The other day I as walking with my puppy and he scared several kids. Usually this wouldn't be a problem but I found it odd that they liked to look at him but wouldn't go near him.

Has this happened to anyone?
Adults are fine with him, even an infant was.

Happens to me quite a bit. I seem to remember something on a Discovery show that talked about the instinctive reaction of humans is to be afraid of the "wolf look". And this trait is found in those formative 3-14 year old ranges. But I could also be completely wrong on this and came up with it in my own head.

On our walks I've noticed that most people will take the steps needed to avoid us. Unless they're wearing harnesses or back packs. Then people flock up to us to meet the "snow dogs".

Oh, and welcome yatyz!

My vet says it happens most with dogs that have pointy, alert ears; i.e. German Shephard, Doberman, etc. I personally think if your husky has blue eyes that will also freak out some folks.

I've had grown men give my dog and I wide berth!

mines about four months old and his ears are huge! and pointed all the time. Yeah his eyes turn icy blue in the sunlight and his pupils are like dots. But he jumps a lot when he sees other people so that might have been part of it.
Thanks!

SabakaMom wrote:

I personally think if your husky has blue eyes that will also freak out some folks.

I've had grown men give my dog and I wide berth!

Ha! That must have been me at one time.

Before I receive Adobo, there was just "something" about blue eyed Huskies that gave me the creepy feelings. Now they don't faze me at all.

My mom always commented that she thought Dakota's blue eyes made him look mean. I'm sure others probably think the same. Personally, I love the blue eyes.

Nikolai was MOBBED at the park today by people walking on the trail wanting to pet him, look at him, etc. Our 2.5 mile walk usually takes us about 45 minutes - today it was a solid hour and ten minutes because of all the people who wanted to look at his gorgeous eyes, arched tail, fluffiness, etc. I was in a good mood today and let them, but there's a reason I really like walking at night... no one bothers us. ;-)

Storm's eyes are so light, they're almost white instead of blue!

I personally have had great experiences with the local children. I take Sabaka to my childrens' lacrosse games and soccer games all the time. Most children will approach slowly and ask for permission to visit. I tell them to please allow he to make my dog sit before they come closer. Then I stand on his leash, giving him only about 1-2 inches of slack. He lunges and otherwise acts the fool but is restrained from hurting them. Usually he gets frustrated and lies down, showing them his belly for scratches!

Last week one little boy (about 8-9) showed fear at first but worked very hard to overcome it. When he left us, he asked me what kind of dog I had and declared the Siberian Husky is now his favorite dog! ....guess what, Buddy, MINE TOO!!!

I've had both kinds of reactions. When I still lived with my Mom and walked our dog Sky, people used to cross over to the other side of the street to avoid us. I've also heard people say that his eyes were scary, and he did stare a lot so I guess it made sense.
I have a 3 month old puppy right now and haven't had anyone scared of him... There's an elementary school across the street and sometimes I walk him before or after school is let out. Most of the time I get "awww"s or kids wanting to pet him. He is pretty timid and takes time to warm up to people, so maybe that is why they aren't scared of him?

We also live across the street from a middle school and elementary school (their mascot is also the huskies!). The kids who see Nikolai all love him. He loves them too. It's a giant love fest.

I have mixed results. Most people love to come over and ask to pet our sibe. But it's when he starts vocalizing and jumping all over they tend to back away for fear of agression. Some adults do give us a wide berth when walking past though...it's weird though because really the only people that are wary tend to be adult men.

Well, yesterday and this morning, while walking Ginger AND big boy Storm, people have crossed the street to walk on the other side...I supposed Storm's size is intimidating...

I took have gotten both reactions. Most kids love them and run to come say hi. It gets annoying sometimes...not to be mean..lol. It's just that they start talking and talking and it's hard to get way..lol.

AND THEN we have the a$$wholes! Yesterday, I was walking Mya and Kody around 10am at the park that we go to to everyday (2 blocks from my house) and this older guy tells me in spanish "the park isn't for dogs" while looking at me and them like he wanted to kill us or something. I got so mad at him for being such an ignorant moron. I told him "Really? Then you're at the wrong park dude". There are even stations with baggies to kick up after your dog, but dogs aren't allowed, right? lol!!!! Stupid ppl!

Koda always gets attention and pets, ask Claudia! He has such a gentle and loving vibe I guess, so people never really steer away from him. When I go on walks in my neighboorhood, which has primarily small dogs, 90% of the people let their dog come see Koda without even asking if he is friendly too.. and kids just run and pet him though their parents say "wait, you have to ask!"

Weirdly the only times I've ever had a cold shoulder was at one of our parks with the whole wolf thing.. and I'm going no, he is tiny, not a wolf!

Heatherlee wrote:

Koda always gets attention and pets, ask Claudia! He has such a gentle and loving vibe I guess, so people never really steer away from him. When I go on walks in my neighboorhood, which has primarily small dogs, 90% of the people let their dog come see Koda without even asking if he is friendly too.. and kids just run and pet him though their parents say "wait, you have to ask!"

Weirdly the only times I've ever had a cold shoulder was at one of our parks with the whole wolf thing.. and I'm going no, he is tiny, not a wolf!

Koda is very handsome and sweet, that EVERYONE that passed by us had to stop to pet him!

It was the same for us with Ginger, but now that we have Storm, his size alone steers people to walk on the other side of the street unless they are familiar with the breed! Or if it's people that have seen Ginger around, they'll come up to meet the new guy!

I never felt that people were afraid because of size since my Sandy was only 35-38 lbs her entire life. After she became grown, like I said before, grown men would steer clear of us. I think she always had a "wild" look in her eyes when she was excited (and a walk was certainly exciting). Her eyes would be huge and she would have her little smart-looking "prance" going on with an occasional lunge toward a squirrel or other dog or...piece of trash. Perhaps I never really looked like I had her in control...

SabakaMom wrote:

Perhaps I never really looked like I had her in control...

HA! I think that's how I look with Willow!

My cousins are also like that. They like seeing my Sibhee but won’t go near her because they're scared they might get bitten even though Sidhee is very gentle.