i have a guide dog and she's amazing, even goes to school with me but its anoying when we can't walk past an Asian without them screaming, especially muslim origins, i think its only common-sense that if a dog is wearing a visible harness then its obvious that they have been trained and are SAFE!

andrea cooper, coventry, U.K

Bit of a sweeping generalisation isn't it? I've had dogs all my life, as have most everyone I know. And it certainly doesn't seem like we're the exceptions that prove the rule! Did you mean migrant Asians only? But then that's worse - a generalisation within a stereotype! Maybe I'm missing a joke...

Mina Menon, Bangalore, India

Ive a cavalier king charles spaniel so daft, friendly. The breed on the whole is renowned for its temperament with people and children yet if he goes near white people they adore him and pet him. BUT if he goes near asian people he might as well be a bull mastive, they cross the road why? Its wierd!

dave, sheffield,

also we have a new pet faze here....rats....many asians running from them nowadays too.....

maybe dogs aren't too bad????

amardeep , Brisbane, Australia

Perhaps the difference is spending on pet food between America and India is because we feed our pets the same food that the rest of the family eats? I couldn't stop laughing when I read "scare" of stray dogs. Scared??? They are communal pets!!! And they dont get put down or locked up in dog houses.

Rana, London,

Dogs do not lick your face for regurgitated breakfast! It goes back to the dogs wolf ancestry. It is used as a sign of affection towards a member of the pack.

Sam Flowers, Northampton, U.K

HERE in Britain (i.e. my flat) "Asian" refers to anything or anyone from east of the Urals and the Red Sea.

As for dogs, it was Ch 4 that set that hare running, not Sathnam.

Isn't it funny how many bloggers (Asian or not) are only online to show their enthusiasm for taking offence (or giving it).

Alan, London, England

I think its silly to talk of "asia" as one big homogenous culture...I have just come back from Thailand, Cambodia and Laos - and I can say that everywhere I went (city, countryside) every family seemed to have a pet dog or two living with them - and big lavish shows of affection were common

neil, london,

Clever witty article.

Neil Murphy, Cromer,

I recall seeing a family photograph of Indra Ghandi and her family, with their two German Shepherds (Alsatians).

The real reasons many Asian cultures include a dislike for dogs is complex. China, of course, has always had a protein shortage, consequently dog owning would be insane.

David Null. Emeritus Professor, California State Poly Univ, USA

"I'd rather deal with a dog than a baby any day - you can catch fewer diseases from a dog!"
Marcher Baron, Welsh Marches

Fewer diseases than from a baby? Did I just read that right??!

What contagious diseases do babies carry then?

Su, Coventry, UK

I would like to say that Mr Sanghera is incorrect about the Sikh faith having any particular reverence to any animal.

‘British Sikh’ Dog owner,

M Singh, Gravesend, Kent

I think you may not have understood what was said in your rush to be anti English.

Dogs communicate through body language. Therefore what they observe is more important than what they are told.

Difficulty with expressions especially facial on a dark background can cause anxiety and aggression.

James Dodds, Manchester, UK

Dogs have smelly breath!

Shaheen, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dogs don't give unwanted advice, criticize, discriminate based on race, religion, appearance, or sexual persuasion, stab others in the back or hurt the ones they love. And those, dear dog-haters, are the reasons why so many people prefer their dog's company to that of other humans! Lighten up!

Deb, NJ, USA

Dogs save human lives and often at the expense of their own. There is no other species which behaves altruistically or rewards and returns affection so unconditionally. People-Asian or not- who do not recognize this seem wrongheaded to me.

Jody Rope, Key West, USA

H. P. Lovecraft wrote, "The dog would appear to me to be the favorite of superficial, sentimental, and emotional people". I am a cat person, but still have time to walk and cuddle my sister's slobbering, obsequious, ever hungry, hair shedding monster. Asian or not, dogs are annoying but loveable.

Jennifer Hobson, Plymouth, England

Maybe I missed something, but I certainly read this as nothing more than a funny tongue-in-cheek piece.

I think some of you need to relax a bit.

And yes, I have two and spoil them a lot.

Karen, Aiken, SC, US,

EH??? I've had two dogs over 13 years and have many friends with dogs. I don't know a mutt who, if you were to 'regurgitate' food onto the floor as it was licking your face, wouldn't jump out of the way, look at you like you were mad and then stay well clear of the end product...

Ynamein, Caernarfon,

"It is, of course, true that Islam has traditionally renounced dogs as impure."

You should come down to Luton, and you'll see loads of British-pakistani teenagers with dogs.

M Khan, Luton,

Tufail, Birmingham

"Americans have messed up the whole English language etc.." and " Asians as defined by the British should prevail and that is South Asians".
Leave the Americans out of this, mate! And indeed Asians continue to be defined by the British, instead of the Asians.

Sandy, Watertown, NY, USA

Why the mention of Americans while writing about Brits' and Asians' dog attitudes?

ray, corpus christi, usa

I am Asian and love dogs and share my life with a doberman. My family are originally from Sri Lanka and had pet dogs back home, so what is this article about? And why the distinction between being Asian & British? I regard myself to be both Asian AND British - the 2 are not mutually exclusive!

Sam, Redhill, UK

Coming from an Asian family of dog lovers I find this article ridiculous and baseless. Did it occur to the writer that given the poverty levels in India many people struggle to feed their 'needy' families, feeding a dog would be a complete waste of resources.

Anne, London,

Only the English send their children to boarding school miles away, and keep their dogs at home.

iain rae, tunbridge wells, u.k.

I have no idea what Sathnam is talking about. I live in India and belong to the 300 million strong middle class (which is reasonably representative of India)...there is certainly no cultural aversion to dogs here...there are very many of my friends who keep dogs and dote on them, just like I do.

Vikram, Jabalpur, India

Holidaying in some parts of the country such as Wharfdale Yorks,where there is a high proportion of Asian taxi drivers, it is extremely difficult to find taxis that will take your dog; yet in places where there are still traditional (ie white) family owned taxi firms, there is absolutely no problem.

M.Aris, Llangefni, Wales

Is it only dogs or do Asians detest cats as well? I, myself, am a cat person and think felines are higher intelligence (even compared to humans), much cleaner (than men) and totally affectionate and loyal. At least my Siberian Forest fur.....

Vickie, TA,

(not all Asians are Muslim. Animals are actually revered by Hindus and Sikhs.) :(
The story goes that when animals got onto Noah's Ark they were told not to fornicate. Only dogs did it. That why muslims dislike them. If muslim touches a dog, he'll have to ablute 7 times b4 prayers are accepted...

Alia, Leicester, UK

I'm with Lizzie. Neither of my well trained terriers drools; they are house trained, bathed and are not allowed to lick faces or sit on the furniture. I'd rather deal with a dog than a baby any day - you can catch fewer diseases from a dog!

Marcher Baron, Welsh Marches,

"But fear of the unknown is not the same thing as loathing - and I would suggest that it is not that Asians hate dogs, but that they are rational about them, whereas the British are demented about their dogs."

Surely Asians who live in Britain are British? Stop trying to polarise people.

Peter, Cambridge, "BRITAIN"

Vietnamese keep dogs as pets, Chinese keep dogs as pets, Japanese keep dogs as pets, Mongolians keep dogs as pets, Cambodians keep dogs as pets, Thais keep dogs as pets...

So no Asians dont ALL hate dogs. Pointless article... Pointless documentary...

Matthew, Cambridge, UK

Totally agree. Most Brits are mad about their dogs - and I do mean mad. I think it is true to say that a lot of Brits prefer animals to people- and who can blame them looking at their fellow Brits? the idea of having animals in the house is repugnant - dirty and allergy inducing. Yuck.

sandy, London, UK

Any creature that uses its tongue as toilet tissue is to be kept away from me! But they shouldn't be mistreated in anyway. Just because I wouldn't keep a dog doesn't mean I take pleasure in stories about animal abuse.

Pay tax? hmmmm...

Johan, London,

I find the author to be narrow minded. Especially his comment - "Islam has traditionally renounced dogs as impure.... not all Asians are Muslim".

I am Muslim, my family is fairly conservative, yet we have a dog and a cat. End of.

Ria Amber, Nottingham, UK

Asians don't hate dogs.

Small dogs are very popular in Tokyo right now, as fashion accessories.

FYI. No one likes dog vomit.

Albert, Paris,

A confusing article heading. I mean the writer should use unambiguous words like South Asians or Subcontinent Asians to refer to what he really meant here - Indians/Pakistanis/Bangladeshis?

Iris, Singapore,

I'm white and English and can't stand the wretched creatures, or their owners who wheedle 'he won't hurt you' when you object to his slobber, his muddy paws and his stinky moulting fur. Human friends are too smart to worship you regardless of your merit, so maybe you should try being a better person

Lyn, Birmingham, UK

Last time I checked Hong Kong was in Asia & having grown up there I can assure you that many middle-class ethnic Chinese residents in my building doted on their dogs - Their relationships with their dogs were no different to our [British] relationship with our dogs! Don't stereotype a continent!

Tom, London, UK

God, stop taking this so seriously and just enjoy the humour of it. Who really cares whether your brand of asian loves dogs or not?

I personally don't. And I'm asian.

Shahana, Milton Keynes,

Being Korean-American (no, I have not nor know anyone who has eaten dog meat) I can relay my 2 cents. Koreans generally are neat freaks and dogs are viewed as stinky slobbery animals no matter how many baths we gave them. And we would NEVER entertain the thought of co-habitating with them indoors.

G, Atlanta, USA

I am a British Muslim. I'm not terribly religious or, indeed, traditional. It has nothing to do with my upbringing - my parents were cool as a cucumber when it came to pets - but I hate dogs. They're unclean, ugly, they look like wolves & if loving them is what it takes to be British then i'm out!

Qasim, West Midlands, UK

Bravo Sathnam, though mundane in these hard times. Wouldn't surprise me those 'asian' dog lovers commenting here are the vocal minority.

As an ex-brit-asian expat here in the UAE two things we're thankfully free of are your 'crack-addicted tutes' and dogs, apart from the odd 'white' expat dog!

manjo, UAE,

A poorly researched article or a superficial analysis.

FM, London, UK

When I was a kid, my neighbour kept three St. Bernards - her garden was covered in piles of canine excrement and her white lounge carpet was covered in light brown patches. As for a deficency in the soul - that would be people who prefer the uncomplicated love of animals, to human interaction.

iman, watford,

I think you screwed up this article by using the very narrow "New English" term "Asian". If your background is Indian, or from the Indian Subcontinent, then say so. Otherwise you end up making sweeping generalisations.

Chris, London, UK

I found this article highly amusing on the whole.
However, it is untrue that "Islam has traditionally renounced dogs as impure"
In fact I know of some muslims in Pakistan who have kept dogs as pets.
I also do not believe that everyone (especially Times readers) thinks all asians are muslims!

Amena Khan, London, UK

Sathnam needs to get his geography right - Sikhs, Muslims and hindus do not even represent all of India, leave alone Asia . And talking to a few mates on his way to Southall will not give anybody a clue on what Asians' think about dogs.

Rajesh, uxbridge, hillingdon

FYI, the stray dogs survive on India because the people let them be - any attempts at removing them are usually thwarted by the people. But, the dogs do live a dogs life...

Rajesh, uxbridge, hillingdon

As an asian INDIAN. I can tell you that HINDUS dont mind dogs. My entire extended family owns a dog.

Anita, London, England

a programme about nothing significant and a load of old tosh - channel 4 programming at its best! I'm "asian" - indian origin - and have, in the past had a dog as a family pet. We loved the animal dearly. I doubt there is such a thing as an aversion to pets amongst asian families.

M. Patel, London,

'...the problem with dogs is that they bark, dribble, insist on being walked, smell, eat the Rufus Wainwright albums you order through the post'

For the last reason alone I would definately consider getting a dog.

Paul Ritchie, Southampton,

the writer obviously hasn't visited bradford lately, every second Asian, sorry, British-Pakistani teenage boy is walking around with a terrier, alsatian, rottweiler and so on. all part of looking tough, innit.

Bushra, Bradford, UK

My Indian born Sikh parents have an English Bulldog called Furious George, who takes commands in both English and Punjabi.

A number of my family in the UK have dogs and not all of them are guard dogs in corner shops!

Infact I see Asians walking dogs in Gravesend all the time.

Dil Sodhi, Gravesend, Kent

Hey, I like "dogs", I see them standing out side public bars all the time. :-)

jayil, london, uk

oh for god's sake. "Most animals, especially dogs, are smarter than humans"?? How could you say an insane thing like that? Can a dog build a computer? Can it process data? Can a canine send us into space? No, it was the other way round. Don't be naive - animals are indeed smart, but not smartER.

Shiraz E, London, UK

Its not only Asians. My when my African wife came to UK for the first time 2 years ago she was horrified at the idea that Brits would tolerate a dog, or any other animal for that matter, in the house.

Mark Minogue, Bristol, UK

"not all Asians are Muslim. Animals are actually revered by Hindus and Sikhs"

I'm sure this is an innocent slip, but it doesn't put us Muslims in great light, and we need all the good press we can get!

I'd like2clarify that Muslims believe in God&the sanctity of all of creation,including dogs.

Kamran Younas, London, UK

An interesting topic to say the least with very mixed opinions,however saying that asians hate dogs is somewhat a false assumption. I am a orthodox sikh and have been fortunate enough to have had dogs throughout my whole life. Inevitably I feel that no family is complete without a dog.

Mandy, London, UK

If you've done enough research in the kinds of treatment in each country, then can you make a proper statement. Asians are not all the same.

Understand the culture of each country you make any judgements or statements.

Celeste, Singapore,

Sorry, but most animals especially dogs are smarter than humans.

virginia, Brisbane , Australia

Americans have messed up the whole English language by adding strange-spelling words and terms. Asians as defined by the British should prevail and that is South Asians.

Tufail, Birmingham, UK

Angels belong to the Lord, so they would not enter anyone's homes who do not rever God. i.e. the One True Living God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. So it is not the dogs but the people who would put the angels OFF. Who let the dogs out?

virginia, Brisbane , Australia

I fail to see English people infatuation with their dogs. Specifically those people who let their dogs lick their faces or even share food with them. In case, these people have not noticed, dogs lick their backsides all the time. So to let the same animal lick your face is asolutely disgusting

A. Khan, London,

at least Asians care for their children more than their dogs ;)

Gavin, Birmingham, UK

Love and hate is a relative concept. The English love their dogs more than their children. Asian people love their children more.

Therefore, the English are a bunch of extremists :)

Kazuki, Kyoto, Japan

Ah, another opportunity for the jihadwatch brigade to come out of their holes. Dogs are not universally considered impure in the Muslim world: the swathe that follows the Maliki school, basically North and West Africa, do not consider them impure. Muslims keep dogs as work animals rather than pets.

Ahmad Chibli, Grimsby,

I'm English born and bred (and white, since you ask), and I dislike dogs with all their constant barking, defecating in public places, slobbering, scaring my children etc etc. Man's best friend? No friend of mine keeps me awake barking and poos on the pavement.

Will Duffay, London,

Chinese Asians love dogs, they taste yummy!

jayil, london, uk

Had booked a cab to take my mom and her guide dog to the Eurostar terminal, but the cab company could not find a driver willing to take a guide dog. Also have had negative experiences in shops run by Asians. I think 'they' (not only Asians) should be reminded that it is illegal to refuse guide dogs!

D.R. Nick, London,

Well I dunno.. when my boxer-with-a-tail was a pup, the Indian girls used to go mad over him, absolutely ape, crying and kissing, so I don't agree with the premise of the article.

Thomas Goodey, Cuxton-upon-Medway, England

Yes indeed, if you keep a dog you wont get 72 virgins when you go to heaven! Logical, really.

Lucas Tatek, Herts., uk

Another entertaining article, Sathnam! Thank you. As a devoted dog owner, most Asians I've met don't so much dislike my (well behaved) dogs as fear them. Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their dogs don't terrorise strangers; parents have a responsibility not to pass hysteria to children

Cally Ellis, Manama, Bahrain

Every middle class Indian family, I know owns a dog. I dont know about the statistics in the UK. It is however true that dogs are disliked by most muslims, because according to Islamic belief, a dog in the house would prevent angels from entering the house.

Derek Columbus, New York, USA

I think it just depends on whether you are brought up with pets around you.... I normally don't go near them, only little ones like pups and terriers, but if I was left alone in a room with a friend's dog, I would start becoming more comfortable around it. But only that dog....

Coco, london, uk

having been a dog owner i noticed that a percentage of the asians i met seemed to fear my dogs - whether tis is cultural belief, a fear of being bitten ( and possible rabies which we don't have to fear in the uk) a fear that dogs are unclean i don't know but they would cross the road to avoid them.

fi, newcastle upon tyne, uk

As a Caucasian living in Asia, I hate dogs because they smell. I would not have married or gone out with a woman with a dog. I have no problem with baby poo or urine - and find myself deep in both daily - but dogs are a definite no no. Is it Asia, or just me?

Peter, Singapore,

"It is, of course, true that Islam has traditionally renounced dogs as impure."

RUBBISH

neddy, KL,

To Lizzie
<br/>Get a Life . Our Language ? English is the Language of the world, its not exclusive to the UK.
<br/>
<br/>There is no rule to say that anyone should love a dog. Your comments are ignorant. What are you going to say next? Asians should eat beef and pork to be accepted by the English ?

A Parker, London, UK

I did a mental double-take when I read the headline for Sathnam's column. In America (excluding Hawaii), "Asian" is a euphemism for "Oriental." Then I remembered that in the UK, it's a euphemism for Indians and Arabs.

Why can't we be forthright enough to refer to people as what they really are?

Geoff Miller, Boulder Creek, CA, USA

Do Asians like cats then? Cats aren't always aloof: my 19-year-old cat loves to cuddle up and drool copiously as she kneads your knees. But our Jack Russell is calm, clever, funny, non-drooling, an excellent companion. You dogophobes are really missing out! BTW, here in Oz Asian means Far Eastern...

Judet, Melbourne, Australia

In Singapore, as a generalisation they do not like dogs. It is illegal to walk a dog off of a lead. The majority of children, and adults too, are afraid of dogs. The few that do have dogs seem to view them as some sort of toy for exhibition. Dogs with shoes, coats, etc. regardless of 30 degree temp.

Michael Peevey, Singapore,

Pointless article. "Asians" might not have any particular stance on dogs, but muslim antagonism towards them is a problem. In many parts of the US, it is hard to get a cab if you have a dog - even a guide dog. There is a creeping islamisation of Western society, which has to be stopped.

Nick, Seattle, USA

I come from a fairly orthodox Sikh family. My father's family have always owned dogs. Alas, my mother is not to keen on them.
I think Sathnam is generalizing a little too much he when suggests that us brown folk dislike canines. Some of us like them, some of us don't.

Harinder, Vancouver, Canada

I'm with Lizzie! The author is exactly wrong - liking dogs is perfectly rational (what's not to like?) - not liking them is the irrational reaction.

Jo, Montreal, Canada

As much as I enjoyed the piece,..I think that you have down-played the importance of the religious aspect, there are after all many millions of muslim asians who don´t own dogs due to the following passage : ' Angels do not enter a house wherein there is a dog ' ( Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2987).

J. Barry, Berlin, Germany

Dogs are a good judge of character and trust. Jessie seems a good example of this.

larry, Nantwich, UK

In Britain "Asian" means Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi.

Its a strange usage. But then words mean precisely what we say they mean - or something like that.

Tom, Edo, Japan

I live in Tokyo, and people here LOVE their dogs, or at least like to flaunt them. There are dog cafes, dog hotels and dog clothing stores. We saw a lady with a $5,000 Louis Vuitton dog carrying case and I've met many Japanese people who have decided not to have kids and get a dog instead.

Celia mulderrig, Tokyo, Japan

I read this thinking it would mostly be about Koreans and Chinese (who have many many pet dogs). then I realised that in the UK 'Asians' refers just to South Asians, presumably as East and South East Asians come from a different continent!

Tim, Seoul, Korea

I wonder if there's an anthropological angle you're missing. Where in the world did prehistoric humans first begin domesticating dogs? Was the practice wide-spread? When did it occur? I think these questions would be very relevant in understanding various ethnic groups' relationships to dogs.

Stephanie, Bristol, UK

I hope by Asian you don't include the Chinese. I live in a multi-racial country and it's true Indians don't like dogs, and most Chinese if they live in a house have a dog. The dog in Chinese astrology is a trusted and loved creature.

Chink, Singapore,

Nobody says dogs are clean (though their spit is actually less deadly than human spit, containing fewer germs - yes really!). They say dogs are loyal, kind, lovable, good for health (immune boost/exercise), good for kids (to teach responsibility) and the best burglar alarm money can buy.

Lizzie, London,

Learn our language and history, pay tax, love Queen and country - you'll still never be fully accepted if you don't like dogs.

Most Brits (and Americans - eg Hollywood heroes always like dogs, unrepentant villains never) agree that if you don't like dogs you simply have a deficiency in your soul.

Lizzie, London,