History Main / ScareTheDog

Contrast with GlamourFailure, when the scary one is supernatural in some way, and EvilDetectingDog, which covers the normal ability of dogs to tell whether someone is nice or not. Also compare with AnimalReactionShot. Often used together with AnimalsHateHim.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'' has an example of a dog being scared by ''another dog'': Snowy, a tiny Wire Fox Terrier, makes a ferocious Rottweiler twice his size whimper and roll over on its back by merely barking at it. A minute later, the Rottweiler is seen [[BigFriendlyDog playing with Snowy]].

It may be that the character is [[TheBigGuy big]], or [[JerkAss mean]], or [[{{Villains}} evil]], or [[TheGrotesque scary-looking]], or simply badass. It may be any combination of those qualities. It doesn't even have to be a person, although it usually is. It ''cannot'' be a case of a supernatural evil leaking through a failed shield or glamour, though; that's GlamourFailure. This trope isn't limited to dogs, either. The critter that backs down may be any critter, as long as it's established it's a badass in its own right.

* In ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'', one of the minor parasites masquerading as a human manages to scare off a rampaging LION that had escaped from the zoo with his presence alone. Said lion had already killed several people. Unfortunately, while initially frightened at first, the lion attacks the parasite anyway both because it could not conceive being intimidated by a human, and because it ignored its stunted survival instincts. It gets its head turned into a pile of blood pudding for its efforts.

* While the trailer for ''Film/TheWaterHorse'' has the titular giant sea monster only scaring off a bulldog, The film on the other hand, takes a darker turn as the sea monster, already turned violent and wild by the constant threats on its life, ominously rises in front of the barking dog and prepares ready to kill it before cutting into another scene. The dog isn't seen anywhere after that.

* In ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'', the dog barks at the ''TyrannosaurusRex'', which promptly turns around. Dog hides and whimpers loudly. Then it gets eaten. Dog house and all.

* ''Film/Rampage2018'': When the three giant monsters attack the city of Chicago, a dog barks at [[CanisMajor Ralph the Wolf]], who makes a loud roars in retaliation, causing the dog to run away.

Some characters are frightening enough to scare some people. Some characters are frightening enough to scare most people. Some characters, though, are frightening enough that they can reduce even [[AngryGuardDog fierce or aggressive guard dogs]] to whimpering, cowering puppies, just by looking at them, or even just by ''being there''.

* In the anime version of ''Manga/AliceAcademy'', The FriendToAllLivingThings Ruka Nogi's favorite rabbit ran away from him when he got {{Brainwashed}}.

* A variation in ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatiansTheSeries'', where Cadpig (who is the runt of the litter) was able to emotionally manipulate a group of vicious guard dogs by cruelly pointing out their flaws and weaknesses until they became a whimpering pile with self-esteem issues. {{Beware The Nice Ones}} indeed.

** ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'': Horses are deathly afraid of Mr. Nutt [[spoiler:the [[TokenHeroicOrc Orc]]]]. Although he can stop them from panicking and compel their obedience with the Horseman's Word, they aren't any less scared, as the footnotes from ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'' make clear.

* In ''Film/TheFellowshipOfTheRing'', the Ringwraith asks the first hobbit it sees where to find Baggins. Said hobbit's dog barks, then whimpers and hides inside the house.

* This is how Kenshiro became the successor of Hokuto Shinken in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', his icy DeathGlare being enough to do this to a tiger that confronted him and Raoh.

* A variation in the {{Animated Series}} of Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians, where Cadpig (who is the runt of the litter) was able to emotionally manipulate a group of vicious guard dogs by cruelly pointing out their flaws and weaknesses until they became a whimpering pile with self-esteem issues. {{Beware The Nice Ones}} indeed.

Contrast with GlamourFailure, when the scary one is supernatural in some way, and EvilDetectingDog, which covers the normal ability of dogs to tell whether some one is nice or not. Also compare with AnimalReactionShot. Often used together with AnimalsHateHim.

* ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa2'': Peko Pekoyama frightens animals with her very presence. Peko herself just wants to pet them, she's a nice girl who wouldn't hurt a fly [[spoiler:unless it dared to threaten her master Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu.]]

** ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'': Horses are deathly afraid of Mr. Nutt [[spoiler:the [[TokenHeroicOrc Orc]]. Although he can stop them from panicking and compel their obedience with the Horseman's Word, they aren't any less scared, as the footnotes from ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'' make clear.

* Inverted in ''[[Literature/{{Discworld}} Going Postal]]'': Moist Von Lipwig is able to [[spoiler: control some dogs as he originates from the same country as them, and thus knows the commands to give them. ''Or so he thinks...'' It turns out the dogs weren't Lipwigzers. [[MagicFeather The power was in Moist the whole time!]]]]

** Horses are deathly afraid of Mr. Nutt, from ''Unseen Academicals'', although he can stop them from panicking and compel their obedience with the Horseman's Word. They aren't any less scared, though, as the footnotes from ''Lords and Ladies'' make clear.

* The Nazgûl from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' frighten Farmer Maggot's large, fierce guard dogs.

* Vigilante serial killer Series/{{Dexter}} tends to terrify animals of all types.

* [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} In Leman Russ']] backstory it's said that the disguised Emperor caused one of Leman's wolves to cower in fear, while the other was too stupid to do so.

--> '''Joker''': [[YouGotSpunk You've got moxie!]] *ominous organ music with a {{Beat}}* I feed moxie to the hyenas.
--> ''*Joker whistles as a pair of vicious, snarling hyenas leap out and prepare to maul Harleen*''
--> ''*Harleen steps back a bit in fear, then frowns...and then...*''
--> '''Harleen''': SIT!!!!
--> ''*The two hyenas do just that*''
--> '''Joker''': ...You're ''good''.

* There's an official ''Franchise/MetalGear'' {{Novelization}} where Snake, at one point, covers himself in "panther musk" and roars at a group of guard dogs to scare them away.

--> '''Harleen''': [[ScareTheDog SIT!!!!]]