How do we ACTUALLY solve the rift between dog people and non-dog people?

[Talkingtomyhouseplants]

Inspired by yet another dog thread where all the SAME arguments are trotted out again and again:

The Pro Dog People say:

• The dog is my family, you need to treat it like family
• Why would I get a dog just to leave it at home?
• It’s just a dog, it’s not bothering anyone
• My dog is less annoying than your child
• I love my dog more than I love people
• The dogs are ALLOWED to be there so it’s okay that I bring them places
• If my dog isn’t invited, I would probably choose to stay home as I prefer most dogs to people anyway
• My house is my dog’s home too, I won’t be shutting it away for anyone
• My dog isn’t dangerous - he’s a bit softy.

The Anti Dog People Say

• I’m allergic/scared/don’t like being around them - please keep them away from me
• It’s a pet, not your family
• A dog is not a child
• I won’t have dogs in my house
• Dogs are dirty and unhygienic - they shouldn’t be in shops or places where you eat
• I’m sick of dogs barking and jumping up at me in public and I keep stepping in dog poo
• There are too many places that either actively allow dogs, or more often don’t challenge people who bring them anyway so dogs eventually become allowed
• Dog owners are entitled and pushy and this is why they are now suddenly everywhere
• It’s dangerous to have dogs around children
• Dogs can bite/kill people
• There are too many untrained dogs who are treated like people

Same arguments on both sides, every time.

In my personal life I can think of at least two situations where these opposing views are creating real rifts in families because the dog person wants to bring a dog, and the non-dog person doesn’t want to be around said dog. I can feel it becoming more polarising in society generally, anti dog people are more vocal about being anti dog and pro dog people are more pushy about full inclusion of dogs in human spaces.

So what is the actual solution?

This was in answer to someone who said it is JUST THE SAME and there's no need to compare (hence comparing).
There is a need to compare because I don't think we should treat dog ownership like parenthood, and society agrees with me.

On threads like this, there are always people who dislike dogs who will pounce on any post mentioning children. Mention that children in cafes can be badly behaved and annoy people too, and you get multiple people saying not to compare dogs and children.
Yet, posts about children eventually being useful to society is ok.

I do know a few dogs who have jobs. One lady I know has several dogs who appear on TV and in films, with some of her others being trained in finding missing dogs and also people. Silly useless animals.
Pet as Therapy dogs are amazing too. My mum's greyhound would be perfect as one.

I think you need to re-read my post. I never said a dog and child are the same. And I never said we should treat dog ownership like parenthood.
Why is it so triggering for you that dog owners love their dog? It doesn't impact how much you love you child.

I don’t think PPs have claimed their dogs are their family, dog are family pets. That is indisputable. I don’t l think anyone on here has said they want others to see their dogs as family members either. Pet owners do treat their pets as pets. Having a dog
doesn’t automatically turn you into a mad person that anthropomorphises a dog. Let’s keep some balance here.

Also being an animal lover does not
make you a weird sub human either.

There are people who take these things to extremes and maybe there is a family member of yours that is doing so. If so I empathise. But thankfully we are not all facing family breakdowns because of a dog.

Emporers and clothes aside, non dog people I hear you, my dog is a dog. If I suddenly start
tell my family that my dog is my sister, brother, husband or long lost aunt, I will seek therapy.

It is your family member or side of the family that is the problem. There lies the rift!

But it has nothing to do with you if someone sees their dog as a member of their family. It does not affect you at all.
By the way, most vets I have seen have referred to me as "mum" when I have taken my dog there, and also my old budgie too.

It does if the dog owners insist on taking their dogs places where I will be the bad guy for asking they be removed. Like work. Or choir. Or cafes.

If the dog is somewhere that they are allowed to be, then you are the bad guy because you are telling a business owner/group facilitator how to run things.
That is pretty entitled behaviour.

I think everyone has a responsibility to make sure they are not disrupting others around them. You're an idiot if you take a barky dog to a cafe or don't leave if your toddler starts screaming.
If you're in a cafe with a well behaved dog and/or calm child then there's no issue.

I don't think it's a dog owner Vs parent issue. I think it's a selfish vs unselfish person issue.

@Talkingtomyhouseplants, why do you talk to your house plants? It’s not because you see them as family is it?

Advanced search may assist for this poster!

What is "allowed"? Is a dog appropriate in an office? Where people have to be, and don't feel comfortable saying "so and so who is more senior to me is making me uncomfortable by bringing in their dog"?
At a choir, where it barks if we clap? Where someone newer and younger than me may feel even more uncomfortable about the dog AND about saying something?
In a school, where one teacher wants their dog to be a "therapy dog" but some children are terrified?

We don't . There are far far too many dogs. Rescue dogs from overseas should be banned for a start. The problem is too many dogs.

Then why don't you say something instead of tarring all dog owners with the same brush on here?

I agree with this. It's not our job to clear, for instance, Romania of its stray dogs. There are enough native dogs which need rehoming; have one of those.

Because that's exactly what the OP did, define two groups; dog-people and non-dog people.

🙄 it’s just a line from a song

I think the workplace is a real issue. Thankfully I am public sector so I can’t see this happening but in small businesses where it suits the owner to bring their dog I can see it makes things very awkward

Not all dogs are from Romania.
There is a rescue in Spain called Galgos Del Sol who do amazing work with mainly galgos who have been discarded after the hunting season is over. People from all over the world adopt dogs from them.

Some people find that UK dog rescues are too strict in regards to rehoming criteria, and look further afield to find a dog. Sometimes, the dog that will suit you the most is not one in the UK.

Because I have to go to work, and if my boss hasn't complained, what if he sides with the dog owner? Because I want to go to choir and I don't want to be the bad guy? Because the school would say my child will get used to the dog?
Because basically to do that I am definitely going to be the bad guy over a space where dogs do not need to be and where there's a high chance more than one person will be uncomfortable or worse?
Dogs don't NEED to be in cafes either. Owners can take them for walks somewhere else. Children need to eat people food. Dogs don't. I avoid town cafes with dogs but sometimes in the countryside there's no choice. I avoid sitting near them but it's annoying not to have the choice.
I could stay home and not go to cafes and choir.
I can't not go to work and my children can't not go to school.

No one needs to eat in cafes. However, cafes need customers and allowing dogs means more people go. It is a business decision.

A dual with a choice of weapons on the village green at dawn .⚔️🗡️🗡️🛡️🛡️

People need to eat though, and if we've gone on a bike ride which only passes one cafe, and forgotten to bring lunch, it's starve, or eat at the cafe.

It's similar for dog owners. You take the dog on a long walk and need to stop for a drink or something to eat, and have nowhere to leave the dog.

Same if someone is a long dog walk. They also need to eat.
Going into a cafe with my dog was part of our walk, and she was very welcome there. She had some fuss, a biscuit from the jar on the counter, and I had coffee and food. In this particular cafe, you get 10% off if you have a dog with you.
A well behaved dog in a cafe that welcomes dogs is not in an "inappropriate place" no matter how much you stamp your feet about it.

Dog owners are people too.