Fun Fact: Dogs Hate Wheelchairs

Posted in Thinking out Loud

Hey, guys! Welcome back to The Wheelchair Teen (even though I’m technically not a teenager anymore 😊). I’m back from Prague! And it was a very enjoyable week away. Now that I’m back, I have a lot to catch up on and a lot to do. I’m quite busy so I decided this week to just share a fun post about an interesting fact: dogs hate wheelchairs.

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Is it really true?

A picture of me from behind with the sunset in front of me and my wheelchair in a wide, open field
Me outside in my wheelchair

I used to love going for strolls around my neighbourhood after school. I’d go down different streets and alleyways and explore, sometimes stopping to read by lakes and parks, or doing a few circuits around the trail near my house for exercise. I spent so much time outdoors planning story ideas and just being around nature. While I was out and about, I had one greatest fear: the dogs in the neighbourhood.

I often tell people that the sight of my wheelchair turns dogs violent. They usually think I’m over-exaggerating – until they see it for themselves. Dogs start barking loudly and running towards me with teeth bared, occasionally even snapping. One owner even had to smack their dog just to keep it from biting me. While walking with me one day, my mother had to stick her leg out to stop two dogs who had rushed across the street towards me growling and barking.

Sometimes I’m metres away from a dog on the other side of the road and trying my best to not make any sound, but it’s as if they can sense that I’m there. Like a horror film, I see their heads slowly turning towards me and eyes locking on me from the other side. Then the barking and running begins. (Now I am over-exaggerating xD)

A picture of a woman in a white dress holding back her dog who is pulling at the leash
Photo of a woman holding a dog on a leash back by Kurt Panerio via Pexels.com

According to Karman Health Care, the reason some dogs lose control around wheelchairs is because their first time encountering them can be overwhelming. They perceive them as a threat and instantly go into protection mode. The reaction I usually get from dog owners is surprise. They all say things like: “I’m so sorry, my dogs never acted like this before,” “they’re not usually like this,” or “I have no idea what got into them.” Even they get shocked by how bad it can get. Unfortunately, I sometimes see owners get frustrated with their dogs because of this sudden switch in behaviour.

But Karman Health Care recommends that you be patient with your dog because being scared of a wheelchair is a very natural reaction for them and it isn’t their fault. The times when I’ve been most in danger is when the owner has panicked too and started making sudden jerking movements with their pet. That is what led to that dog almost biting me and the owner hitting it to get it to stop. Owners should remain calm and walk their dogs away from the wheelchair like normal.

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My experiences with dogs

Something else that makes the situation worse is that dogs can sense fear, so if the wheelchair-user is nervous, the dog picks up on that and their natural instincts kick in. And let me tell you, I am TERRIFIED of every dog I meet. I didn’t used to be before I started spending so much time outside after school, but constantly having owners panic and pull their dogs away while they bark very loudly at me definitely started to make me feel less safe.

Me from behind in my wheelchair pushing it along a pathway in nature
Me riding my wheelchair around my neighbourhood

I was always on my own and riding a wheelchair isn’t as fast as walking or running so escape would be much harder for me. I therefore felt very uncomfortable and unsafe whenever I saw an owner with a dog pass by. And if I saw a child with a dog, I would roll for my life in the opposite direction because I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be able to hold a scared dog back on their own. I remember taking long detours to avoid streets if I saw a dog on them. I’d fly down pathways with my arms pumping, pretending I was in a spy film hiding from enemies who were hunting me from around every corner.

I’ve talked before on The Wheelchair Teen about the ‘lake incident’ where I almost jumped into a lake to avoid a dog. It was a really big one and its owner was struggling to hold it back. They tousled and fought with it for over five minutes. And all the while, the deepest, scariest growl I had ever heard was coming from the dog. I had one foot over the water, and if that dog had come any closer, I would’ve flung myself in. My only strategy with dogs was evacuation. I told myself that if I flung my body out of the chair as they charged towards me, they’d attack the chair and not me because that’s what they were scared of. I could worry about how to get back in later.

Me from behind in my wheelchair with a huge lake in front of me
Me pushing my wheelchair near the lake by my house. This is the one I almost jumped into.

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My advice to dog owners

My advice to dog owners is just to be aware of the fact that dogs can lose control around wheelchairs. And if they do, it’s best to not panic. If you know your dog is going to be coming in contact with wheelchairs a lot, it’s a good idea to make sure that you introduce them to one beforehand. It’s not just wheelchairs – things like canes and crutches can sometimes set them off too. Dogs are such beautiful and nice pets and I don’t believe that they truly wish me harm. If more owners knew how to help their dogs when they encountered wheelchairs, the streets would feel a lot safer for people like me. Almost every day I’d have one or more scary dog encounters when I spent time outdoors in NL. For a wimpy teen like me, it was quite frightening.

A woman in a wheelchair leaning down to stroke a dog. The image is in black and white.
Image of a dog being friendly with a wheelchair-user by Magdalena Smolnicka via Unsplash.com

Moving to London has made me realise that this might be primarily a ‘small town problem’. Here, none of the dogs seem interested in me whatsoever and I feel much more comfortable around them. My theory is that it’s because London is a big city and dogs here have pretty much seen everything. Also the dogs in Prague weren’t scared around me either. I grew up in a quiet village in the Netherlands where there were lots of dogs, but they were less likely to have seen as many kinds of different people as dogs in London.

When I passed by people after school, they’d say things like: “oh, there goes that girl in the wheelchair, I’ve heard about her.” I was literally my neighbourhood’s local wheelchair-user (and there weren’t many Black people around either) so I was probably the first wheelchair-user a lot of these dogs were coming across. Also, bigger, older-looking dogs tend not to be scared of me. Most likely because they’d already encountered a wheelchair before sometime in their long life.

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I hope you enjoyed hearing something about the Disabled experience that you might not have considered before, or you might experience yourself but it doesn’t often get talked about. Dogs and wheelchairs are just one of those weirdly specific things that you have to experience all the time to really understand. It seems like such a trivial thing but it can affect you a lot. Dogs are a big part of the reason I became too scared to travel around outside on my own anymore in the Netherlands. But maybe now that I’m in London, things will be different. And don’t worry, I do still enjoy the company of a nice, calm dog.

Thanks so much for reading ❤ Do you have a pet? Have you ever experienced something like this? I’d be interested to find out in the comments below. See you next week!

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Published by The Wheelchair Teen

I am a black, disabled teenager and my blog shares my personal experiences, some of the struggles and triumphs I’ve been through, as well as posts that educate people about disabilities to help end discrimination against disabled people.

73 thoughts on “Fun Fact: Dogs Hate Wheelchairs”

  1. I never thought about this before and how scary for you!! I have been scared by dogs before too, while walking two small dogs, so I understand somewhat. One time a large dog (standing with its human family), attacked one of my dogs as they sniffed to meet each other. My fur buddy was only about 4 months old at the time and the Boxer nearly killed him! I got hysterical and grabbed both my dogs (after a friend of that family poured a coke on the Boxer dog’s head to make it let go of my boy), and ran to my car—I was out of town and had been walking them in a city park.

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    1. Yes, it’s something quite specific that I don’t think most people know about. I’m sorry that happened to you! Wow, that must’ve been frightening. I hope your fur buddy was able to make a full recovery afterwards. Dogs are such lovely and nice pets so it makes me really sad to hear stories of them getting hurt like this. Some owners should be careful while training and controlling their dogs so things like this don’t happen.

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      1. He did recover and went on to live a long life. I wrote a eulogy for him years ago when he crossed the rainbow bridge of old age. It was a traumatic experience though and I will never forget it. I will say though that a few years ago we met a neighbor who had a pit bull that was so gentle. After a few visits I grew unafraid of big dogs just from knowing her. Sadly, now she has crossed the rainbow bridge too.
        But thank you for your post and comment. I was also reminded of how some dogs bark and chase cars. I bet you are right that some dogs are scared of the wheels and bark and carry on because of the wheels.

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    1. I’m much more careful while venturing out on my own now when in the Netherlands. I wouldn’t be able to hold our use something like spray or a walking stick but my dad did buy me walky-talkies to carry with me for emergencies and my mum usually walks with me now. I don’t go out on my own when in London though. This is a big city with a lot more crime.

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  3. I can believe it.. my first dog, a chow chow mix, was about 2 when he encountered a man at my vet’s office born with dwarfism & no arms. That freaked him right out… he didn’t get aggressive but was obviously very baffled & upset. I think people & things dogs don’t see much in their youngest days can freak them right out & in some cases, make them aggressive. That’s why it’s so important to socialize dogs as pups. They need to see all kinds of different people & things or risk them becoming aggressive inappropriately. Cats are so different.. they won’t become aggressive or anything, they just avoid things & people they don’t understand.

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    1. Yeah, that’s exactly the same kind of situation. If a dog has never seen someone with dwarfism before, I can understand how that could upset them. Exactly, socializing dogs as pups is a win-win for everyone – both the dog so they don’t get scared as easily by things, and the people around the dog that they may come in contact with. True, if I come across a cat, they usually just stare and run away if I get too close. Dogs are just different. They’re so nice to have as pets but they require understanding of their behaviours to be able to take care of well. By the way, a chow chow mix sounds so cute! I hope to have a pet one day too 🥰

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  4. I’m not as adventurous as you in my wheelchair. I usually have someone with me. It would be so scary having dogs come at you like that! I think it’s good, too, that you provided advice for dog owners. Great article!

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    1. Thank you 🥰 It’s nice to have more followers who use wheelchairs. Now that I live in London, I’m a lot less adventurous too and always have someone with me. The place where I lived in the Netherlands was a nice quiet village with lots of nature and wheelchair-friendly pathways. It was a lot safer and more fun to go out on my own there but it’s not in a big city like London. It can be scary having a dog come after me! Thanks, I thought it was important to make sure that they were aware. I really enjoyed reading your comment! Have a great week! 😊

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  5. I had a large dog who has since passed on, but he had the same reaction around anything new that seemed to accompany a person, like strollers, canes, and walkers. He had a fierce chase instinct, so I never walked him without a leash, which was a very good thing in several instances! But after he’d seen a stroller (or whatever) before, he was chill about it.

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    1. Yes, it’s usually just the first time dogs encounter new things that can make them turn protective or confused. It’s good that you knew your dog well enough to know that he needed a leash and that it helped in several situations. Dogs are so kind and friendly but sometimes they just can’t help themselves 😊 I hope that you have a great rest of your day 🌼

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    1. I’d never thought about that before but that makes a lot of sense. I’m happy it rarely happens though. I’m hoping the whole ‘dogs get excited at the sight of me’ thing will became rare too now that I live in London.

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      1. There are lots of dogs around here but it’s only really when they are boistrous. I think they are well-looked-after here because any I do meet have a good temperament. But some of them are quite a significant weight.

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  7. Thanks for telling about this! I never thought of it before and I bet most people don’t know this is true. My little 10 pound Yorkie barks at any kind of wheels: bike, car, etc. So it makes sense they would bark at a wheelchair. I hope it will be better in London. God bless you, Simone!

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    1. You’re welcome! 😊 Yes, I think a lot of people don’t. It is very similar to how they bark at bikes and cars. A 10 pound Yorkie?! That sounds so cute! I love how furry they are. I hope so as well. God bless you too, Cindy! xxx

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  8. Yet another thing that affects wheelchair users…it’s sad that you have to be wary of dogs as well and not be able to enjoy your time outdoors alone (if you ever go, which you said you don’t in London, and then again, you said the dogs there are more socialised). But I guess the poor things can’t help it. I hope dog owners are taking notice!

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    1. Yes, dogs definitely can’t help it and I don’t blame them. It’s completely natural for them to be scared. It’s okay, it was actually quite fun pretending I was running from enemies like a spy agent whenever I went out. If anything, it did make my walks more eventful! I did still definitely enjoy my time outdoors though. Dogs are more socialized here, it’s just that between job hunting and more adult responsibilities, if I am leaving the house – it’s usually just to go to a social event with Olivia-Savannah. I do hope they do take notice though, it would be nice if more owners were aware.

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    1. Thanks! 😊 I’m glad you thought it was interesting and that you were able to learn something. I hope so too. So far, they’ve been pretty calm and nonchalant here. I hope it continues. Anyway, thank you so much for the comment. Have a great week! 🌻

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  10. Wow, this was very fascinating, I had no idea. I walk all the time in my neighborhood and see a lot of dogs. I do see how they react differently to me depending on their age, training, and type of dog. I love them all, but I respect them for the natural creatures they are. I believe animals can’t be blamed for their actions, as they are either reacting naturally, or have been trained or abused or abandoned and are simply surviving. I’m glad you are able to interact better with them in London because I know my spirits soar after a loving interaction with a sweet dog 🐶🐕🐕‍🦺❤️ And by the way, it does look like you had beautiful places to ride your wheelchair after school!

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    1. I believe so too. It’s completely natural for them to be frightened and it’s not their fault. That’s why it’s important for their owners to be aware of this so they don’t become frustrated with their dog if it happens which I have sometimes seen, they know how to handle the situation, and they maybe socialize them more as pups. I’m glad that dogs make you feel so happy 😊 If a dog isn’t scared around me, I really like spending time with them too. Yes! My neighbourhood was very beautiful and nature-filled in the Netherlands. There were a lot of farms where I lived and it was a pretty normal sight to see people riding horses along pathways or waiting at a cow crossing before school. The lake was my favourite place to be though. The sun would dance so prettily across the water ❤️

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  11. I’m sorry you’ve had those scary experiences with dogs! My father in law had a theory that dogs think bicycles are other dogs, so they bark. I wonder if dogs think wheelchairs are a creature too, and some are intimidated. Glad your experiences with dogs in London have been better.

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    1. I think they do think that wheelchairs are a creature too or something along those lines. I understand – it must be pretty confusing to them if they’re used to only seeing humans walking on two legs. The experiences were scary but they were also always eventful and it was almost kind of fun to spend my time racing along pathways to avoid them after school. It was at least definitely more fun than sitting inside so it wasn’t all bad. I’m glad dogs are better here too. It’s nice to be around them and not be scared anymore! 😊

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  12. I have a very reactive dog who goes crazy over squirrels, bikes, other dogs, etc. I never thought about wheelchairs before, but I will definitely be aware of that now! I do wonder how she would react… On one hand, I wouldn’t think she’d go that crazy over it, since it would probably be slower than a bike, but it’s also possible she would, if she’d never seen one before. Great post!

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    1. Thank you! 😊 Maybe it’s possible that your dog wouldn’t go crazy over it since it is slower than a bike, it’s good now that you’re at least aware. Dogs are very cute and usually only get reactive if they’re very excited. I hope your dog stays curious and happy ❤️

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  13. Simone, as I read this I felt like I was there. I wanted to save you from the dogs and the water!

    My husband sometimes uses a powered wheelchair to get around. We live with 3 rescue dogs, ranging in size from a small poodle to a very large Husky/Golden Retriever mix. They are a little afraid of his powerchair, but they don’t try to attack, probably because they know and love their human daddy. My husband had a knee replacement surgery yesterday. He is still in the hospital. When he comes home, he will probably need the powerchair again for a time.

    I am glad that you are safer where you live now. ❤

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    1. Thank you so much, it’s a great compliment that this post was so immersive for you. It’s nice that your dogs loved their human daddy so much. In general, I do think most dogs are gentle around wheelchairs, I just think the dogs in NL aren’t very socialized and maybe aren’t trained as well. I hope his knee replacement surgery went well and that he’s back from the hospital now. ❤️

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  14. Informative, and a story well-told, Simone! I don’t remember my late husband ever having issues with dogs, but he had a chin-controlled motorized chair. Maybe the motion of pushing your chair is one thing dogs who have not seen wheelchairs before are threatened by.

    When our dog was a puppy, he got too close to the chair and his toe was run over. That never happened again. He was a very smart dog! And he was very attached to my husband. ❤

    Thank you, Simone, for sharing your story. Dogs, too, need to have their consciousness raised!

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    1. Thank you! 😊 I’ve definitely been there with having a motorized chair run over my foot. It’s not a very pleasant experience but I’m glad your puppy was okay and learned his lesson. And I’m glad that he had a close connection with your husband. Words can’t describe the love and companionship a dog can bring. ❤️

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  15. an interesting share, Simone.
    educational too… for I doubt many dog owners are aware of this… beating the dog to stop doing what it’s instincts are dictating is actually sad. we need to learn the why’s and how’s in these situations so it can benefit everyone. like you said… owners need to learn how to help their dogs…
    scary for you, no doubt. 🤗
    Thanks for sharing 🤍🙏✨

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    1. Thank you. Exactly, dogs only do what comes naturally to them and shouldn’t be punished for it. Their owners need to be aware and not panic so that everyone in the situation can stay safe including the dog. It was scary but hopefully more owners will be aware now. Thanks for reading, have a great week! ❤️🌻❤️

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  16. I think you’re right about it being a small-town problem. I live in a city, and never have any trouble with dogs. In fact, they often come to say hi to me, and aren’t bothered by my chair at all. Then again, cats and dogs have always liked me. I did notice some cats being afraid of my chair and running away as I approach. Much to my chagrin, I must admit, because I love cats–so now I often halt my chair and try to coax them into coming out of hiding…

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    1. I strongly suspected so. I’m happy that you have such a good relationship with the dogs in your city. The dogs there are probably much better trained. My chair scares cats too but if I visit a friend with a cat at their house they tend to be less scared and more friendly 😊 Have a great week!

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  18. Well-written article, Simone. What about submitting it in other places, if you haven’t already? I am sad to learn that you encounter this situation. Learning about your challenges has made me more aware. 🙏🏻💗

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  19. At first reading, I thought that you felt much more free to go out and about in London than when in Netherlands, but now I realise that though the dogs pose less of a problem, London itself does not feel safe for you alone. Sorry to hear that. I lived 19 years in London – 4 in SW and 15 in NW6. I tend to be weary of dogs anyway, but especially when on my bike, as that can make some dogs suddenly run towards the wheels for some reason, so I tend to ride cautiously past them.

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    1. I didn’t know that you’d lived in London. It’s not the safest city but I think most big cities are like that. It’s just very different to Waalre where everyone keeps their doors open, they’re hardly many people, and crime almost never happens. It’s always good to be cautious, dogs are so much fun to be around but sometimes they can get over excited or aggravated by foreign things.

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    1. Simone, I checked with my daughter, who suggested you carry some dog treats and throw them to distract the dogs. I explained that you have limited use of your hands. But I checked to see if there are any devices to help you do that—throw a treat to move a dog away. I found that Amazon.com has a FurHaven Treat Launcher Food Dispenser Toy. It may not be workable for you; if not, perhaps someone can rig up a similar device. Best of luck, dear Simone. Annie.

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      1. Wow, thank you for going through all of that trouble to find a solution. It definitely doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I might not have as much use for it in London but if I’m ever back in the Netherlands, this would be handy. It’s also nice to have a solution to tell my other Disabled friends about who face similar issues so truly, thank you.

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      2. My daughter was surprised that so many dogs have reacted and wondered if the wheelchair makes a noise that excites them. Is it possible the wheels squeak? If so, maybe some oil would help. Just a thought.

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  23. this is great to know – tx for sharing – I have a medium sized dog & she used to be easily scared by skateboards & the like, due to their rumbling & how they scurry along. you make an important point about city dogs being exposed to more & that being a good thing. from what I see, people are too quick to let their dogs do whatever, rather than train them, particularly in the case of smaller dogs. since mine was a puppy, I’ve gone out of my way to recognize when ‘teaching moments’ are in order. they takes a bit of effort at first, & then some reminders, but I believe most dogs can be trained.

    as for people who’re subjected to poorly trained dogs, I’m so very sorry. not that it’s a surefire solution, the only thing I can offer is to avoid eye contact. dog lover that I am, I see nothing wrong with you carrying pepper spray or a taser. my heart goes out to you, dear

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    1. I’m glad you’re very experienced with your dog. I can definitely understand dogs being scared of things like skateboards and wheelchairs. I can’t even begin to imagine what that sensation must be like for them. I’m happy that city dogs get to experience more so they don’t have to be scared of so many things. I recently spent a weekend with my sister and her boyfriend who were taking care of a dog for the week. It was so much fun and reminded me of how amazing and comforting dogs can be when they’re not scared of me.

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  24. Thank you for sharing!!.. disabled folks are not the only ones to have to watch out for dogs (and, unfortunately , there are humans that act like the dogs).. 🙂 I believe that, just like working with children as they grow, folks need to work with their dogs so they understand society and can deal with society rather than using instinct alone…. 🙂

    Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again….
    May the sun shine all day long
    Everything go right, nothing go wrong
    May those you love bring love back to you
    And may all the wishes you wish come true
    (Irish Saying)

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  25. This post had me both chuckling and nodding along. The “dogs vs. wheelchairs” showdown is like a suspenseful drama!
    I would like to say a huge thankyou for this unique perspective on the Disabled experience – it’s true, dogs and wheelchairs are one of those curious intersections that only makes sense when you’re in the moment.

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    1. I’m so happy you enjoyed reading this post so much! Indeed, it can sometimes feel like being in a suspenseful drama film xD At least it kept the rides around my house interesting. I love sharing about perspectives like this because usually so many people learn things they didn’t know before. Thank you so much for sharing these kind thoughts with me 😊

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  28. Hi, our dog doesn’t just panic from the wheelchairs, but also from bicycles, scooters, children, and people with umbrellas 🙂 We try to avoid all these situations and we are managing quite well not to scare anyone 🙂 Otherwise, I’m glad you liked it here 🙂

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    1. Hi, nice to meet you 😊 It’s interesting to find out that dogs are scared of other things too. I’m glad you’re so good at managing your dog in those kind of situations. I think that shows that you are a very good owner. Yes, I really loved Prague! The history there was so fascinating and beautiful.

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  29. Pingback: Fun Fact: Dogs Hate Wheelchairs – Mitul Padhiyar

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