Q
My neighbor is terrified of my German shepherd mix. She says she looks like a wolf and is evil. My dog is really a little lamb and wouldn’t hurt anyone. My neighbor is convinced that my dog is some kind of demon sent by the devil. This is causing a lot of tension between us. Is there anything I can do to convince my neighbor that my dog is really a sweetheart?

A
Some people are terrified of dogs. They have either had a bad experience at some point in their life where a dog attacked them or they saw someone attacked. Others hear of stories with wolves as evil beings and are convinced all dogs are mean.

Wolves have been vilified in stories throughout the ages. Their predatory nature and blood-chilling howls at the moon make them ripe for the imaginations of many.  Little Red Riding Hood was hunted by an evil wolf. The three pigs had their houses blown down by an evil wolf. The Bible has numerous references of wolves using them to depict greed and destructiveness. With so many negative connotations, it’s easy to see why wolves have gotten a bad rap. Wolves actually try to avoid human contact and are naturally timid. However, as their natural habitat over the years disappeared along with their wild food sources, wolves were forced into attacking farm animals, making them a target for angry people.

Your dog may not be a wolf, but in your neighbor’s eyes the dog looks like one. My guess is if she didn’t have a negative interaction with a dog when young, she may have been exposed to some of these stories over the years. It might be helpful to get to know your neighbor better and understand where her fears started. Your dog may be friendly around you, but do you know if your dog is barking at your neighbor while you are out? There may be good reason your neighbor is afraid. Where is she from originally? Take the time to find out.

Of course, you want to be sure that your dog is very well-trained. If you have not enrolled her in classes, it would be a good idea to do so. Teach her some fun tricks and practice these tricks in your yard. Perhaps if your neighbor sees your dog doing goofy things, she will soften her opinion. It’s amazing how even a bandana can make a mean dog look friendlier. Try sprucing up your dog’s image. If you plan on introducing your neighbor to your dog, be prepared that your dog may react differently to her because of the fear she shows. I would first practice introducing your dog to a lot of different people. Make sure you can control her greeting and have it be calm. If your dog is sweet, but lunges and jumps toward people to greet, this can be very intimidating. Have some of your friends wear hats, come at your dog in different ways, to make sure your dog knows to sit and greet each time you ask her no matter what the circumstances. Before introducing her to your neighbor, you want to make sure you have practiced all scenarios.

Neighbor controversies can be difficult, but if you approach them in a kind and gentle way instead of argumentative, you may find that your neighbor warms up to you and eventually your dog. Don’t get defensive about the situation; instead slowly prove that your “wolf” really is a lamb. Good luck, and have fun training some goofy tricks. Howling on cue is one of my favorite tricks, but perhaps you should skip teaching your dog this one right now. That may just put your neighbor over the edge if she sees you and your dog howling in the backyard, especially with Halloween fast approaching—The werewolf neighbor and her wolf dog. Yeah, don’t think that would go over well with her! Thanks for the interesting question.