# Do Dogs Generally Like You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784 "2017-10-02T01:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/21 "2017-10-02T07:47:52Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Dogs like me, and I don’t know why. I am not particularly a dog person… Dogs like about 95% of people. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Dogs were designed to like us. . . Right. Dogs like most people. It’s their job. Sorry, but it’s nothing particularly special if dogs like you. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/22 "2017-10-02T12:30:16Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Dogs like about 95% of people.Right. Dogs like most people. It’s their job. > > Sorry, but it’s nothing particularly special if dogs like you. And it may not be a big deal if dogs _don’t_ like you, claims of a “sixth sense” not withstanding. Lots of nonsense out there about dogs “sensing” that a person is unreliable/dangerous, and even more silliness about humans not trusting people who don’t like dogs (or cats). \*For the record, I’ve had a number of dogs and take to most of them (and vice versa) readily. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/23 "2017-10-02T14:30:39Z")
In spite of having a traumatic experience with a neighborhood dog when I was only four, I love dogs and they seem to love me. Cats, too. I can’t keep them away from me. I do NOT get along with rodents and other small pets. I’ve been (sometimes severely) bitten by guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and even a baby opossum. The prelude to profuse bleeding is always the same…“Here, hold Melanie! She’s so soft and cuddly. She loves everyone! She would never bite you.” I’ve literally had more than ten stitches applied for bites from rodents and marsupials. You’d think I’d learn. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/24 "2017-10-02T15:00:28Z")
One time I was walking along a busy street. Coming from the other direction was a bulldog with his person. We could see each other through the crowd, his stumpy tail wagging and me smiling as we got closer and closer and then a big greeting like old friends. 🙂 So funny and interesting how he saw me through the crowd and knew “here’s someone who loves me!”. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/25 "2017-10-02T15:28:29Z")
Our family dogs have always adored me. Some might say it’s because I’m Bringer of Food, but I prefer to think that it’s just my natural lovableness. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/26 "2017-10-02T15:30:36Z")
Dogs love me; I wonder why? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/27 "2017-10-02T16:04:04Z")
I don’t have a dog, so I don’t usually have “dog smell” for them to react to on me, and I’m a pushover for “scratch me behind the ears”, so yeah, they usually like me. Dogs are smart and know they are likely to get more attention from the new guy than from the regulars, so once they find out what a sucker I am, they’re all over me. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/28 "2017-10-02T16:17:50Z")
Sure. I have, however, encountered quite a few apparently racist dogs. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/29 "2017-10-02T16:20:09Z")
Dogs like me, always have, but that’s because I respect them and don’t give them a reason not to like me. For example if I come up to a strange dog I don’t run up to them or stare them down. If their tail is wagging and their ears are up I know they probably aren’t going to attack me. Once I get close enough I put out my hand in a fist and let them sniff me. Only then would I risk trying to pet them. It’s common sense really, but I’ve seen people either get freaked out when they see a strange dog or rush over to hug it when that’s not appropriate. And some people just don’t trust dogs and probably never will, and I think dogs can sense that. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/30 "2017-10-02T16:22:10Z")
They do in general. Cats seem to like me more; I’ve had multiple experiences of being at someone’s house and petting their cat when they host remarks that the cat usually won’t go near anyone new. ---
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/31 "2017-10-02T16:36:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I also learned the hand should be in a fist, because usually people slap dogs with an open hand, so fists seem less threatening. It also keeps fingers away in case Fido decides to bite. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/32 "2017-10-02T16:59:52Z")
Well, of course dogs like me. Many treat me as one of their own. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/33 "2017-10-02T17:03:46Z")
Sure, dogs like me. I like them. Cats seek me out. Strange cats run up to me if I’m just walking along. My wife calls me the Cat Whisperer. I’ve actually had to run off cats that wanted to follow me. The cat we have now left his family 3 doors away and moved in with us. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/34 "2017-10-02T18:04:48Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Dogs like about 95% of people. According to the absolutely scientific poll attached to this thread, it’s 97.53%. And I’m one of them! ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/35 "2017-10-02T21:08:35Z")
Sure. I don’t go out of my way to interact with strange dogs, though. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/36 "2017-10-02T21:15:43Z")
Thread reminds me of this song: How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come Around? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WCULQwdYZeU/hqdefault.jpg "How Come My Dog Don't Bark (When You Come 'Round) - Prince Patridge") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCULQwdYZeU) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/37 "2017-10-02T21:56:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’ve had multiple experiences of being at someone’s house and petting their cat when they host remarks that the cat usually won’t go near anyone new. That happens to me too. If I’m sitting down in someone’s house their cat often ends up asleep in my lap _somehow_. It just seems to happen. I guess I must give off good cat-vibes or something. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/38 "2017-10-02T23:02:50Z")
I guess they do, two of them have bitten me. I have no fondness for dogs, I’m not interested in touching them, or dealing wikth them in any other manner, but I mean them no harm. There are way too many asshole humans who have some drive to own dogs, and then make life unbearable for both the dogs and, consequently, their neighbors. Cats seem to like me quite a lot, people with aloof cats are amazed that they pay tolerant attention to me. I try not to encourage them. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/39 "2017-10-03T03:19:27Z")
I don’t think that dogs generally like me. I mainly encounter them on the sidewalk when they’re being walked and I get a generally hostile vibe from them. They seem to have no conception that the sidewalk is a public space and appear offended that I am using it at the same time as them (and their owner). They tend to lunge toward me in a threatening way, and were they not restrained by a leash I think they would try to do harm to me. I think cats do generally like me, or are OK with me. Some will bite me, but only when I’ve touched them in the wrong place. No cat has ever come at me aggressively. Well, actually, once I owned a cat who was a little crazy and did that on occasion but I knew he didn’t really mean it. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784/40 "2017-10-03T04:26:19Z")
Dogs and cats both although dogs exceptionally so. Dogs who their owners swear up and down won’t approach strangers will walk right under my hand and assume the scritching position. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-dogs-generally-like-you/797784.md?page=3)