Am I the only one who doesn't like dogs?!

[BlueStripedTowel]

Now don't get me wrong, some dogs can be cute to look at but I really don't like being near dogs. I've got nothing against dogs but I just don't like having them near me or touching me. It seems like if you say this to a dog owner though they look at me like I'm the devil!

When I was a toddler about 30 years ago my grans dog tried to attack me (first grandchild - dog was jealous of attention I was getting from gran) so the dog had to be put down, I don't really have memory of this but wonder if it's rooted somewhere in my brain!

I just hate it if I'm out anywhere and someone's dog jumps up on me and owners say "don't worry he/she is really friendly" and I say please can you pull them away because I don't like dogs and some owners get really annoyed as if they can't understand why some people may be uncomfortable.

Any similar experiences?

@bobsholi

I'm not a fan. They're so needy and slobbery and stinky. I can never understand why people go so gooey over dogs and wonder what is wrong with me because I just find them annoying!

This.

The thought of living with a dog is really anxiety inducing. I visit friends with dogs and am on edge the entire time. My friend hosts dinner parties and her dog sits under the table and you can feel him at your feet. Makes me so uneasy

I dont like pets full stop. Just never have. I like animals at the zoo/safari park but thats it. I hate when people start talking about their dog at work or when they bring the dog in the zoom team meeting and everyone is like awww!

I'm not keen on dogs when I tell people that, people usually look shocked. I can only see negatives at the moment. My Family have dogs all I see is stress. Money on vet bills, smelly and a pain in the bum in terms of not being able to leave the house.

I just don't see the appeal personally I know to some people they bring comfort.
I was brought up from a baby with working police dogs and heard the stories of what they could do to a person in terms of biting. I think like you maybe it's a trauma? Mines not obviously as bad but maybe having a bad concept of dogs from early on clouds our idea? Some dogs are super scary

@Ashleighz88

This thread just spurs me on to allow my dog full freedom everywhere we go. If you don't like dogs that's your problem to deal with and get out of the way. In the same way I might not like kids or humans but unfortunately it's their planet too.

@Ashleighz88 So you read a thread where people say the reason they don't like dogs is because they don't want to be attacked, accosted or jumped up at by dogs, and then decide 'oh, I'll allow my dog more freedom to harass other people'? How does that work out? Your selfish, inconsiderate belligerence is the very reason many people dislike dogs. Way to encourage more hatred of dogs....

I've had dogs but I would never have another one, they're just not hygienic. I'm not keen on dogs, but don't hate them. I do think people baby dogs too much to the extent they box themselves in and allow their lives to be ruled in a way that they wouldn't be ruled by a cat. In my country many/most people have dogs and don't really walk them at all, because we all have backyards, and the dog has a kennel in it's backyard so people can go away overnight and leave a dish of kibble out for the dog. It seems reading this board, no one can hold down a full time job if they have a dog by themselves or go out for longer than 2 hours. Whereas here you can stay over a friend's place overnight if your dog has enough food out. The attitudes to dog ownership (needing to be back in a few hours, needing to walk them every day let alone twice a day) seems way overdramatic and overboard to me.

@Huntswomanonthemove But it's the fact that a dog needs to even be trained not to jump up, in the first place! That it's natural for them to do so. Cats don't need to be trained not to jump up at and launch themselves at people. So it's not just the owners, it's the fact that dogs jump up, and bark, in the first place.

Now that two of my children have been attacked at random by out of control dogs that ran at them from over 100m away, yes I fucking hate them. They are now both terrified to go on walks. I think no dog should be off its lead in a public area. Why should other people have to put up with this? If good dog owners are fed up then they should do something about stopping shit owners being allowed to have dogs. In the meantime all of them should either be on private land or short leads if in public so that children - and indeed adults - don't have to be terrified of untrained dogs on the loose whenever they go out.

I don't mind some individual dogs but in general I can't bear all the licking, shagging things, smells, hair, jumping up etc, just all a bit gross.

I'm astounded that in the UK people can walk with their dogs in public off the leash. In Australia, a dog is never be allowed to be off leash unless it's your private property, or a designated dog walking area. If they are, you can call the police on the dog owner and the dog can be impounded. The fact that dogs are allowed to freely roam in the UK astounds me and is something I simply cannot for the life of me comprehend. Do it here, you're fined dog is impounded and if not collected/made arrangements in 3 days, it's destroyed. There is never any excuse for a dog to be off leash in public.

I don’t like dogs. Unfortunately in lockdown pretty much everyone I know got a dog, including a good friend who has become totally obsessed with her rescue dog which was untrained and constantly jumping up. A big dog the my friend finds it hard to control. Sadly she is losing friends who can’t stand the way her life abs conversation revolve exclusively around the dog.

@Migrainesbythedozen

I'm astounded that in the UK people can walk with their dogs in public off the leash. In Australia, a dog is never be allowed to be off leash unless it's your private property, or a designated dog walking area. If they are, you can call the police on the dog owner and the dog can be impounded. The fact that dogs are allowed to freely roam in the UK astounds me and is something I simply cannot for the life of me comprehend. Do it here, you're fined dog is impounded and if not collected/made arrangements in 3 days, it's destroyed. There is never any excuse for a dog to be off leash in public.

That's horrific. Absolutely appalling. Dogs aren't allowed to freely roam in the UK, the should be under control. Which my dog is. Other people are just dick heads.

@JangolinaPitt I totally get that. Same happened with one of my friends. Got a pug during lockdown and she has changed completely from being an adventurous, interesting, engaging person to someone who is now completely over anxious about her dog that she insists on bringing everywhere because she can't bear to leave it at home (despite there being others in the house), then complains about the behaviour of the dog. A dog is supposed to enhance your life but I cannot see how this has happened for her. She has created her own chaos and bores the rest of us rigid trying to involve us in her chaos.

@SquidMonkey

Now that two of my children have been attacked at random by out of control dogs that ran at them from over 100m away, yes I fucking hate them. They are now both terrified to go on walks. I think no dog should be off its lead in a public area. Why should other people have to put up with this? If good dog owners are fed up then they should do something about stopping shit owners being allowed to have dogs. In the meantime all of them should either be on private land or short leads if in public so that children - and indeed adults - don't have to be terrified of untrained dogs on the loose whenever they go out.

Why should it be up to me to sort out dick head owners when I have done my bit by ensuring my dog is well trained off lead and on?

@AllThingsServeTheBeam So by not freely roam, you mean dogs have to be on leash at all times? Because that's not what I've read on this site. I've read that dogs don't have to be on leashes in the UK, and that's appalling. All dogs should be on leashes 100% of the time in public unless it is a leash-free dog park/area.

I can't stand dogs. They stink, need walking and shit everywhere. They also jump up at ppl, bark and slobber. Everything about them is disgusting

My dad has a dog that does most of the above, it's also huge and badly behaved. If I go round I completely ignore it

I'm always intrigued as to why some dog owners think walking their dog on a leash all the time is in some way cruel. My BIL said it's a shame if he has to put his dog on a leash as it's not fair on the dog. Meanwhile others never have their dog off the leash and the dogs seem perfectly fine, happy, content and well behaved.

I dislike them and can't bear having them near me. Not scared, I just think they are grim. Fortunately I have reached the age where I simply won't go in a house where there is a dog, won't stay in holiday accommodation which welcomes dogs and have developed a very assertive attitude to badly behaved dogs outdoors.

[quote Migrainesbythedozen]@AllThingsServeTheBeam So by not freely roam, you mean dogs have to be on leash at all times? Because that's not what I've read on this site. I've read that dogs don't have to be on leashes in the UK, and that's appalling. All dogs should be on leashes 100% of the time in public unless it is a leash-free dog park/area.[/quote]
No freely roaming means not under control. Like our cats are allowed to do. My dog goes off lead but with one word from me he's back at my side.

I disagree with you. Well trained dogs with recall should be allowed (and rightly are allowed) most dogs require off lead exercise and I have no dog parks anywhere near me so it would be unfair on my dog.

@bluechinavase

I'm always intrigued as to why some dog owners think walking their dog on a leash all the time is in some way cruel. My BIL said it's a shame if he has to put his dog on a leash as it's not fair on the dog. Meanwhile others never have their dog off the leash and the dogs seem perfectly fine, happy, content and well behaved.

Depends on the dog. My dog needs off lead exercise.

Some people feel the same about children. Disgusted, irritated etc. How people feel about those people is the same way I feel about dog haters but most especially animal haters. Unless you have a valid fear like OPs it's sort of an unwillingness to accept your own animal nature or an inability to recognise emotions in other species and that there's a responsibility to treat them well. It's off-putting because it suggests a something sociopathic - I know that's really only a human to human term but how much empathy (which is just a facet of imagination) does it really take to recognise these in other mammals?

Some people feel the same about children

My DC don't shit in the street

Any owner can claim their dog is well trained, but how do you know? It is appalling that dogs are allowed off leash in public, that's irresponsible of the UK. If you have a dog, either have a backyard or drive or move to a dog park. If you can't do that, you shouldn't have a dog. But they should never ever ever be allowed off leash in public. I am still stunned that the UK is so backward with this that it's allowed. It's now no wonder that there are a high percentage of dog haters in the UK, if dogs are allowed to walk off leash and walk up/charge at/jump at people. I think this thread makes sense now. It's the direct result of the UK's negligent policy.

Not sure if it's an area divide but I'm always surprised by how often people seem to encounter problem dogs. In the past 3 years, going out twice a day most days, I've had one dog jump up at me (a beagle puppy). And whilst the shit situation could be better, it's much better than when I was child in the 80s and I rarely see it on pavements and verges.