To dare to think that the Cult of Dog has gone too far?

YANBU, do you live in Horsham by any chance, you could be describing my home town.

I like animals as a rule but I do think the fawning over dogs and the stupid tribalism that exists with some people between dogs and cats is ridiculous, but that is a long way from being the most irritating thing. The most annoying things around my area are dog owners that have zero situational awareness. They stop for a chat in the perfect position to block two or three footpaths simultaneously, in some cases fawning over each others dogs in the middle of the road, and people who let their dogs off the lead to go charging around but have no voice control over them. Dogs have the same effect on some people as mobile phones. My impression is this seems to be worse in SE England. When I visit family in NW England or go hiking in one of the national parks up there, people walking dogs do seem to be a lot more considerate and aware of their surroundings, and the dogs seem to be better trained. Don't get me started on people who put their dog's faeces in a bag then think it is ok to leave the bag on the path or hanging from a tree branch, which is what I came across a couple of times yesterday evening walking around some local woodland. Take it home and bin it you lazy bastards.

I suspect that many of the subset who think dogs are much better than people and who try to cherry-pick the worst examples of human behaviour to justify that, are the same people who regularly engage in antisocial or thoughtless behaviour because they can't be bothered to think, don't want to take responsibility for their behaviour, are constantly dealing with people who are calling them out, and fail to accept that if they think everyone else is the problem, it is them, since they are the only common factor.

Of course, not all dog owners are like this but where I live, there are enough of the thoughtless ones to sour my opinion and mean I am automatically extra vigilent when coming across dogs if I am walking in the countryside.

Emotionally stunted? Lovely. I have had dogs all my life, it’s not a new thing. Our dog is trained, only let off a lead when it’s suitable and we sit outside pubs with her (only because she whines in pubs, cafes and I wouldn’t want to annoy other people) and she doesn’t jump on people, except the ones that come into her house and let her (huge dog lovers). There is a dog hate thread on here literally every day at the moment. We aren’t all bad owners deserving of this vitriol.

But the poll doesn’t indicate a backlash against dogs at all. Plenty of dog owners have agreed with your OP; they will have voted YANBU.

I voted YANBU as well, despite actually liking dogs.

Assistance dogs cannot be banned; it's the equivalent of banning wheelchairs from the premises.

It is against the law to refuse access to a guide dog.

Completely agree! Assistance dogs don’t have magical ability to be hypoallergenic! They also shed/smell/poo.
Totally reasonable to ban all dogs of the owner decides that is what they want for their property.

Yes!!!!!!!!

But it isn't.
Bitch is the name for a female dog. queen is the name for a female cat. Not everything has to be about misogyny.

Still no.

Most sane posters have learned to avoid these type of threads.

OK and if the C word happened to be a technical term for something would it be okay to keep saying that too? I don’t think so.

Bitch is the actual term for a female dog though.

I am sick of it as well OP. People seem to orient their entire lives around dogs as well now. Back when I grew up they had a kennel in the garden and you’d play with them in the evening, now they are treated like children!! I also can’t stand those dog owners who refer to their dogs as “b-tch” and “b-tches” thinking they are so clever using a technical word that is really just disguised misogyny.

No.

We are seeing a handful of dog hating posters who start a new dog hating thread every five minutes.

I think we are seeing a major backlash against dogs. People are rising up in anger and making it clear that they are sick of it and want the nightmare to end.

I cannot stand dogs
Noisy
Smelly
Angry

Reform are clearly missing a trick.

They need to spell out in black and white the inevitable fate of doggos up and down the country unless we vote for them.

Thousands of English girls abused, raped and trafficked up and down the country: no big deal.

Potential doggo ban: English people start sieg heiling.

You couldn’t make it up 😂😂😂

Re dogs and pigeons, I think you mean me.

What you’ve said is completely false.

even though the dog owners you’re moaning about are the ones keeping their lights on
Why does the “pooch pound” argument always ignore that 64% of British households don’t own a dog – and they all spend money too.

Is this a serious question, or are you just upset that reality doesn’t match whatever point you thought you had? 🙃

Someone else tried comparing dogs to pigeons and then pivoted into a lecture about responsibility. It was like watching someone get lost in their own back garden and then blaming dogs for existing. 😂

Dogs are allowed because they’re social, domesticated companions, not livestock, vermin, or 3-ton hippos. If you’re still struggling to understand why rats aren’t welcome then maybe dogs aren’t the problem. You’re better off suggesting to these venue owners that they ban dogs (even though the dog owners you’re moaning about are the ones keeping their lights on). Good luck with that.

Although it's not really dogs in cafes that bug me, it's taking them into clothes and bookshops.

I also wonder if that's why there's often a hideous smell in shops now - it's the cleaning stuff they have to use because they let dogs in.

I just struggle with the hyperbole about people having zero access to dog free spaces, and being stuck indoors because every day out, food place etc is full of dogs

It might not be zero access but it is really restricted. We really do need more spaces to exclude dogs or at least require them to be on short leads.

It would be anti-competitive for cafes and restaurants to carve up the clientele into dog friendly, dog tolerant (eg allowing them in specific areas only) and dog free but I wish they would do it so that there is more choice for everyone and they would all make money - people who don't want to be around dogs spend money too! Same goes for hotels - most hotels allow them now, although I'd hope that they keep them to certain rooms or floors.

I don't think there are many dog-free spaces anymore. I am thinking of my own town which isn't in a holiday area and I can't think of anywhere that specifically bans dogs other than the garden centre I mentioned upthread. Some cafes specifically say they are dog-friendly. but I think the others will let them in. I think Pizza Express might be no dogs, and we have one of those, but I don't know. I just assume because I can't remember ever seeing a dog in there or other branches.

We have an indoor shopping centre which says no dogs other than guide dogs but I saw a couple take their dog in there the other day. It does have security so I guess if they spot them they will escort them out again.

It's certainly way harder to find somewhere that is dog-free than dog-friendly (or at least dog-tolerant).

All spaces should be dog free unless dogs are explicitly permitted.