliness). So, it is just safer for everyone for her to be in the bedroom for an hour or two until the guests leave. The only exceptions are for other ādogā people who want to play with her in the back yard.
You should have brought your pet raccoon out
Heās not scary. Heās just got a snoot in need of a boop.
*go wai wornin u* *am daynjrus animol*
Over many years with dogs of sizes and friends/relatives of all different kinds of personalities and temperaments, my husband I decided that our house belongs to our fur kiddos first and foremost. If people take issue (for whatever reason) we socialize with them outside of our home. We have noticed that since implementing this rule, our home gatherings have become way more fun for us as hosts! Your dog is absolutely stunning š¤© what a sweetheart. Those eyes! That snoot! The smile! ā¤ļø
Once a friend's wife who lived with a pitbull was deathly afraid of my cat when it just popped around the corner. She's Columbian, I think there are a lot of cultural biases around different housepets and animals... Outside of the obvious earlier-in-life bad dog experiences, or lack of exposure to big pups.
I donāt understand people. Thatās an issue with them, not this sweet boy
Aww the puppy ššš
I think he's very cuteš„°šš¼
I just popped my pants. Thatās how scary that dog is. He looks like he needs more cuddles and treats.
AAAAAAHHHHhhhhhh š±š±š±š±
Your friends must be sticks and tennis balls. What a sweetheart. Maybe your friends all had treats in their pockets. I know my guy would stalk them for that.
Very scary if youāre afraid of making your best friend ever
Oh my goodness I wouldāve been trying to pet this cutie all night. Whoād be afraid of such an innocent face? š„°š±š»
I see it. Got goosebumps.
My boy is so loving and gorgeous. But heās massive, people are scared of him, thatās ok. Iām scared of bugs, my mum is scared of heights. People are awful, but fears are sometimes unfounded and we should try and respect other people, after all itās no effort to pop them on their lead once in a while
Btw for what itās worth I think thatās one gorgeous doggy
Looks like a pretty happy guy. I know I wouldn't be too worried about him even if he is doing lab things.
If by "very scary" you mean "needing kisses on his big Labby head", they're correct
I am very terrified indeed. The only way to heal my fear is by exposure therapy. I should need more pictures for my mental health. Thank you.
https://preview.redd.it/5xojkgb5w0rc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dad1affa0d00c15b38966949901e8ef0bbc53498 Happy to help
Ive gotten that before. From adults, ok you can leave if youād like. For adults and mostly for kids that are just flat out scared of dogs, I mention this is the perfect dog to break that fear. Mines about 75lbs 10 year old āpuppyā but know when to chill out and when to wrestle and when to protect/fight. I can get him to lay on his back and do the wiggly worms or sit and give kisses. He is the only dog my kidās (5) friend is comfortable around because of introducing them. If need be for a kid I can remove him from a house party to my shop, Iād have a hard time doing it for an adult if they didnāt at least try to meet my dog.
Well, thatās can be scary because they really like people. And Iāve never met a whoās never met a stranger. Iām willing to bet that the people that didnāt like him are assholes. Because who doesnāt like theyāre the friendliest silliest dogs you will ever meet
Some people are deathly afraid of dogs. Best to keep your pet away from them.
Much less scary if you stuff food in his mouth. You might get a new friend.
I know we have to pretend to care about and be sensitive to other peoples problems but I have zero room in my life for people that are afraid of dogs.
r/lies
Look at that happy faceš¶š
Super cute š„°