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

You forgot husband right at the bottom.

Then take it up with the venue owners. Dog owners are simply existing in spaces that welcomes them. The entitlement it takes to demand that dog owners “stay away” from dog-friendly places because you don’t want them there is absolutely mind-blowing. If a venue says “dogs welcome”, then you should respect that.

It’s wild that people think they have the right to demand some backhanded deal with dog owners, telling them to stay away from dog-friendly places without the venue owners knowledge.

There’s also no consideration about what the venue owners want or the potential economic impact of excluding them or those who want to see some dogs. Nope it’s all about your wants, your needs, your allergies and your personal vendetta against furry pups.

Some dog owners on here even said they’d happily share and sit in a dog-designated area while you clutch your pearls in a no-dog zone. But that’s not good enough. You want the entire place purged for your comfort. So let’s be honest, who’s the truly selfish ones here?

And while we’re at it, some people seem to think these Mumsnet polls actually carry weight in the real world. In reality, business owners care about foot traffic and money, not a group chat of people moaning about dogs.

It's really simple.

1. Kid you think will look after you in your old age.
2. Kid you love the most
3. Other kids that belong to you
4. Kids that belong to other people
5. Animal that you love
6. Animals you don't love
7. Inanimate objects.

😁

And I cling to the hope that the same is true for the MN whingers.

For those saying “Oh this again”, yes this again, because a lot of us are heartily sick of dogs and their selfish owners.
I just cling to the hope that in another 5-10 years the bulk of the lockdown mutts will be starting to move to the great kennel in the sky.

Not always. I know two people with young dogs, different breeds, who wheel their dogs round because they don't want them to get tired.

Exactly!

to be fair, they are usually in prams because they are elderly and can't do the full
walk. They are doing no harm and don't run up to people who don't want them near them or any other behaviour that has been mentioned on here.

On the hypothetical “dog or child?” death rescue situation, the park near me is strictly on-lead only. It also has a high, old wall and some arched exits directly onto a road. I was walking on the pavement opposite, toddler in hand, when a dog off-lead comes escaping from the archway sprinting up the road – causing one car to swerve and another emergency stop. Woman finally emerges chasing her dog and, once she’s caught him and berated the drivers for not getting out to wrangle HER dog, turned on ME: “Why didn’t you catch him?! He could have been killed!” Carried on bellowing at me over her shoulder as she carried it away.

The fact I had a toddler to handle seemed to escape her: was I supposed to hope he’d stay put alone on the pavement while I ran out into traffic? Or would she have preferred I drag him into traffic with me to rescue her dog?

Anyway, outcome: thankfully no drivers or pedestrians hurt, dog unhurt as a bonus, but I would 100% have stood by and watched it get run over in favour of looking after my kid. Still astonishes me that she expected otherwise! (Not to mention: follow the bloody rules, put your dog on a lead. Especially in a park that opens directly onto traffic, double especially if it’s got such shit recall.)

I’m trying to figure out if there’s a hierarchy in these hypothetical situations. Do one’s own kids trump a stranger’s kid? Younger trump older? Do teens still count? Would your 18 year old nephew get saved before an unknown toddler or the other way round?

@PerimenopausalWildEyedHarridan Sorry I’d save my dog, possibly attempt both acts of bravery in this very strange scenario you’ve created where it’s a random kid or my or in fact any animal or person- I’ll get em
all. 🙄 Unless the fumes get me.

This. It’s years since I had a dog but my cat definitely meant more to me than someone I don’t know. To be honest he meant more to me than some people I do know - I’d have absolutely stepped over my BIL to rescue my cat! When we were warned we might have to evacuate our street because of flooding I didn’t worry about anyone else, I made sure I had the cat's belongings in my car! The neighbours could fend for themselves, he couldn’t.

ETA in the event of a fire I wouldn’t have been watching anyone die, I’d have been getting out with my cat or dog.

Of course I would save my dog. What a ridiculous question! Why is your child my responsibility? How many random kids have you saved? “Watching a child die?” Only someone unhinged could think that.🙄

This isn’t even about dog behaviour IMO. It’s about there being too many dogs in cafes and pubs. A couple of times recently, it’s been hard to get back to my table after placing a food order in a pub, because of dogs lying on the floor in the gangway making it difficult to move around.

The dogs weren’t behaving badly, they were just in the way.

Which proves my point. People ask these things so they can attack other people with comments like "unhinged" over something that has not even happened, and will never happen.

Because people use this hypothetical question to single out who they deem as "psychopaths" and people who clearly value any dog over all kids.
It is never asked in good faith.

My dog is my family and is worth more to me than any person I do not know.

Like I said ... unhinged.

If you’re going to double down on this being a reasonable question then I wouldn’t be watching anything happen to the kid, me and my dog would be busy getting as far away as possible from the danger.

Why did you feel the need to respond the way you did in the first place then if hypothetical situations are bullshit? Or is it only when someone points out how fucking unhinged that is that they suddenly become bullshit.

Why are we discussing stupid hypothetical scenarios? Who knows what anyone would do? I do prefer my dog to people I haven’t met though and I don’t think that’s odd.

There is no situation where this would happen. None. If a child is not with its parents, then why is it assumed I would even know it existed.

These hypothetical situations are bullshit., and the people who use them are even worse. Look after your own damn kids and you would not even be thinking about it.

even the nicest most lovable dog is less important than the most difficult child!

That is your personal opinion. @Whoarethoseguys

In a situation where you and only you could save a random child or your dog, you would save your dog and watch a child die?

I would save my dog. The parents should save their child.