Do you believe a dog can hate a certain gender?

Question

I've labeled this dog Fear Aggressive.

My sister found her on the streets....no background info at all.

This dog hates my husband, brother, and anybody that walks through the door EXCEPT females.

I'm not one to believe dogs are racist or bigots but it has been tested....this dog will bark when the door bell rings....in walks a girl she's fine. A guy she's growling....and trying to attack.

I say the dog is fear aggressive because she will run and hide behind her owners or a female. My husband stands his ground and when he doesn't back away, she backs up barking and growling. If he approaches her, she will literally go under someone's legs. She has tried to bite him twice. We tried treats after Honey calmes down and we've settled. However the next visit, begins the same way with  my husband....she will growl, bark, and behave like she's gonna attack. Her hairs are raised, she snaps at him, and my sister holds her back which seems to increase her enthusiasm to be aggressive. And by this I mean she will bark harder, try to lunge, and her eyes are so big and never lose sight of him.

She's been hit by my sisters boyfriend (especially if she tries to attack visitors)....her normal behavior includes dominant like behavior with their other dog. She barks at my one male (who has a dominant personality)....only when he is behind a gate but when hes not she acts very submissive.

Just based off the above, does this sound like fear aggression? 

What could be done to fix her behavior or is this a lost cause?

Do you think fear aggression is genetic or learned?
(I know this is an ongoing argument, but we learn fears through experience, so what do you think?)

patty · Accepted Answer

If her boyfriend is hitting the dog then the dog NEEDS TO GO TO ANOTHER HOME, that will only encourage fear in this dog and she will bite. And she needs to find another boyfriend.
FIrst off what your husband is doing is wrong! The dog is scared by hiding she is telling everyone this. The fact that your husband "stands up" to her is unbelievably threatening to her, i would bet thats why she is trying to bite, she's is scared out of her mind. 

Let me pause here to say this dog needs training from a professional, confidence in training can usually help fearful dogs. On top of that, dogs notice everything, smells, postures, sizes, habits. So she could be associating being beaten with the same mannerism as your husband is doing ie. standing up to her.
You need to keep the boyfriend and your husband away from her, they're idiots and this dog is suffering because of it.

Honestly that fact this dog is getting beat, just take the dog to a shelter, its better then being beat

TAMARA · Answer

i got a new puppy once from a white couple.it was not abused are nothing but for some reason every time he saw a black person male or female it would growl and bark.don't know why so when I took to park if i came across a black person i would warn them an apologize.it was embarrassing.so i guess dogs can tell the difference.however you don't know its back ground so i would say it might been abused by a male.get him around males more let them pet him and be good to him hope he gets better.

Sejal · Answer

She must have been abused by men. Let her sniff men or boys first. Let her get to know them she will be more comfortable.

Do you believe a dog can hate a certain gender?

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