Why are the majority of dog owners white people?

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hollydolly said:
I don't know if it's the same where you live, but around here, it's nigh on impossible to see anyone other than white people walking dogs..

It seems that every second household has a dog here. I just looked out of the window..there were 3 seprate dogs being walked past my house .. 2 single people.. and a couple.. .. and this is very common to see

I have never seen a Black, Indian or Asian person with a dog ...anyone have any clue why ?
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You live in a predominantly white neighborhood. Your wake times do not match those of others?
Were you to see SO who has blue eyes and what is silver now used to be baby blond - would you call him Native American?
 

From an article by Rodney Dennis - a member of Britain's Afro-Caribbean community.

'Dogs aren’t considered family pets in the Caribbean. They live outside in the yard and are there for security - they certainly don’t enter the family home.

I’m beginning to sense that a change in attitude is taking place. Those of us born and raised in the UK are learning to think differently about dogs from our parents and grandparents.'

Rodney goes on to interview a friend who is a British Afro-Caribbean dog owner. He says 'My family in Barbados think it's strange how we treat animals in this country, allowing them into the house. Over there a doghouse in the back yard is normal and the dogs don't enter the house.'

There's a lot more in the article. Being brought up fearful of dogs in general was another point.

Full article here https://manypets.com/uk/articles/are-black-british-attitudes-towards-dogs-ownership-changing/
 

I think it's a cultural difference. Some cultures mainly keep animals for utilitarian purposes. Having them strictly for companionship is mostly Eurocentric. And, that's fairly recent in our history. We tend to think of them as little people. Not every culture does.

And, not every dog owner walks their dog. The only times we walked ours was from the car to the Vet's office. They got plenty of exercise in our fenced in back yard. Also, my wife was concerned about them picking up diseases from other dogs.
 
Grampa Don said:
I think it's a cultural difference. Some cultures mainly keep animals for utilitarian purposes. Having them strictly for companionship is mostly Eurocentric. And, that's fairly recent in our history. We tend to think of them as little people. Not every culture does.

And, not every dog owner walks their dog. The only times we walked ours was from the car to the Vet's office. They got plenty of exercise in our fenced in back yard. Also, my wife was concerned about them picking up diseases from other dogs.
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yes I take your point but a whole nation/s isn't going to be afraid to walk their dog in case it catches something.. and further to that my daughter owned boarding kennels for many years .. she had space for up to 90 dogs at any one time.. and not once did she have any non-white owner bring a dog to her to board...her partner was/is a dog trainer, he has never had anybody other than white people bring dogs to be trained..
 
I agree that it may be a cultural difference. When I moved from city to country, I was shocked to see the sheep dog with its herd of sheep outside in snow, rain, cold conditions. I learned quickly about working animals. I have also known a few people who thought bringing an animal into their home, unless they were going to eat it, was dirty. It just wasn't done.
 
GoodEnuff said:
I agree that it may be a cultural difference. When I moved from city to country, I was shocked to see the sheep dog with its herd of sheep outside in snow, rain, cold conditions. I learned quickly about working animals. I have also known a few people who thought bringing an animal into their home, unless they were going to eat it, was dirty. It just wasn't done.
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working dogs generally are not permitted into the house.... I live in a rural arming area, I know this
 
For a variety of reasons, pets are being turned into surrogate children by more-urban and above-working-class people. People live further beyond child bearing/rearing years now too, and it is far easier to hit the puppy mill than deal with geriatric adoption. Mobility means fewer live in close proximity to grand- and great-grand-children.

As non-white folks move into similar economic conditions and longevity I expect they follow the same "race to self-extinction" absorbing economic resources without putting anything back into productivity and reproduction. Culture may moderate this for some ethnicities, but that changes every generation too.

 
Pam said:
From an article by Rodney Dennis - a member of Britain's Afro-Caribbean community.

'Dogs aren’t considered family pets in the Caribbean. They live outside in the yard and are there for security - they certainly don’t enter the family home.

I’m beginning to sense that a change in attitude is taking place. Those of us born and raised in the UK are learning to think differently about dogs from our parents and grandparents.'

Rodney goes on to interview a friend who is a British Afro-Caribbean dog owner. He says 'My family in Barbados think it's strange how we treat animals in this country, allowing them into the house. Over there a doghouse in the back yard is normal and the dogs don't enter the house.'

There's a lot more in the article. Being brought up fearful of dogs in general was another point.

Full article here https://manypets.com/uk/articles/are-black-british-attitudes-towards-dogs-ownership-changing/
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very good point Pam....
 
Pam said:
'Dogs aren’t considered family pets in the Caribbean. They live outside in the yard and are there for security - they certainly don’t enter the family home.

I’m beginning to sense that a change in attitude is taking place. Those of us born and raised in the UK are learning to think differently about dogs from our parents and grandparents.'
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I'd agree that it is probably more of a generational shift than it is related specifically to race. My grandparents were all white but they were not attached to animals as pets in the way we've become.

My dad allowed us to have a dog but she had to always live outside. The same with cats except they didn't survive beyond a few weeks outdoors in the suburbs.

My mom had a pet dog as a kid, I think he probably lived outside, but she was very attached to him. Her mom was not very fond of dogs and had my mom's pet dog shot. My mom was sad/angry/bitter about that her entire life.

After my dad died my mom got a dog and her intention had seemed to be that the puppy would eventually be an outdoor dog, but Rosie was almost entirely an indoor dog. My mom still thought of cats as outdoor barn dwelling pets (though once we were sharing a house and my indoor cats spent time following her around and sitting on her lap, I think she was changing to viewing them as good indoor pets).
 
dilettante said:
For a variety of reasons, pets are being turned into surrogate children by more-urban and above-working-class people. People live further beyond child bearing/rearing years now too, and it is far easier to hit the puppy mill than deal with geriatric adoption. Mobility means fewer live in close proximity to grand- and great-grand-children.

As non-white folks move into similar economic conditions and longevity I expect they follow the same "race to self-extinction" absorbing economic resources without putting anything back into productivity and reproduction. Culture may moderate this for some ethnicities, but that changes every generation too.

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actually there's quite a bit of truth in that....
 
When I lived in New York City, I noticed that a majority of dog owners were white gay men. I worked with gay men and they were always talking about their doggie. They didn't seem to like cats. Probably because cats are rather independent, while the pooch loves to have his tummy rubbed. (y)
 
Paladin1950 said:
When I lived in New York City, I noticed that a majority of dog owners were white gay men. I worked with gay men and they were always talking about their doggie. They didn't seem to like cats. Probably because cats are rather independent, while the pooch loves to have his tummy rubbed. (y)
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see..that's funny because one of our dearest friends here on the forum is a gay man, and he adores his cats....:D:love:
 
hollydolly said:
Anyway folks now I've put the newbie troublemaker on Ignore.... as I said it's just an obsevation. and it seems from some of you it;s backed up by statistics.....so I was right


perhaps non-white prfer cats or birds, but certainly it's overwhelmingly obvious that more white people own dogs than any other..I just don't know why that is...
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Obvious to you or not. This is a loaded statement. Can you please set a link with a source or is it just you looking out of the window?
 
hollydolly said:
I don't know if it's the same where you live, but around here, it's nigh on impossible to see anyone other than white people walking dogs..

It seems that every second household has a dog here. I just looked out of the window..there were 3 seprate dogs being walked past my house .. 2 single people.. and a couple.. .. and this is very common to see

I have never seen a Black, Indian or Asian person with a dog ...anyone have any clue why ?
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I gotta ask: are there any Black, Indian or Asians living in your neighborhood?
 
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