Some people can’t help it, especially if they’ve been bitten badly as a child. I love dogs, but am nervous around a few breeds. I was severely bitten by a German Shepherd and a Doberman on 2 separate occasions as a child. In the German Shepherd case that dog had me flat on my stomach with his jaws clamped around my neck. I had four bad puncture marks. My offense? I had just delivered their news paper to their front stoop. The dog jumped through the screen door to attack me. Luckily the owners were there and got him off me. I was 12.
I have every right to not like dogs, but I still do. We had a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog for 10 years and now have of all things, a German Shepherd mix rescue.
Similar thing happened to me delivering newspapers at ~12.
The dog was an Airedale and got 4 punctures around my bicep and shoulder.
The dog finally released me when I raised the “folded up newspaper” in a motion like I was going to hit him.
It turned out that the owners used a rolled up newspaper to discipline the dog.
I still love dogs.