To not like dogs

[AnonyMousee]

I just... don't!!

Most of them smell, get their hairs everywhere, dribble on you, their breath makes me heave, they beg for food and get their food/water everywhere when they eat. They're expensive and needy and annoying.

But why do people get so angry when others don't like dogs? I feel like I can't be honest about dogs when I meet them and their owners, and I always end up pretending to like them. God forbid you say to a dog owners face you don't like dogs, you might aswell just say you've killed a baby!

shriek
I did! We had a border collie and I loved him. However as I got older I don't know what happened.
I did try to have a dog for my kids and husband and I just could not bond with him. I found it tiresome and he irritated me. I feel awful
Saying this as I really wish I felt different as my husband adores dogs!

I love my dogs. I love all dogs. I don't care if others don't, as long as they are not cruel to them. I would be offended if someone was rude about my dogs for no reason though.

@Rayn I think it's a growing up thing for me too.

I had cats growing up, loved them all to bits, let the sleep on my bed with me, lay on me etc.

Now, I like looking at them but I wouldn't want one in my house. I do find them cleaner and easier to deal with than dogs (you just leave food out for cats and hey're good to go) but I wouldn't want their hair, sick and smelly cat food in my own house.

Yep, also hate the hair, cat sick, and manufactured dcat food stinks! So does their poo! And if possible, worse their pee. I adore them, that must be love I guess. Can hear one having a 'wash' just now

@BertrandRussell there is a large selection of dog people who would not dispute your comment of us being bonkers.... I am one of those people

Yanbu to have your own likes and dislikes OP.

Personally I find other people's dogs far more tolerable than other people's children!

Don't get me wrong I love my DSC but I've been angry with, tidied up after and been annoyed by them far more than my dog!

There is an element of 'it's not the dog it's the owner's though. I was walking up the path behind my house yesterday when I met a woman I know slightly with her dog on an extended lead.It jumped up as I went by and I felt its class on the back of my leg. She said 'He wants your bag' by way of explanation. No apology. I kept on walking, but my D'S would have been completely freaked out by that, as would some other people I know.

It is perfectly OK to let dog owners know (politely) that you aren’t comfortable around dogs, a few of my friends have dogs and they always make sure they are in a different room when I visit (I would be happier to host or meet in a neutral location but for various reasons we meet at each other’s homes). No one is offended, or at least no one has said anything to my face .

There are Mumsnet dog people who would think me a bad dog owner because I am happy to shut mine away if visitors don’t like her.

There are Mumsnet dog people who would think me a bad dog owner because I am happy to shut mine away if visitors don’t like her.

My dog lives outside! I can’t even imagine the mumsnet jury on that one, considering the flaming I got for having negative thoughts about the hamster.

I have a dog and I love her but I agree she is smelly and expensive! If someone wasn’t to like her I wouldn’t be at all offended - it’s a personal choice. Some people just don’t like dogs, that’s fine. My DHs family really don’t like dogs at all but I would never force her upon them because it’s not up to me!

It's personal choice, I have a friend who doesn't like dogs so when she visits I make sure my dog stays in her bed. You can say to your friends that your not comfortable around dogs, which may help.

My MIL also doesn't like dogs (or the cat) but if we are visiting then we come with the dog she knows this and begrudgingly accepts it and has been caught on a few occasions stroking her when she thought no one was looking.... We do try to assist by taking her to my parents house if they are about but I'm not going to leave my dog half way up the country in a kennel just to visit my PIL (that was her original suggestion..... DH response was ok we won't visit then....)

My parents are the opposite every time they have her they try to keep her!

I luffs my little nightmare way too much. Also everybody else’s dogs.

But I would absolutely not be offended if you said that you weren’t comfortable with dogs. Lots of people aren’t. I would put him in another room, job done. Or if I knew in advance then meet somewhere else. I wouldn’t think any differently of you. I don’t like snakes so if I went to a friend’s house and one was slithering all over the shop I’d leave. Any yes I know snakes are much my hygienic and safer etc. I just don’t like them!

Picture of the nightmare attached. Being uncharacteristically calm and being held by someone who asked to.

Different people like/dislike different things, so it doesn’t bother me personally, though I imagine lots of non-pet people would be incompatible. I don’t put my dog away in her own home for visitors and dog hairs don’t bother me at all, no time for germophobia. I was raised in a house where cats were fed on the kitchen worktop and I used to kiss the tortoises and share bites of cucumber with them (potential salmonella carriers).

YANBU. I don't like dogs. I'm not really keen on other people or children either, but I love my cat.

The only time I have ever taken offence to anyone disliking my dogs was when my sister said she didn't like them because they are aggressive not once have my dogs ever showed aggression towards another person or animal well unless you count them barking at the birds perched on the shed roof. Because I have a let her breed she automatically assumed they are aggressive having only seen them at 8 weeks old rough housing each other.!!!!

Larger *

I would happily play with your dog, your children, not so much.

Oh they're so gorgeous. I love it when they have little triangly faces.
I'd never have one though. I only coo at them.

Yes my dogs are all of those things you describe but I love them and they love me unconditionally and enrich my life. YANBU to not like them.

I don’t care who likes my dog as long as I like him and treat him well ✌🏼

I dont dislike dogs, but I dont "get" them. I find them too needy and exuberant and smelly and too much commitment. Theyre always looking at you, wanting love and a fuss or a walk. They notice every fucking thing you do. Its worse than having children.

I much prefer cats

Fair play to the posters saying they wouldn't judge me for not wanting to be around their dogs. It's the ones commenting that they do judge people for not liking dogs that has backed up my point of this post. It's sad that you actually think it's okay to dismiss humans because they don't want to fuss over your house pet

I agree with your last comment OP & I have read here on Mumsnet comments from dog lovers saying they couldn’t trust people who didn’t like dogs or they feel they are people with no compassion . I just find that is such a sweeping comment, I am 100% happy to admit that I don’t like dogs (or cats for that matter) but I care deeply about people and spend my time involved with community projects for the elderly, homeless, vulnerable young people, litter picking (including picking up dog mess) etc so why would dog lovers assume it is Ok to say I have no compassion? Why such extreme views towards people who just prefer not to spend time with animals? Can’t we accept we all different? I have a number of friends who are dog lovers, we just respect each other’s views. And no, my heart doesn’t melt at the pictures of dogs on this thread, I have no opinion of them at all.