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Original poster

Is it rude not to acknowledge dog?

143 replies

buma · 23/06/2024 10:03

My SIL has a dog. Nice natured but quite big and powerful (not a dangerous breed).

As soon as you go over, he will bound at you and try and jump at you. He's knocked the kids over before and I think could probably knock me over too.

I'm not a dog person, never had one, don't understand the bond etc. I've also got no interest in being jumped on, so I just ignore the dog and don't acknowledge it at all. Might give it a stroke if it sits next to me later on.

MIL has started to make comments when we meet up and I don't give the dog any fuss.

Do you think it's rude of me not to acknowledge? It's basically their baby as they have no kids so perhaps I am being rude? Im worried if I start to give him lots of attention, he will get excited when he sees me and launch himself at me.

OP posts:
Screamingabdabz · 23/06/2024 19:32

TheRiddle · 23/06/2024 17:30

Sorry my answer is going to be shot down but yes I hate it when visitors come to my house and don't say hi to my dog who is super excited to have a visitor. He's only small but yes he does jump sometimes. I know you are entitled not to but if you are visiting someone's house would you ignore their child if it said hi to you? The dog is essentially saying hi to you and you are ignoring it. Dogs are social creatures and love interaction with people. If you are in the park and a dog jumps on you well fair enough to ignore it and be annoyed. However this is a family member who loves their dog so I think you should just give it a fuss and be done with it. It can just be a few seconds. Different if it was a dangerous dog breed.

The fact that ‘dogs are social creatures and love interaction’ is putting the animal’s needs above the visitor. Lots of people do not want your dog jumping on them.

BeachParty · 23/06/2024 19:12

YellowHairband · 23/06/2024 18:33

No, I wouldn't acknowledge a dog. Just like I wouldn't acknowledge a hamster or a goldfish. It's an animal. I don't dislike them, I just have zero interest. I don't even know what "acknowledging" a dog looks like.

Yeah, good point - I don't coo over the goldfish or the hamster, why would I a dog

NC2024xx · 23/06/2024 19:03

You are not being unreasonable, I love my little dog and she's a member of my family but I would totally get that not everyone is a dog or animal person in general and wouldn't be bothered at all if they paid no attention to her!

BeachParty · 23/06/2024 18:55

YANBU
Cannot stand dogs that jump up on me/others, I'd ignore too.
Like fuck would I want to give it a stroke if doing that.

Wills890 · 23/06/2024 18:53

DelythBeautyQueen · 23/06/2024 18:44

Is this a joke?

I wouldn't be making any concessions for a bloody dog that jumped up at me. If its owner can't be arsed to train it properly, they can keep the wretched beast away from me.

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Remember though, you are in the Dog's home. They have more right to be there than you and their owner probably loves them more than you.

Wills890 · 23/06/2024 18:51

Eyesopenwideawake · 23/06/2024 10:16

Quick tip - when the dog jumps up put your knee up so he hits his face on it. Only takes a few unpleasant knocks for them to think twice.

(Recommended by my vet, who learned it from Marley and Me!)

You put your knee up to assert dominance over them, don't actually knee them in the face but it does work.

DelythBeautyQueen · 23/06/2024 18:44

Beautifulbythebay · 23/06/2024 10:16

Maybe you would feel more confident around ddog if you made some effort.. Your life will be a lot easier...

Is this a joke?

I wouldn't be making any concessions for a bloody dog that jumped up at me. If its owner can't be arsed to train it properly, they can keep the wretched beast away from me.

Moonshine5 · 23/06/2024 18:40

Some people just look for drama. Give your sil a wide berth

TiddlyCove · 23/06/2024 18:39

I'd probably be so busy acknowledging the dog that I'd overlook the humans 😃

DedicatedCakeEater · 23/06/2024 18:37

I would tend to greet the dog before the person, which is more rude!

YellowHairband · 23/06/2024 18:33

No, I wouldn't acknowledge a dog. Just like I wouldn't acknowledge a hamster or a goldfish. It's an animal. I don't dislike them, I just have zero interest. I don't even know what "acknowledging" a dog looks like.

Dymaxion · 23/06/2024 18:29

I don't think you are unreasonable and I love dogs ! I do think they could train the dog better, it takes a bit of effort but they shouldn't be letting it jump up at people. My Father used to encourage mine to jump up, even though I was training him not to, until the day the dog slipped and headbutted him in the nuts, my sympathy was with the dog Grin

OchonAgusOchonOh · 23/06/2024 18:25

TheRiddle · 23/06/2024 17:30

Sorry my answer is going to be shot down but yes I hate it when visitors come to my house and don't say hi to my dog who is super excited to have a visitor. He's only small but yes he does jump sometimes. I know you are entitled not to but if you are visiting someone's house would you ignore their child if it said hi to you? The dog is essentially saying hi to you and you are ignoring it. Dogs are social creatures and love interaction with people. If you are in the park and a dog jumps on you well fair enough to ignore it and be annoyed. However this is a family member who loves their dog so I think you should just give it a fuss and be done with it. It can just be a few seconds. Different if it was a dangerous dog breed.

If the dog came up to greet me politely then I would engage enthusiasticly. If a child greeted me politely then I would engage enthusiasticly.

If the dog was jumping and barking I would ignore it. If the child was pushing and yelling I would ignore it.

In both cases I would hope that the owner/parent would at least try to get the dog/child to behave appropriately and would appreciate that I was not rewarding bad behaviour.

Eyesopenwideawake · 23/06/2024 17:53

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 23/06/2024 16:56

Clearly doesn’t have a large dog 😵‍💫🤣^ but seriously-

I agree with pp it’s easier to acknowledge the dog, get it out the way. Then dog is calm.

Of course, nobody should have to do this- dog needs training not to jump up. Is dog a puppy OP? Mine jumped as a pup there’s nothing you can do- apart from consistently train, takes time.

Edited
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No, I have five large dogs and one medium sized dog. All respect the knee 😉

Stressfordays · 23/06/2024 17:50

TheRiddle · 23/06/2024 17:30

Sorry my answer is going to be shot down but yes I hate it when visitors come to my house and don't say hi to my dog who is super excited to have a visitor. He's only small but yes he does jump sometimes. I know you are entitled not to but if you are visiting someone's house would you ignore their child if it said hi to you? The dog is essentially saying hi to you and you are ignoring it. Dogs are social creatures and love interaction with people. If you are in the park and a dog jumps on you well fair enough to ignore it and be annoyed. However this is a family member who loves their dog so I think you should just give it a fuss and be done with it. It can just be a few seconds. Different if it was a dangerous dog breed.

But a dog jumping is bad behaviour and should be ignored? Doesn't matter if he's small, I have a pug and wouldn't let him jump up at people. If they were cruel to the dog then I absolutely would be cross but generally ignoring them, wouldn't bother me. The OP says she gives the dog a quick stroke when it's calm, that's enough really.

wibblywobblywoo · 23/06/2024 17:47

Beautifulbythebay · 23/06/2024 10:16

Maybe you would feel more confident around ddog if you made some effort.. Your life will be a lot easier...

Do you always acquiesce to other people's demands? Maybe if you stopped doing that you'd feel more confident and your life would be more authentically you....

wibblywobblywoo · 23/06/2024 17:40

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 23/06/2024 13:16

Are people crazy? Being rude to a dog isn't a thing.

It's rude to let a dog jump on people however. I wouldn't set foot in that house nor would any children I'm in charge of.

This, I mean, really, OP if MIL says anything again can you just repeat it back to her slowly, "being rude.....to the DOG....???" 🤔😂

And then just keep on ignoring the dog.

Friendofdennis · 23/06/2024 17:37

Turn your back on the dog They will stop jumping up at you This is how they can be trained to calm down

TheRiddle · 23/06/2024 17:30

Sorry my answer is going to be shot down but yes I hate it when visitors come to my house and don't say hi to my dog who is super excited to have a visitor. He's only small but yes he does jump sometimes. I know you are entitled not to but if you are visiting someone's house would you ignore their child if it said hi to you? The dog is essentially saying hi to you and you are ignoring it. Dogs are social creatures and love interaction with people. If you are in the park and a dog jumps on you well fair enough to ignore it and be annoyed. However this is a family member who loves their dog so I think you should just give it a fuss and be done with it. It can just be a few seconds. Different if it was a dangerous dog breed.

Thevelvelletes · 23/06/2024 17:29

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 23/06/2024 13:16

Are people crazy? Being rude to a dog isn't a thing.

It's rude to let a dog jump on people however. I wouldn't set foot in that house nor would any children I'm in charge of.

Exactly it's a dog.
The dog isn't going to be onto dog mates , saying you won't believe what happened to me today.

CrushingOnRubies · 23/06/2024 17:22

My dog trainer actually said to ignore dogs when first arriving and they're all jumpy. Trains them not to be

Yanbu

But maybe a quick stroke or some sort of attention when they are being calm and sitting down as a sort of reward for doing so

Stressfordays · 23/06/2024 17:12

I'm a massive dog lover who has owned many and it is a huge bug bear of mine. It is one of the easiest things to train too. I turn my back on any dogs jumping and praise when they are calm. If they have a large breeds too, they are being very stupid not training them. YANBU to ignore, that's how you stop the behaviour!

Dobest · 23/06/2024 17:02

There is no such thing as being rude to an animal.

Itiswhysofew · 23/06/2024 16:59

Dogs should be stopped from jumping up. I love dogs, but I would not be upset if someone ignored mine. Not everyone appreciates them and that's just life.

JustPleachy · 23/06/2024 16:56

whyhavetheygotsomany · 23/06/2024 15:37

It would be the same as them ignoring your kids

😂😂😂

No. It’s really not.

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