Dog Owner's Manual › Chapter 10: Appendix › Common Dog Problems and Solutions ›

Dog Hates Certain People

SYMPTOM: Dog hates men in hats, little girls in dresses, women with high-pitched voices, or some other odd subset of the human race.

EXPLANATION: Some dogs are genetically predisposed to fearful behavior. However, others can acquire such fear if they undergo a traumatic experience during their early puppyhood. For instance, if a puppy has a frightening encounter with a man in a hat, that experience may ingrain itself so deeply that it forevermore fears and hates men in hats. This reaction can also be more general; an afflicted dog may simply despise all men. The usual treatment method is desensitization: gradual exposure to the thing the dog fears. This can be a rather lengthy, involved process, so consult a trainer, veterinarian, or animal behaviorist before attempting it.

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Chapter 10: Appendix

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Quirk BooksThe Dog Owner's Manual is a basic guide to dog care.
The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides dog owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!