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Original poster

AIBU to think dog owners have low hygiene standards.

291 replies

ThisQuirkyPeachHare · 19/09/2024 20:46

I'm not a pet owner, although have had pets in my childhood.

Many of my friends and family members have dogs... And I'm just always so surprised to see how their hygiene standards change when they get a pet....
No dogs on the sofa/bed... But how is it suddenly acceptable?
Dogs around the table and sniffing around food that's low eg coffee table.
And then the owners stroking the pets and letting it sniff/lick hands and then eating without washing first??
My sister in law is awful for it... Her and her children are all petting the dog while eating and then taking more food from the plates which are for everyone. In-between this, the dogs led licking it's nethers before coming back for another sniff around the food 🤢
I can't be the only person to think this is disgusting? 😂🤦🏾‍♀️

OP posts:
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AngelicKaty · 20/09/2024 23:44

ThisQuirkyPeachHare · 19/09/2024 21:03

I'm not bashing dogs... They're little cuties. It's the owners I have issues with 😂
Disclaimer... As someone kindly pointed out, obviously not all dog owners...

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The hygiene differences between dog owners and non-owners are as varied as there are people and people who care about hygiene don't suddenly stop caring because they get a dog. We have a cupboard of towels next to the back door and when our Westie comes in from outside, stepping on to the Turtle mat, we're ready and waiting to wipe his paws and underbelly (his tummy's low enough to the ground and his fur thick enough to get wet on grotty days) before he's allowed into the rest of the house. I have a furry, washable throw on the main sofa, so he can sit with us if he wants to, but which I ensure is freshly washed before visitors arrive (he can't get up on the sofa without us picking him up, so he can't "contaminate" it). I vacuum our living room carpet at least three times a day and wash all the hard floors daily. I am OBSESSED with ensuring my home never smells of "dog" and friends assure me it doesn't (I even take him in the shower with me once a month to shampoo him and keep him fresh). From personal experience, I would say I'm at least as hygienic about my home as my non-pet owning friends - and more so in some cases! If we have friends round for food and he begs at the table he gets a firm NO and usually settles at our feet - on the rare occasions he doesn't, he gets put in another room. And if I give him a treat and his mouth makes contact with my fingers I wash my hands.
Maybe you just need to choose more hygienic friends?

AngelicKaty · 20/09/2024 23:20

Chocolatecookiesandtea · 19/09/2024 21:04

On one thread I read how there are apparently sometimes dirtier people in cafes than dogs but then I feel like it’s unlikely smelly old Joe or whoever has been rolling in fox poo recently and even less likely he will be sitting with no pants on in the cafe and sniffing and licking food !

The "sitting with no pants on" part of your post made me cry with laughter, but I have to tell you, in 16.5 years my Westie only rolled in fox poo once (when he was a young puppy) - I don't think he liked it either!😂

AngelicKaty · 20/09/2024 23:15

ThisQuirkyPeachHare · 19/09/2024 20:46

I'm not a pet owner, although have had pets in my childhood.

Many of my friends and family members have dogs... And I'm just always so surprised to see how their hygiene standards change when they get a pet....
No dogs on the sofa/bed... But how is it suddenly acceptable?
Dogs around the table and sniffing around food that's low eg coffee table.
And then the owners stroking the pets and letting it sniff/lick hands and then eating without washing first??
My sister in law is awful for it... Her and her children are all petting the dog while eating and then taking more food from the plates which are for everyone. In-between this, the dogs led licking it's nethers before coming back for another sniff around the food 🤢
I can't be the only person to think this is disgusting? 😂🤦🏾‍♀️

Yeah, that's right, ALL dog owners have low hygiene standards. And ALL people who don't own pets are prissy, cold individuals who lack compassion and soul. Do you see how bigotry works? Sigh.

Original poster
ThisQuirkyPeachHare · 20/09/2024 23:07

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Ah whatever... I was genuinely just "thinking out loud"... If you think I'm a troll, fine, whatever you say 👍.

I never expected so many replies actually... And I'm not responsible for them or people's wildly varying opinions on the matter...
Interestingly, the votes are 50/50! Maybe 50% trolling dog avoiders and 50% dog snoggers 😂

OP posts:
Blondiney · 20/09/2024 22:25

Waitingfordoggo · 20/09/2024 21:33

I hear you @Blondiney.

Here’s my revolting, stinking, unhygienic mutt, who has my whole heart.

Ahhh, gorgeous 🥰 Not a forrin’ is it? 😉

TheFlis · 20/09/2024 21:37

I have never been ill as a result of contact with my dog. On the other hand, I can’t seem to spend 5 minutes with my young nieces and nephews without catching some kind of lurgy.

Waitingfordoggo · 20/09/2024 21:33

I hear you @Blondiney.

Here’s my revolting, stinking, unhygienic mutt, who has my whole heart.

AIBU to think dog owners have low hygiene standards.
Blondiney · 20/09/2024 21:30

Waitingfordoggo · 20/09/2024 21:29

Oh @Blondiney, they are all beautiful 😍

They’re worth every stray hair and muddy paw print 😁

Waitingfordoggo · 20/09/2024 21:29

Oh @Blondiney, they are all beautiful 😍

HopefulllHolly · 20/09/2024 19:33

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/09/2024 19:23

‘Psychopaths’ is somewhat extreme!

Though having said that, I can never warm to anyone who tells me they actively dislike dogs. To me it seems that something’s missing - they will never be more than acquaintances. Which I dare say suits them fine, too.

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It was hyperbolic, obviously I don’t mean they are actual psychopaths (my comment was meant in jest but people have lost their funny bone on here a little!) - but there is a common saying to never trust people who don’t like dogs…so like you, I avoid them. My dog is likely better company anyway 😌

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/09/2024 19:23

HopefulllHolly · 20/09/2024 09:42

Those with pets (particularly dogs and cats) live longer, have stronger immune systems and are happier. And to be honest - you don’t know love fully until you’ve had a dog love you. Wouldn’t trade it for the world! Frankly I find people who don’t like animals psychopaths. 😌

‘Psychopaths’ is somewhat extreme!

Though having said that, I can never warm to anyone who tells me they actively dislike dogs. To me it seems that something’s missing - they will never be more than acquaintances. Which I dare say suits them fine, too.

Blondiney · 20/09/2024 18:38

Prepare to clutch your pearls…I have 3 foul beasts!

AIBU to think dog owners have low hygiene standards.
Deliiciousllydifffident · 20/09/2024 17:53

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wateringcanface · 20/09/2024 17:46

I let my grubby dog slobber all over me and get up all on my furniture. I feel healthy and clean enough, life is too short to freak out at the thought of muddy paws or dog germs

Original poster
ThisQuirkyPeachHare · 20/09/2024 17:44

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Eh? Troll? You sound rattled...
Did you read my starting post? I'm not talking about dogs and whether they're clean, dirty, disgusting... Other people have said that 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 20/09/2024 17:41

When you've been around MN long enough, and seen enough of these threads, the 'all of x group do x/have x/think x' generalising goading hatey threads...

Starts to feel a bit school-yard-ish really.

Small child: 'You've got a dog, your house smells like pooh, ner ner ner'

Dog owners: 'So what, we love our dog, considerably more than we care about your opinion. Ner ner ner'.

PresidentBarklett · 20/09/2024 16:57

WhatInFreshHell · 20/09/2024 13:34

Christ, that's absolutely disgusting.

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Fair.

Allfur · 20/09/2024 14:22

Dont children brought up in homes with dogs have better immune systems?

aliceinanwonderland · 20/09/2024 14:15

ellebelli · 20/09/2024 08:48

Here's my two! One knows its place...the other is a spaniel...be prepared to be disgusted!

Your dogs are adorable ( and lovely kitchen too!) but if that spaniel sat down, I'd be thinking that it might have traces of poo on its bottom. Same applies to cats and I love my cat.

Deliiciousllydifffident · 20/09/2024 13:59

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WhatInFreshHell · 20/09/2024 13:34

PresidentBarklett · 19/09/2024 21:40

Tbf, my dog literally shoves her tongue in my mouth and I genuinely love it. I think its a love thing. I don't enjoy being linked by other dogs, but I swear that to me her breath smells like perfume, rather than what I logically know is more like rancid tuna. Can't be explained.

Christ, that's absolutely disgusting.

Childfreecatlady · 20/09/2024 13:24

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 20/09/2024 13:01

Oh come now there’s another thread where dog owners are bitching (ha ha) about each other’s breeds and having a sort of aryan master race hissy fit about pedigrees and “poos” and “doodles”. It’s surreal first world problem bollocks.

Dog haters are above all that. We hate them all equally.

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I question what kind of person actually hates dogs (not having a dog but actually hating them), I imagine it would have to be a really horrible one.

Trump doesn't like dogs, enough said.

Gogosmarty · 20/09/2024 13:23

Ablondiebutagoody · 19/09/2024 20:59

An ex of mine had dogs. I would just want a chilled night, cook together, some chicken maybe some sex.......you know, see what happens. But there's dogs crashing around and hair and slobber and he's touching them. Revolting.

ah yes, 'some chicken' the height of sophistication... bloody dogs, ruining chicken and sex!

Childfreecatlady · 20/09/2024 13:21

ThisQuirkyPeachHare · 20/09/2024 12:14

I love dogs actually, they're adorable. 🐶
I completely understand why people would want to have one...

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Yeah, just look at that little face! Can't imagine life without her.

AIBU to think dog owners have low hygiene standards.
Prescottdanni123 · 20/09/2024 13:12

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 20/09/2024 13:01

Oh come now there’s another thread where dog owners are bitching (ha ha) about each other’s breeds and having a sort of aryan master race hissy fit about pedigrees and “poos” and “doodles”. It’s surreal first world problem bollocks.

Dog haters are above all that. We hate them all equally.

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I never said that there weren't bitchy dog owners out there - just that when it comes to the hygiene issues surrounding dogs, dog haters are far more likely to start a thread about it than someone who likes dogs.