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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand the appeal of dogs as pets?

371 replies

Gardentiger · 06/07/2021 13:31

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.

OP posts:
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NeedNewKnees · 06/07/2021 15:26

There are definitely some common life events when people get dogs - a flurry of them when the youngest child started school, or went to uni. Maybe it’s having something to look after?

I had three children. I love them very much but I am done with dependents with high needs. I don’t want my ability to travel, sleep in, stay out late, be impulsive to be constrained by pet care, so I chose pets who can manage happily without me.

LifeinPieces21 · 06/07/2021 15:27

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

People with dogs who say their houses don't smell are lies or nose blind. There's very little you can do to manage dog smell. Especially when it's been wet
Incorrect.

My Mother would tell me. She holds nothing back.

Ifitquacks · 06/07/2021 15:27

TBH this doesn't bring me much comfort when dogs are jumping up at my terrified children, or eating my picnic, or posing on my doorstep

Weird, none of these things have ever happened to us! Do you live in a rough area?

NotSoLongGoodbye · 06/07/2021 15:27

For those who think hamsters don't make proper pets. Our hamster was brilliant. He knew his name, he would come out to say hello (even in daytime). He had his own little way of telling us he wanted food - he would run over to the door, then his food bowl, then the door ... would play with so many things and pretty low maintenance all things considered.

NashvilleQueen · 06/07/2021 15:28

I would much rather pick up after my dog than have him go off into other people's gardens leaving shit in their flower beds so I can absolve myself of any responsibility.

NotSoLongGoodbye · 06/07/2021 15:29

I live in a nice area and am still plagued by dog poo on pavements, dogs off lead, and dogs jumping up at people.

Too many people treat their dogs like people / children, rather than training them properly, and let their children walk them without checking they can actually control the dog or are prepared to pick up poo

NeedNewKnees · 06/07/2021 15:30

@Ifitquacks

TBH this doesn't bring me much comfort when dogs are jumping up at my terrified children, or eating my picnic, or posing on my doorstep

Weird, none of these things have ever happened to us! Do you live in a rough area?

I live in a naice suburb near a large park and this happened regularly to my family when the children were young. Eldest never got over being knocked down and pinned to the ground by out of control dogs after his ball several times as a preschooler. Even as an adult he’s terrified of dogs.
seashells11 · 06/07/2021 15:32

The joy my dog brings me far outweighs any of those negatives you mention.

Dogs are good for your health too. Long walks every day keep me slim and mobile. I LOVE dogs. They're awesome. 🐶🐶🐶

Leonberger · 06/07/2021 15:33

I love my dogs a stupid amount!

They get me out twice a day every day and keep me fit.
They keep me company when I’m home alone.
I feel safer with them around.
I enjoy training and competing allover the country with them and I’ve met so many lovely people.

Worth all of the hassle to me but each to their own!

Dixiechickonhols · 06/07/2021 15:33

I wasn’t a dog person never had one until DD was 11 and desperate and I wfh so no reason why not too. We adopted him from a rescue and he bonded with me straight away and me with him. He’s always happy to see me. Gets me out walking. Affectionate. Yes he’s work but he enhances my life. I never was bothered with babies until I had DD - wouldn’t see what fuss was if someone brought baby into work etc, same with dogs. Been surprised how much I love him.

Aloethere · 06/07/2021 15:33

I'm feeling shit today after having my vaccine yesterday and my 2 dogs are curled up snoring on me on the couch. I love having them by my side, we 'get' each other. I know when they are feeling off and they know when I am. We are each others emotional support animals and I wouldn't be without them.

Of course, there are some downsides but for me, the love we have for each other outweighs that. It sounds really soppy and sad but it is what is.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 06/07/2021 15:34

@ForeverAintEnough3 I have asked to twice to leave me alone with your goading, this is the third time, it's creepy and I will report you.

I can post as many times on threads as I like. There's no rule on the number of posts a poster can publish. You are complaining about a grand total of two threads. Like I say if this upsets you report me to MN otherwise leave me alone. You're not even engaging with the topic, the substance of your posts are "waaaaah I don't like your opinions". That's not in the spirit of debate.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 06/07/2021 15:35

@Ifitquacks

TBH this doesn't bring me much comfort when dogs are jumping up at my terrified children, or eating my picnic, or posing on my doorstep

Weird, none of these things have ever happened to us! Do you live in a rough area?

Not at all.

What a weirdly classist comment. Can you elaborate on why you've asked that?

PixieKitten · 06/07/2021 15:39

This is why I prefer cats, they are clean and don't stink, the house doesn't stink, the car doesn't stink, they can be left alone all day, they don't need to be walked and you don't have to pick huge turds up multiple times a day as they go in the ndn's garden Grin

ExConstance · 06/07/2021 15:40

She loves me unconditionally, she sits on my knee and rests her nose sideways on against my face so I can kiss her, she wags her tail so hard at 5am when I get up to let her out that she falls off her sofa. I like the smell of dog, she helps me take exercise.When she is curled up by me on the sofa and I cuddle her I feel happier than at almost an other time.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 06/07/2021 15:41

Sorry as great as cats are they do stink, probably worse than dogs too. The same goes for all animals. Birds are the worst IME!

LifeinPieces21 · 06/07/2021 15:41

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

I think you were asked that because not many of us are being jumped up, having our picnics pinched or piss on our doorsteps by dogs.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 06/07/2021 15:43

@LifeinPieces21 and many do - you don't have to look far to find badly behaved dogs spoiling people's days out/walks/picnics etc.

I do accept - as I said earlier - most owners are good and responsible. But too many aren't.

yogz1976 · 06/07/2021 15:45

Dogs are amazing. They give you the kind of unconditional love and loyalty that very few humans, or animals, are capable of. If you have abandonment or other emotional issues, having a dog's love can mean the world to you. And dogs really do love us. Scientists discovered that dogs' brains release oxytocin (the chemical that is released when we are in love) when they see their owners, and vice versa. Some owners develop incredibly deep bonds with their dog. They seem to understand our emotional state. For example, my dog knows when I am having a nightmare and wakes me up by nudging my hand!
On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with not liking dogs. I don't really like cats. Each to their own.

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 06/07/2021 15:47

@PixieKitten

This is why I prefer cats, they are clean and don't stink, the house doesn't stink, the car doesn't stink, they can be left alone all day, they don't need to be walked and you don't have to pick huge turds up multiple times a day as they go in the ndn's garden Grin
They do shit in your neighbours gardens though. I have to clean up 3 cat shits a day. And I don't have a fucking cat! Drives me mad.
Original poster
Gardentiger · 06/07/2021 15:48

I too have had a lot of negative dog experiences, dogs knocking me over, jumping up, licking my face, getting randomly bitten by one, so there are a lot of out if control dogs around, especially as a lot of people don't want to keep dogs on leads these days. It's a bit rich for people to deny that some people do get randomly harassed by dogs!

It's lovely to read accounts of dogs helping so much with people's mental health!

Also to the person who think hamsters will fuck off given half the chance - one of our hams escaped a few weeks back and I walked into the kitchen to see her daft bum dissapearing through a gap under the kitchen counters. She came trundling out 10 minutes later all dusty and looking put out, and got back into her cage that id put on the floor! She's definately one ham who doesn't seem to want the wild life! Grin

OP posts:
FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 06/07/2021 15:48

Dogs are amazing. They give you the kind of unconditional love and loyalty that very few humans, or animals, are capable of

I feel a bit sad when people say this, I get so much from my relationship with humans it's a shame other Miss out. A good friendship or marriage or parent/child relationship is absolutely unrivalled especially with animals, IMO.

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)

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 06/07/2021 15:49

Oh for god sake! I quoted the wrong poster!! Never mind.

Cats poo is still annoying 😂

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 06/07/2021 15:50

Sorry as great as cats are they do stink, probably worse than dogs too. The same goes for all animals. Birds are the worst IME!

Yes, goldfinches are notorious for being smelly.

Original poster
Gardentiger · 06/07/2021 15:51

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Sorry as great as cats are they do stink, probably worse than dogs too. The same goes for all animals. Birds are the worst IME!
Cats smell of fresh air!

Also rabbits can be litter trained, and it isn't smelly if you get rid of the wee every day. Rabbits themselves smell like clean fluff. Hamsters too don't smell if you fish out any dirty bedding every day. With dogs in my experience it hits you as soon as you walk into someone's houses.

Whereas dogs tend to be smelly as they don't groom themselves like cats do.

OP posts: