Per owners - do you feel offended if people just don't like your pet?

[Olivo]

I really don't like cats or dogs. No issue with them being around, just don't want them coming up and rubbing/licking me. Not long back from a pub beer garden where a small dog was off its lead, and wandered around, licking and sniffing people. I watched it as it approached me and moved my legs away from it. Its owner told me not to worry, it was a friendly,calm dog. The point was, I didn't want it near me. I said, no problem, I just don't like dogs. The look I got could have shot me down! I Laos have children who are afraid of dogs, but many people think that their pet is not a problem.

How would you feel as a pet owner? Do you understand d that some people don't like them? Is there a better way for me to react?

I have a cat. She mostly goes out if there's visitors. If she stayed in she would go upstairs.

I don't much like dogs sniffing/jumping up/licking me when I am out though.

Nope. Nobody likes my cat, he's a bastard. An absolute arsehole.
I love him though. And that's all that matters.
He's sat on the floor now wondering which part of me to bite next...... git.

The dog owner was out of order. It’s perfectly fine not to want a dog sniffing around you.

I have a dog and two cats - if someone dislikes dogs or cats generally it wouldn't bother me at all. If someone expressed a dislike for one of my animals as an individual, then I admit I would feel hurt.

You are perfectly entitled not to like dogs and to say so - any reasonable pet owner knows that some people will have a dislike or phobia of their chosen species. However, if you want to be gentler, you could try saying 'I don't feel comfortable around dogs' which is a slightly softer message.

I always offer to shut the animals away if we have visitors, although they mostly hide themselves, anyway.

Ha, ha. People are weird about their pets. When people don't like my pets I get offended, like they don't like me. For about a second, knee jerk reaction. It's so strange. Then I cop on and realise I'm being a complete idiot. Many of my very good friends dislike my pets. Especially my jerk of a cat (I love him). Don't worry about it!

Good choice of words, screaming, thank you, I will remember them.

I try to be open minded, as I know to many, their pets are their babies.

I don't love dogs so not delighted when I visit my friend and dog wants to sit on my lap, but it is their beloved pet so I politely put up with it as it's the dogs home. I would not be happy in the situation you described though.

My friend is scared of cats, so I put my cats out when she visited but everyone else had to accept them in my house. Then I found out this friend could tolerate a different cat so I didn't bother making allowances any more. (I would for a genuine fear though)

Claire tree, my children would love you for that! ( and me too!)

Fair enough LML. I am not afraid, but one of my children is, of cats and dogs. I am lucky that friends know and respect that.

I too lock my dog in another room if someone I know doesnt like him is visiting. I have no problen with this.

I secretly judge anyone who doesn't like my dog! But I wouldnt let her wander round bothering people.

I don't mind stroking a dog if it sits nicely and goes away when I've had enough after a few minutes but we have friends whose previous dog spent all evening trying to shag my arm while they sat simpering and whose latest dog chewed up an expensive sunglasses case I put well out of the way. Apparently it was my fault for leaving it where it could reach it. Thanks, Dh .

Dogs snorking at me and slavering over me with tongues I know exactly where have been don't appeal.