Rescue Dog With a Woman for 12 Years ‘Emotionally Prepares’ to Meet a Man

A pet owner “emotionally preparing” her dog to meet her brother has gone viral as the canine had not seen a man in over a decade.

In a TikTok video posted November 23 to the account @izzy__collins that received more than 1.3 million views and 169,700 likes, the dog owner had a serious pep talk with Boo about having her brother over.

It was important to prepare the senior dog, Izzy Collins told Newsweek, because for the past 12 years, Boo has been living with a woman in the Arizona desert with no contact with men or other dogs.

The woman who originally adopted Boo went into hospice and her dying wish was for her dog to be taken care of. She had no family to take on the responsibility, Collins mentioned in a separate video, prompting Collins to step in and adopt Boo.

Collins couldn’t allow Boo to go to an animal shelter as her old age and pit bull mix would make it very difficult to find a forever home. Senior dogs have a 25 percent adoption rate compared to the 60 percent rate for younger dogs and puppies, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Despite not being exposed to men for almost her entire life, Boo did great while meeting Collins’ brother. Collins said it went well and the dog did not care at all. She was sweet.

Dog vs. Man

Believe it or not, it is quite common for dogs to be afraid of men. They might find men intimidating and scary, or they might be uncomfortable in a man’s presence. Hill’s Pet lists a few reasons why dogs might fear men.

Experiences like dogs being abused in the past could cause them to be fearful of men. And the trauma didn’t need to happen more than once. Just one case of being startled by a man could be enough for dogs to develop that fear.

Some puppies have a lack of socialization, which can lead them to have phobias to items or people they were not previously exposed to. The appearance of a man might be scary enough for dogs as they tend to be bigger with louder and deeper voices and a man’s scent could come off as threatening to dogs.

Luckily, there are ways to help desensitize your dogs, such as having a man in the room with your dog, but not making eye contact or acknowledging your dog in any way. Create a positive association by praising your dog and giving them treats if they behave calmly in a man’s presence. It’s important to go slowly and be patient as it won’t happen overnight. And if your dog can get aggressive, consult your veterinarian.

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