To not understand the appeal of dogs as pets?

[Gardentiger]

I just don't get it and would love to understand! As much as I like certain dogs I meet and think they are cute, the list of downsides is massive

• they smell and make your house and car and clothes smell bad

-they can't be left alone for a length of a working day -behavioural problems and agression -if you get a barky one it can ruin your relationship with neighbours -the amount of time you have to spend training them -some seem to need constant supervision -chewing things and generally wrecking the housr -having to pick up warm freshly baked turds

I walked a friend of mines dog the other day and it was awful! He pulled on the lead the entire way, and kept trying to pee on people's doorsteps / flowerpots.

So what is the appeal!? I say this as an animal lover who has had pet rabbits, cats and hamsters in the past.

Picking up poo felt like a big deal at first, one I wretched at but now I'm used to it and sometimes laugh to myself how grounding it actually is - I think everyone needs to shovel shit to realise how human and infallible we all are.
I regularly have pick up the poo of dogs who's owners can't be arsed to do it and it's nothing but disgusting and infuriating.
I do not laugh or feel grounded.

But reading these sorts of threads always makes me very thankful that there are dogs in this world. And cats too. And rabbits and hamsters even.
I'm thankful because humans - and I include myself in that - are disgusting, judgemental creatures who have a superiority complex and frankly this planet would be better off without us.

Dogs on the other hand, find joy in the smallest thing.

Dogs have their uses and it's a good thing that we exploit these.

Bar a few I know and like, I prefer them from a distance where I can't smell them and they can't touch me, sniff me, jump up at me, ruin my clothes, pin me up against the wall and try to hump me because they can smell my period or deafen me. They are not allowed in my lovely home. Even if I liked them more, I wouldn't have one- I don't like them enough to put in the time and effort required, and that would be massively unfair to the dog. Also DP is frightened of them and I'd rather have him. He doesn't smell and he cleans up after himself.

Cats, on the other hand, are very welcome here. They don't smell and I adore them. To be loved by a cat is to be The Chosen One. My parents have a bengal rescue. She is delightful and comes for a cuddle with/guards anyone who is poorly. She puts paws around your hand to ask you to keep petting her and gives kisses. Shes is silk and velvet wrapped purring bliss.

Me!
Who wants sticky dog hands?

Why are the dogs you are stroking sticky? I've never touched a sticky dog before?

And with humans the power balance isn't like it is with dogs. The "unconditional" love is unconditional at all. It's based on you feeding them and treating them well and that's why they love you (sorry

Oh just saw this little gem.

No, that's bollocks.

I hate the hard graft of having a dog, the smell, the effort, the walking in all weather's, the disturbance when there is a fox outside, or fireworks, or a fly in the room.

But I look up and dd is lain on the sofa with the dog curled in the crook of her arm looking over at her face with utter devotion.

@BarkingUpTheWrongRoseBush

i feel similarly about children...

I was going to say, they take far more work. I'll stick with dogs thanks.

@HandsSpaceArse, well, maybe not actually dog, but some sort of canine/human Esperanto that we both grasp enough of to make simple conversations possible.
Dog: Can you open this door.
Me: No, you are wet. Go and lie down.

Bar a few I know and like, I prefer them from a distance where I can't smell them and they can't touch me, sniff me, jump up at me, ruin my clothes, pin me up against the wall and try to hump me because they can smell my period or deafen me. They are not allowed in my lovely home. Even if I liked them more, I wouldn't have one- I don't like them enough to put in the time and effort required, and that would be massively unfair to the dog. Also DP is frightened of them and I'd rather have him. He doesn't smell and he cleans up after himself.

Jeez, I'm not surprised you don't like dogs if this has been your experience. Thankfully it's not the norm and you've just met some poorly trained/controlled dogs

I have cats and dogs, love them both. People - not so much!

@rantymcrantface66

*Me! Who wants sticky dog hands?*

Why are the dogs you are stroking sticky? I've never touched a sticky dog before?

All dogs smell. Some more than others granted.

I don't see the appeal of a rabbit or a hamster as a pet. To me, they're work (less than a dog, but still work). They can also smell, etc., but my main problem with them is that they seem less companionable than a dog or a cat. They're not as intelligent or soulful, can't do tricks, and don't seem to love their owners in the same way that a dog can.

If you don't love dogs, you won't understand, just as I can't understand why someone bothers with rabbits or hamsters. They can be cute to look at, but to me, their cuteness isn't worth the trouble of keeping them. I just don't love them the way I love dogs.

Why are the dogs you are stroking sticky? I've never touched a sticky dog before

Haven't you? 😂🤣🤣

@SecretSpAD

Why are the dogs you are stroking sticky? I've never touched a sticky dog before

Haven't you? 😂🤣🤣

Genuinely no 😆. Have you? Why was it sticky?

• Me! Who wants sticky dog hands

I work with hundreds of dogs a day and can’t say Ive touched many sticky ones either

Stinky

Typo

Also: Some dogs truly don't smell the way that some people think they all do. I have a keen nose, and some breeds do really stink. I've had a stinky dog before, and I knew she was stinky. My current dogs don't have nearly that level of smell.

As for the suggestion that cats don't smell... I thought it was understood that you could always tell when someone had an indoor cat the moment you walk through the door. Most pets create some degree of odour. It's part of the deal!

Well yes dogs do smell a bit especially ones who love the muck .but regular baths grooms and a shed load of yankee candles solve that particular problem. Yes they are hairy but special hair collectors help .yes they cost money .flea treatment every month solves the fleas never once had any .yes the vet Bill's can be eye watering .yes a thousand other reasons why it's not a good idea .but and a big but they get you out of house they never judge when you look less than your best .there loyalty is like no other .mines is a hairy nightmare. Always in muck always barking at the cat but I adore him really I do .

Dogs are anti depressants without the side effects. Best decision ever and some of the things you mentioned are generalisations. Some dogs are very well behave. Mine is and I did not even trained her much. She is just very well mannered and good natured. I groomed her often so very clean too.

If you can’t see it, OP, I doubt anyone here will be able to make you understand.

It’s a visceral thing - you either have it or you don’t.

We’ve had cats, and I’ve been fond of them, but it’s never been the same as I’ve felt for our dogs. I can’t understand people who are potty about cats.
Just as well we’re not all the same.

Genuinely no 😆. Have you? Why was it sticky?

We chose not to ask him. Asking my dog why he's sticky is like asking my dog what he's eating....something we don't want to knkw the answer to!

I think it was a squished slug that he'd lain on when sunbathing. He's a bit skanky, but I love him.

And you can buy dog deodorant. 10 quid a can smells a bit like baby powder hubby did roll eyes at that particular purchase lol
Dog lovers buy lots of expensive meaningless crap .but hey they are worth it

I'm not a dog person but I can see the appeal for others and the joy they get from them.

@SecretSpAD

Genuinely no 😆. Have you? Why was it sticky?

We chose not to ask him. Asking my dog why he's sticky is like asking my dog what he's eating....something we don't want to knkw the answer to!

I think it was a squished slug that he'd lain on when sunbathing. He's a bit skanky, but I love him.

Mine is quite precious thankfully, she jumps over mud if she can and doesn't roll in things. She dislikes water to the point she's not even a fan of the pavement being wet 😆. I think because we got her last April and had months of sunny dry weather so her early socialisation didn't involve any rain or mud. Bit of an unrealistic start to life in Scotland! She also appears to have a waterproof coat and mud and rain just slides off it like a seal or a duck. Helps a lot with both sticky and stinky hands

Is anyone old enough to remember when dogs used to rule the street? None of this being taken for a walk, they used to take themselves off for a walk!, have a good pee on a lamppost, deposit some white coloured dog poo usually on waste ground.
They would meet up with fellow dogs for a good bark off then trot off back home to an open gate.
As a child, I would often meet one in an alleyway (as kids were allowed to also roam freely) Given advice was never look at a dog directly, just walk past and never run or it will chase you.