:salam2:,
There's truth to both sides here. Not being allowed to have dogs as pets (barring certain conditions) is religious. However, the ridiculous fear and disgust that accompanies a person when they see a dog or hear about one is very much cultural.
I'll give an example. In Pakistan, there are alot of superstitions related to dogs being filthy and dirty creatures. These superstitions were created in order to keep people away from dogs, since they're not permitted in Islam. However, as time went on, people forgot about the part where dogs simply are not allowed to be kept as pets (again barring certain conditions) and remembered the cultural superstitions, even more ignorant of why they originated in the first place. This led to unnecessary feelings of hatred and disgust. Plus these superstitions are often told to children and that's why there are many Pakistani children that scream bloody murder at the sight of a dog.
Unfortunately, to my parents' dismay I was not one of them
.
Nevertheless, these people take their hatred and disgust way too far. Yes we're not allowed to keep dogs as pets most of the time. But there's no reason to treat them like the plague as a result.
I love dogs just as much as the next person but my religion SO comes first. Just because a ruling isn't exactly my cup of tea doesn't mean I'm going to go onto denial about the whole thing, stick my head in the sand and alter Allah's Perfect Deen to fit my preferences.