Black Lives Matter dogs make it to Dogs of 2020
Why dogs seeing black people regularly makes a difference
If you don’t love dogs, you probably won’t understand the significance of the pup appearances in the WeRateDogs “Dogs of 2020” video that just released. If you do, you’ll immediately recognize something while watching. In the first of a few appearances with dogs, there’s a dog owner who pokes an arm out of the window. The sign in that dog owner’s arm says, “This pup barks 4 change” with a red heart on the side.
One critic of the video said this in response, “Saw a tiktok of a protest & a white woman was at her window with her dog holding a sign saying ‘this pup barks 4 change’ and that pup did not bark not one time and also tried to dip from the window like mamma you know we don’t mean this.”
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Here’s why this statement is wrong. I watched that video before I saw the tweet. As a prior dog owner and current dog walker, the fact that the dog did not immediately start barking and growling while seeing that many black people all strolling past his/her house is a good sign. Pet socialization in the early years is extremely important. When puppies (or adult dogs) start to affiliate certain physical traits or a gender with danger, it increases the odds that they’ll become aggressive.
Recommended Read: “Is your dog racist, or is it really you? ~ What should a dog owner do when a dog expresses a racial preference?”
In social isolation, it is much harder to be out and about with your dog seeing a diverse group of people. While there are plenty of tips to help owners safely socialize their pets during social isolation, even something as simple as going to a dog park can become a task for those who don’t follow COVID-19 prevention safety guidelines. It’s easier to just stay at home and only hang out with the people who usually come in and out of your house.