Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are some dog owners a bit deluded about their dogs?

113 replies

jennylamb1 · 15/12/2024 11:54

Just putting it out there- my mum has dogs, but with a sensible attitude I think- the dog stays downstairs at nights, as a puppy he is being trained, he is treated well but not not like a human being.
Some dog owners though seem to justify their dog's behaviour out of some ill advised need to defend them at all times, even in the face of reality. A previous poster on here had a dog who was biting visitors, but justified it because he was a rescue dog and they were warning bites and hadn't broken the skin. I had to take a detour running on a woodland path yesterday because an aggressive barking dog was stood in my path and the owner just thought they'd tell them off without thinking of putting them on a lead/restraining them. This week at the vet a dog owner with two large dogs leaping up at my nervous cat's cat carrier said that it was OK because they knew cats at home and were fine with them (whilst leaping up at my...).
Are there dog owners and then dog owners?

OP posts:
SuperfluousHen · 15/12/2024 13:37

2 seconds in and already the posts talking about children as if they have somehow some equivalence with pet dogs.
It must be the furbabies syndrome 🤦‍♀️

saltysandysea · 15/12/2024 13:36

The trouble is these 'fur babies' are badly behaved because they are not being treated like dogs. They are not trained sufficiently (if at all), most are bored out of their tiny minds, under exercised which has just produced (at best) a load of just emotionally incontinent manky pests. And the owners just refuse to take responsibility.

There are some responsible dog owners and I can usually spot them a mile off.

SuperfluousHen · 15/12/2024 13:34

MatildaTheCat · 15/12/2024 11:56

Definitely!

I have a dog/ puppy and he stays downstairs locked in the kitchen at night, gets left alone for a few hours at a time and whilst he’s our little prince he’s definitely a dog and has to do as we say.

little prince 🤦‍♀️

MuddyPawsIndoors · 15/12/2024 13:31

Lol this thread is like asking Mumsnet if 'obvious' begins with an 'o' and ends with an 's'.

Superhansrantowindsor · 15/12/2024 13:31

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 15/12/2024 13:16

Of course there is. Most of them in fact. Same as some people are deluded about their children's behaviour.

Oh yes. This with bells on.

Shade17 · 15/12/2024 13:30

SinnerBoy · 15/12/2024 13:18

Goldfish are living creatures!

And probably the most ill treated pets of them all.

Original poster
jennylamb1 · 15/12/2024 13:22

VarneytheVamp · 15/12/2024 13:18

Maybe. My dog is very spoiled and has the run of the house but I’ve also put a huge amount of effort into training her and she’ll do what she’s told if we need her to. I think a lot of people get a dog and then do the bare minimum of training.

I think that's a big part of it. Training is hard work (as I've seen with my mum's puppy) and some people are too lazy to do it and instead just think other people will have to deal with it.

OP posts:
VarneytheVamp · 15/12/2024 13:18

Maybe. My dog is very spoiled and has the run of the house but I’ve also put a huge amount of effort into training her and she’ll do what she’s told if we need her to. I think a lot of people get a dog and then do the bare minimum of training.

SinnerBoy · 15/12/2024 13:18

Goldfish are living creatures!

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 15/12/2024 13:16

Of course there is. Most of them in fact. Same as some people are deluded about their children's behaviour.

AnneLovesGilbert · 15/12/2024 13:01

Most of them.

Hellskitchen24 · 15/12/2024 13:01

I’d say most dog owners are deluded about their dog’s behaviour. It’s only been this swing in trend for the last 15 years I’d say, but far worse in the last 5 years. I have had dogs my entire life but they are treated like dogs; don’t go everywhere with me (I find this bloody weird), don’t go in shops or restaurants, don’t sleep on my sofa, definitely don’t go upstairs, are disciplined, and eat dog food not some fancy home cooked nonsense that costs more than a weekly shop at Waitrose.

I would say the vast majority of dog owners are more suited to owning a goldfish than a living creature. And the fur mom trend of owning designer crosses, “Doodles”, French Bulldogs, and other dogs that don’t look or act like proper dogs only fuel the madness further. And of course nothing is ever the fur mom’s fault, it’s your fault for walking in a public space, it’s your fault the dog is out of control etc. Modern dog owners have put me right off having another after my current girl pops her clogs. Half of them are utterly bonkers.

MatildaTheCat · 15/12/2024 11:56

Definitely!

I have a dog/ puppy and he stays downstairs locked in the kitchen at night, gets left alone for a few hours at a time and whilst he’s our little prince he’s definitely a dog and has to do as we say.