Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Fed up of other peoples dogs complicating my life.

410 replies

CrystalE · 21/05/2021 00:07

I don't mind dogs. We don't have them because of environmental concerns - we have vegetarian pets.

However recently I am fed up as trying to arrange to meet various family members seems to be totally constrained by their dogs . Here are examples:

Lets meet up for a pub lunch - family member A - "are dogs allowed"
Lets go for a country walk - family member B "can it be dog friendly"
How about a beach visit - family member C - "will dog have to be on lead"

I want to see family - not their dogs. Why can't the dogs just stay at home ...............

We love our pets but we don't want to take them everywhere with us.

OP posts:
BagORats · 21/05/2021 00:16

Their dogs are important to them. How often are you meeting up with these people that the occasional dog is such an issue?

Pinchoftums · 21/05/2021 00:17

What the fuck is a vegetarian pet?

LaurieFairyCake · 21/05/2021 00:18

Well pets that eat plants I assume Grin

Bunnies, hamsters, rats etc

Pinchoftums · 21/05/2021 00:18

However I assume you also don't have kids and can understand the need to go somewhere child friendly.

OppsUpsSide · 21/05/2021 00:19

We love our pets but we don't want to take them everywhere with us.

That’s because it’s not a dog.

eepeep · 21/05/2021 00:22

I would find that hard because I'm not really a dog person but I it's like friends with kids. You decide whether the friendship is worth the extra inconvenience and then own it and roll with it.

It's okay if you decide that it's not worth it to you. Just stop meeting up with them.

Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 00:23

Happy to do child friendly - fortunately we are past that stage with all families DCs.

So now we were hoping to look forward grown up outings with no such constraints. But suddenly - no. A whole fresh load of complications introduced by dogs.

OP posts:
Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 00:24

TBH in normal times I would just think - cba. But because of covid we haven;t seen them for a year so would like to see them but cba about their dogs

OP posts:
KaleSlayer · 21/05/2021 00:39

What’s the issue if the dogs join you on a walk though? 🤷🏻‍♀️

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 21/05/2021 00:43

YANBU. I really don't like most dogs, and thanks to lockdown there seems to be an increase of badly trained jumpy puppies about followed by a gormless owner. It's especially annoying when I'm expected to tolerate a friend's badly trained jumpy dog that they think they can impose on me. I don't know why they think because I want to spend time with them their dog is invited too.

Mind you I wouldn't expect much support on MN. On another thread at the moment about dogs in workplace offices, people are telling dog allergy sufferers to 'get over themselves' and have compared people who don't love dogs to Nazis.

WorraLiberty · 21/05/2021 00:47

@CrystalE

TBH in normal times I would just think - cba. But because of covid we haven;t seen them for a year so would like to see them but cba about their dogs
Well you can't want to see them that badly then can you? Confused

P.S what sort of pets do you have that make it noteworthy that you don't take them everywhere?

Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 00:47

Because it imposes a restriction about route - can't go across fields with baby lambs/ big cows, b) might get shot by farmers c) have to carry bags o shit wondering when dog shit bin will appear d) can't go on certain beaches

Without dogs you can just look at map, find a nice walk, look at Trip Advisor, find a nice pub. Bobs your uncle

OP posts:
Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 00:51

We do want to see them - not their dogs.

We have guinea pigs - we love them and they enhance our lives but we don't need them with us every waking moment.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 21/05/2021 00:51

@CrystalE

Because it imposes a restriction about route - can't go across fields with baby lambs/ big cows, b) might get shot by farmers c) have to carry bags o shit wondering when dog shit bin will appear d) can't go on certain beaches

Without dogs you can just look at map, find a nice walk, look at Trip Advisor, find a nice pub. Bobs your uncle

A walk's a walk though surely? Is it really that hard to find dog friendly walks on Trip Advisor or do all your friends and family have to go where you choose?

Although having read your "c) have to carry bags o shit wondering when dog shit bin will appear", YANBU at all on that one. Why on earth would they make you carry their dog's shit and why would you even agree to that?

KaleSlayer · 21/05/2021 00:54

We have guinea pigs - we love them and they enhance our lives but we don't need them with us every waking moment.

Maybe you aren’t suited to your friends then if you just think so differently about this and it’s bothering you so much. Walks are perfect for dogs. I wouldn’t take them to a pub lunch but definitely on a country walk.

KaleSlayer · 21/05/2021 00:55

Why on earth would they make you carry their dog's shit and why would you even agree to that?

🤣🤣🤣 Yes, get new friends if they make you carry their dogs poo.

WorraLiberty · 21/05/2021 00:56

@KaleSlayer

Why on earth would they make you carry their dog's shit and why would you even agree to that?

🤣🤣🤣 Yes, get new friends if they make you carry their dogs poo.

Or take the guinea pigs next time and return the favour Grin
CadburyCake · 21/05/2021 00:57

The issue is probably less they think you want to see their dog, possibly not even they particularly want to be attached to the dog all the time and more that you can’t leave the dog alone for the length of outing you’re proposing because it’ll be lonely or need a wee or whatever. I sympathise with that, it’s why I absolutely wouldn’t consider ever owning a dog. The guinea pigs are clearly a different kind of pet, that comparison is ridiculous.

I imagine too that I’d not be too keen on a long country walk if I then had to go home to take a dog on another long walk. Suggest something that isn’t so obviously a “dog friendly” pursuit.

WorraLiberty · 21/05/2021 00:57

Honestly, I can't tell you how many times my friends have gone on walks with me and made me carry their guinea pig's poo.

It's not easy finding a bin that small Angry

KaleSlayer · 21/05/2021 00:58

Or take the guinea pigs next time and return the favour

Grin
mainsfed · 21/05/2021 00:58

What happens when you saying ‘Ok, suggest the pub / country walk / beach and I’ll get back to you’?

Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 01:00

They are not our friends. They are our family. We haven't seen them for almost a year because of Covid. We want to see them - unencumbered by dog complications.

Many country walks are not suitable for dogs where we live/ are planning to meet because of livestock.

We don;t have to carry the poo but the dog owners do and this is a PIA as they are always wondering where the next dog poo bin is.

OP posts:
Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 01:02

When I say - they are not our friends - I don't mean that we don't like them - we do. But their dogs are neither family or friends - just dogs

OP posts:
CrazyCatsAndKittens · 21/05/2021 01:06

Well, what can you do? The problem is that all the activities you suggested like pub lunch and beach walk are sort of dog-friendly activities. If you suggested dinner out at a nice restaurant they probably wouldn’t ask.

Original poster
CrystalE · 21/05/2021 01:07

@mainsfed - sadly am probably going to have to compromise by going on dog filled meet up.

OP posts: