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

This is the piece of the puzzle so many dog owners now just seem to be missing. Their dog doesn’t belong (and very likely doesn’t enjoy) being out with them in high traffic, urban spaces.
As much as some dog owners now perhaps feel entitled to take their dogs wherever they go, I think there’s also an element (especially with younger owners) of not wanting their pet to cramp their preferred lifestyle. Most good dog owners I have known accept they have to curtail their social plans because they need to get home to walk the dog and can’t leave it alone too long. Some owners now aren’t prepared to sacrifice their weekend shopping and long lunch out to care for their pets, so they drag them along too.

It’s tedious isn’t it. But surprisingly useful for reinforcing my belief that I really do prefer dogs to humans, especially ones who describe women as harridans.

A man who lives locally got aggressive with ME the other day because I crossed the road with my small dog, on lead, when he was walking along with two bull terrier type things, unleashed.

I would always cross over or put a bit of space between this breed of dogs (or any big dog for that matter) and my own. Christ even if they were all on leads a fight can happen very quickly, I've witnessed horrendous dog attacks in the street, with powerless owners with dogs that are too strong to pull off.

The irony of an angry man shouting at you that his dogs 'wuddent fucking harm you'...

That is because dog owners really piss off a lot of people.

That’s if the owners obey the signs…

It’s rare to find a beach near me that doesn’t have at least one dog on it, even when they aren’t meant to be there. Nobody official to enforce it, and the type of owner who thinks the rule doesn’t apply to them is hardly likely to be receptive to being told to take their dog somewhere else,

And doesn’t that tell you that some of us are really fed up of them being allowed absolutely everywhere?

I’m no dog hater, I like them a lot, but not in every single public place (virtually). And especially not where food is being served.

(sits back and awaits inevitable volley of oh-so-edgy ‘stay home then’ type responses from the dog-obsessed 🙄)

Honestly I'm a peri-menopausal wild eyed harridan, and I was not offended by that. It's such a valid description.

They should do and likewise people should clamp down on anyone who self declares their dog to be an assistance dog or an emotional support dog or what ever made up title they have bestowed on the animal. It only causes trouble to people who genuine assistance dogs.

Wouldn't matter if I agreed with you or not,
Peri-menopausal wild eyed harridan has lost you the argument.

Well a lot of beaches will be closed to dogs and their owners from next month. Its the usual majority now of dog owners who are just irresponsible and think they're above everyone else.

I agree with you. The fact that dogs (mostly very badly trained) are now everywhere is horrible. It also makes my life very difficult at times because I am allergic to the stinky beasts.

Never been and given your description of the type of people who live there, probably won’t bother. I mean people just telling others to “Fuck off” calling people “ “emotionally stunted doggo nutters” would not be the sort of place I’d like to live (would like all the dog friendly places though)

Well, given the most places are available to assistance dogs, I think it's only fair that some spaces are left for those who are allergic to dogs anyway - which is totally unrelated to how well behaved assistance dogs are.

Couldn’t agree more! I love our spaniel to pieces and our long country walks together are the best part of the day. But do I want to go for coffee and a little shopping with him? Absolutely fucking not, because he’s a dog and he doesn’t belong in those kind of places.

I take my dog to dog friendly pubs but always remember that the 'friendly' means exactly that and should be returned in kind meaning I make sure my dog behaves. It is a shame that some owners see it as an opportunity to take the piss.

Same. "Peri-menopausal wild eyed harridan"? WTF?

Exactly but not everyone agrees. On one of the many other dog posts someone said they have a holiday let and request no assistance dogs. Hopefully they'll get pulled up on it one day.

As a dog owner, I agree.

These idiots give us all a bad name.

The people across the road from me absolutely should not have their dog. Bloody thing is out there barking at all hours and they do nothing to stop it. A few years ago the whole street would have complained. Now neighbours stop and speak to them on the street at 6am, cooing as it barks is head off, prolonging the time they are stood outside my house with their little yapping bastard making enough noise to wake the dead.

And I LIKE dogs!!

Dog owners who insist on bringing dogs everywhere even if it upsets people remind me so much of the Transwomen who invade women's spaces. Just to be awkward and be validated.

We need a Supreme Court ruling that dogs are NOT humans. 😉

Agree. I used to have an English Bull Terrier and she used to behave as if the only thing that existed was her and me in that wherever she went, she would trot in a straight line and then back and wouldn't interact with anything or anyone. I could take her anywhere but other dogs I have had want to sniff other people and dogs and just generally be dogs and so I used to take them where I knew they would not be annoying to others or at a time of day there would be no other people but the same type as me.

At no point did I call them fur babies or consider myself a fur parent and they never wore clothes unless it was bitter cold and then it was a dog coat not ridiculous friggin clothes.

I've worked with dogs and owned them all my life and I agree, pet ownership is so skewed with people thinking their dogs are small humans or who have strange expectations, it's crazy.

I wouldn't want dog ownership to cease as otherwise no dead bodies would ever be found but I feel that 80% of dogs are not having their needs met by a long long way as people don't understand them.

Same

Where on earth do you live? I live on the coast, lots and lots of dogs, on our estate I’d think about 80/85% of households have a dog. Lots of dogs everywhere you go. Holiday makers with dogs. I’ve never seen anyone chased by a dog, knocked over by a dog, seen dogs hounding other peoples tables, seen any dog owner tell anyone to “fuck off” if they don’t like dogs. The worst I’ve seen is an excited spaniel occasionally jump up about which the owner is mortified.

If what you say is true (highly unlikely) the issue is not the dogs it’s just that you seem to be living amongst some godawful, dregs of society people who happen to own a dog. You might be better focusing your attention to moving to a better area where random strangers don’t tell you to “fuck off” .

YANBU at all!!!

I love dogs that are below knee height, they don’t really bother me at all, but anything bigger than that can be a total PITA!

The country had gone mad with its obsession over dogs! They’re always in the way and in your personal space and most owners don’t care. Some owners seem to think that because they love their dog then surely everyone else will.

When big dogs start harassing me I will usually be internally screaming “Get your annoying dog out of my way!!!!!”

I haven’t been rude enough yet to say it out loud but I’m sure the day is coming…..

The word “Cult” describes it very well!

Completely agree with what @WibbleyPie. says. I'm a dog lover and try to be considerate to others (my large breed dogs only go off lead in an enclosed dog field, which we pay to use). We don't take our dogs into cafes, shops and so on and I can't understand why some people take their (non service dogs) into the city centre. Most bafflingly, last year I saw someone with a dog at a music festival - again, seemingly not a service dog. I mean why would you do that to an animal? What enjoyment do they get from being in a crowd, subjected to all that noise? I think dogs are wonderful, but they aren't people. Taking them everywhere just because you can isn't necessarily in their interests. Many humans are selfish and prioritise what they want above what the dog needs, or indeed the needs of other people. Just because I love my dogs doesn't mean I think everyone else will!