Why are dogs scared of knives ?

[Detection]

A few years ago I was between houses and moved in with a guy called mark.

I was there for around 5 weeks and caught him holding a lighter to my dogs face (It did not end well for him) and my dog lost a few whiskers

I moved into my new home and noticed that every time I took a knife out of the draw she backed off, I have never given her any reason to be scared of a knife, or any other weapon so mark was obviously the reason she was scared.

So moving on a few years, I am now in a house with the same dog + my gf's dog, My dog seems to have gotten over what ever it was that scared her of knives, but this puppy (My gf's pup) always backs out of the kitchen whenever I take a knife out of the draw... any ideas ?

Neither one of us has given her reason to be scared of a knife, it just seems like a natural reaction

What gives ?

(Don't blame the gf please ;) she is 100% an animal lover, she doesn't even pull a knife on me when I am being a **BEEP** ;) )

[ApuBo]

ever since the born of daggers or whatever that look like knife, they been used to skin animals. so it might do with something with common sense :p

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Umm, they're...not?

At least, my dogs don't mind knives at all. Not sure what could be putting your dogs off them.

[Azusa]

A few years ago I was between houses and moved in with a guy called mark.

I was there for around 5 weeks and caught him holding a lighter to my dogs face (It did not end well for him) and my dog lost a few whiskers

I moved into my new home and noticed that every time I took a knife out of the draw she backed off, I have never given her any reason to be scared of a knife, or any other weapon so mark was obviously the reason she was scared.

So moving on a few years, I am now in a house with the same dog + my gf's dog, My dog seems to have gotten over what ever it was that scared her of knives, but this puppy (My gf's pup) always backs out of the kitchen whenever I take a knife out of the draw... any ideas ?

Neither one of us has given her reason to be scared of a knife, it just seems like a natural reaction

What gives ?

(Don't blame the gf please ;) she is 100% an animal lover, she doesn't even pull a knife on me when I am being a **BEEP** ;) )

If they're both male have they ever seen either of you cutting sausages?

[tiagosilva29]

Our bitch isn't scared of knifes.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

My nan's dogs had no problems with knives.

[Pupik]

Umm, they're...not?

At least, my dogs don't mind knives at all. Not sure what could be putting your dogs off them.

Same with mine. Just pulled a knife on my dog to test it out and no reaction from him.

[firey]

My dog (Sibe Husky) has no problems with knives.

[Marshall Veteran]

Dogs in general don't have any problem with knives, hell my Great Dane carries one with him most of the time.

[Detection]

Cheers for the replies,

So what you're saying is dogs who are scared of something have a reason to be ?

So in other words, someone has scared the pup with a knife at some point ?

[+hedleigh Subscriber²]

Maybe the knives need a wash! :rofl:

Sorry mate, just kidding.

[firey]

Cheers for the replies,

So what you're saying is dogs who are scared of something have a reason to be ?

So in other words, someone has scared the pup with a knife at some point ?

That's my guess. Though dogs are scared of many things for no reasons.. Trash Cans, doors that don't open all the way, fireworks, etc.

[+John Teacake MVC]

The same reason humans are scared of Knives!

[Stoffel]

Maybe you send out a weird vibe when you hold a knife? ;)

[Krome]

I think it's good that your dog is afraid of knives. If he/it isn't scared, then I think it would be a great loss.

[andrewbares]

Maybe it's the way you're puling the knife out. Do you pull it out fast and suddenly? Do you hold it with a different tension in your body?

Dogs pick up on the very slightest body language. If you're unsure about anything, they can often tell.

Try pulling out a water bottle like you did a knife and see what happens.

[Hardcore Til I Die]

My dog's like courage the cowardly dog.. scared of fireworks, loud bangs, cupboard doors sliding, thunder storms, etc. :(

[ajua]

It maybe the sound of the drawer you pull the knife from or the color/size/whatever of it that is scaring these dogs

[Boxster17]

To answer your question, no you don't have to do anything to a dog to make it afraid of a particular object. We've had many dogs over the years in our family and each one gets scared of random stuff (just to be clear we've never hit our dogs in any way). Sometimes yes, you can link it to some action, for example one of our dogs was snooping in the pantry (treats are in there), and he knocked over the broom which made quite the racket. Ever since then he's been afraid of them and won't go near them if he sees a broom.

[MikeChipshop Member]

It's not the knife, it's the psychotic look in your eye... ;)

Just tried it with my dog, no reaction except disappointment as we keep the dog treats near the knife draw :)

[ozgeek]

Perhaps because that pup was abused with a knife before and thus is traumatised. Perhaps someone slashed or stabled it with a knife. It's animal nature to be scared of something that you experienced before and will try to avoid it in future. Just like us.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

My nan's dog was scared of bicycles - she had him from 0 - so no reason for that.

And as all dogs it seems, they feared vacuum cleaners

[Growled Member]

None of my dogs have ever been scared of knives. Someone must be messing with your dogs

[Growled Member]

So in other words, someone has scared the pup with a knife at some point ?

 

 My dog is not scared of a knife but she is deathly afraid of a can or bottle. I think one of the meter readers maced her. 

[Dashel]

Could be the noise