By Andreas Moser
Angela Merkel is afraid. The most “natural” explanation for fear is the presence of an actual danger. For example, being bitten or attacked by a wild animal, shot by a killer, falling while mountain climbing, or forgetting your lines while reciting on stage in front of an audience.
Zoophobias, however, are fears that do not solely arise from the presence of dangerous animals. They manifest regardless of whether wild animals are locked in zoos, dogs are kept on the leash or cats roam freely around the house when you visit their humans. A zooanthropologist knows very well that the history of civilization would have been different if our ancestors had not been scared of species such as mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, bears and wolves.
Angela Merkel is scared of dogs – cynophobia. For her, this fear is neither imaginary nor an expression of social reserve. It stems from a very real experience: she was once bitten by a dog. We know that Merkel and her family lived under Russian influence in former East Germany. Like Merkel, Putin’s cute dog might also know what it means to “be kept” by Russians.
Without jumping to conclusions, we notice that Angela Merkel shares her fear of dogs with Michael Jackson. Yet, despite his fear of mice, someone like Walt Disney could create the world’s most famous movie mouse, Mickey. However, it’s not my intention here to describe how Adolf Hitler curbed his cat phobia.
Personally, I struggle to understand why some people would like to keep fighting dogs, admire their fighting abilities and biting strength, and walk them in city parks. Nevertheless, it is absurd to assume that Putin acted in bad faith when he allowed his Labrador to roam freely during Merkel’s visit. This would only seem plausible to people who are either scared of dogs or lack knowledge about them. In fact, since in common parlance Labradors are considered “social” and “friendly” dogs, to cater to prejudices Putin should have welcomed Merkel with a German shepherd. Would that have scared her more?
In her memoirs, Merkel recalls having told Putin about her cynophobia a year before their meeting. How could someone like Putin have forgotten? Perhaps it was similar to when I, while skiing down a black slope, shouted at my little sister: “Come on, don’t be scared! It’s fun!”. Was Putin just overjoyed, caught up in the moment, or exhibiting machismo?
When in 2007 Putin hosted Merkel after Sochi had been chosen to host the 2014 Olympic Games, he was in a good mood, surrounded by friends. He probably simply wanted to share with others his joy of feeling at home – which included the joy of being with his dog. Did Putin simply forget, downplay, or intentionally disregard Merkel’s cynophobia? We will never know for certain. However, he has recently apologized formally to the former Chancellor. Merkel, for her part, never said anything at the time.
Putin speaks fluent German and Merkel fluent Russian. Could a dog have been the cause for the tension between the two political leaders? And could this incident have contributed to the strain between the two nations? Possibly. This is a strategic victory only for those who have no interest in peace between Germany and Russia. To treat cynophobia, experts recommend a progressive and gradual habituation through controlled encounters with dogs, supported by a psychotherapist or a dog trainer. This is because dog fear is often persistent, irrational and exaggerated. Here’s an urgent call to action for dog trainers: leverage your expertise and conduct controlled “encounters” — not just between people and dogs, but also between hostile political factions. The world could benefit from zooanthropology to also foster political reconciliation, sooner rather than later.
