To not be a huge fan of dogs..

[miseryguts1988]

I mean don't get me wrong I like dogs.. I'm not phobic of them and I think they are a wonderful and intelligent species. But I think to own one they are hard work, expensive and just too tying and too much effort to basically have an animal living with you. People put too much trust in them which is why children end up being bitten.. and people see them the same as their children when they're not.. they are an animal.
I dunno I probably ABU but I just don't see why we are such a nation of dog lovers and every dog lover is shocked if you say you're not.
People wouldn't be the same if you said you didn't like cats.. I prefer cats! They are much less demanding.
I think I'll get shot for this post..

Yanbu because you can dislike whatever you like. I don't really like cats, they are too touchy and up themselves. We've had a few cats a couple have been great but lots of them are scratchy, dribbly, and flea bringers. Also their shit is the worst smell in the world.

Agree OP, as long as I live I will never see the attraction of having a dog. And far too many of them everywhere these days, with far too many stupid irresponsible owners.

Yanbu op. Like parents, every dog owner thinks their dog is special and adorable and it’s you that has a problem for not agreeing. Most dog owners, imo, have massively rose tinted spectacles about their own dog.

Quite controversial but I've always found dog owners to smell bad, not of dog but other bad smells like stank breath, BO or dirty hair. It's like they are immune to bad smells.

I can't think of one dog owner I know without a personal smell problem.

Dogs are so variable. One friend had the loveliest springer spaniel who completely made me see the appeal of owning a dog. He sadly died and they got a new puppy. It is now two, they are experienced dog owners who have done a lot of training with the dog but he is such hard work. He is always running around, barking. He chews everything, jumps up and steals food, growls at children. They have said after him they will never get another dog again. I'm sticking to my cat. They have varying personalities too but are generally very easy pets.

I wouldn't have a dog. They are smelly , eat their own and other animals poop, they need way too much care, need walking and you can't leave them for as long as a cat. When I say smelly I mean for example if a stroke me neighbours dogs my hands smell awful afterwards. I have never had this stroking a cat.

I love dogs.

I dont like untrained dogs. I don’t like small aggressive dogs with little dog syndrome. I don’t like their useless owners who refuse to control them because “they’re small”. if they were big dogs they’d be deemed dangerous and PTS. So they just run loose terrorising other dogs and people. 😡

In general, I’d rather visit friends with dogs than friends with babies and toddlers though.

I hate the stinky, noisy,shitting biting fuçkers

I'm the same OP I was brought up with dogs and till I moved out and got a place of my own I got a cat and now prefer cats over dogs. I cannot stand little dogs

I love my dogs, but they are smelly, daft, demanding, hard word and in my boys case, huge. And on Thursday I’ll be paying a sodding fortune at the groomers for them (they’re doods, so grooming is essential). And that’s with a full brush every day.

I also love my cats. But they’re hairy beggars, shed constantly (my white one is king of leaving fur on every sofa, rug & piece of clothing, no med issues, just always shedding). And they’re all technically elderly (although they’re in good health) so are a bit more cantankerous & shouty (and demanding) too. And their crap is definitely more smelly than the dogs.

My oldest cat is velcroed to my lap when I’m working every day.

Dogs are great, cats are great too. But they’re both as fabulous & yet arseholes at the same time.

We used to have a Yorkshire terrorist, talk about big dog syndrome. Big dog in a small dog body. Regularly took on a Rottie. Had best friends who were greyhounds. Brilliant, but definitely more of a bellend than any big dog I’ve owned. Loved him, but it’d be a cold day in hell before I got another one!

Neighbours yappy dog has bitten me (but not pierced the skin) twice in the last month. I have been daydreaming about where I would stand legally if I kicked the living crap out of it the next time it tries.

I am not a big fan of dogs...and I have one. Luckily he isn't hard work or expensive but he is a tie. We can't go away without him really which limits where we go.

YANBU, people are free to like/dislike whatever they want, I see cats as alot of effort and don't really like them, but love my dog and wouldn't be without him. When our cat goes, i'm 100% I will not have another.

When we moved in my partner brought his cat, I didn't know what hard work they actually are. Yes, we can leave him without a sitter. The caveats are, a pissy/shitty stinking litter box in the house that needs changed regularly, furniture destroyed (even with toys and a scratch post) and carpets scratched up when you shut the door (can't sleep with him in the room as the licking drives me insane oh and dive bombs onto you from the top of the wardrobe at 3am which disturbs sleep), he is very vocal (vet checked and there's nothing wrong with him, he does it for attention) and leaves hairs everywhere so I have to vacuum x2 a day. He moves and hairs fall off him, even when brushed! It's too much effort, we don't let him out as he's older now. My partner loves the cat but doesn't see the stinking litter and hairs all over as an issue, to me it's very unhygienic hence I am always cleaning. It will be much easier for me to relax more once I'm not having to constantly clear up hairs that get intertwined in any bit of soft fabric and a litter box (jobs I could do without) and I can have nice plush carpets and furniture again without throwing money away as it gets destroyed by the cat

On the other hand we have a small dog who is well trained, is happy with short walks daily, on a lead, has made us smile & laugh everyday since we got him, and is no bother at all (oh and has never destroyed anything since he's well trained! Or bitten for that matter) All he chews is his toys and he's happy to take them in his bed, minimal mess. He gets bathed 1x a week so doesn't smell. With dogs it comes down to terrible owners not putting in the hard work at the start when they're puppies. They're like kids in the sense they need taught boundaries early on, otherwise you get bad behaviours 

I've never understood the rhetoric that dogs are 'expensive'. Ours (a terrier) costs £20 a month in insurance and £5-7 a month in food.
She is 'tying' I guess, but we're 12 years in and don't know any other life! What can I say? She's SO worth it, I can't even put it into words.

Yanbu. It is difficult and demanding to properly train most breeds of dog, and provide it with a suitably stimulating existence, and only a minority do an adequate job. Dog ownership should require training and a license and should be available to far fewer people, ideally those who can provide something approaching the sort of working life dogs were bred for.

In recent years I've found many people are getting "difficult" dogs from rescues meaning there are a lot of reactive/aggressive dogs with owners who expect my 3 year old to tiptoe past their snarling, snapping hound on local footpaths. The neighbours have a dachshund that the barks furiously any time any one breathes within 5m of their garden fence. In a pub just yesterday a dog was snapping and barking at every person who passed the table. These aren't suitable pets to have in the community.

This is so lovely 🤗

Can’t stand the things and the owners (including several on this thread) who start every sentence with “ah but….” Eg “ah but my dog doesn’t smell/jump/lick/bark/…..” - delete as appropriate

My response is usually “but I do so get your animal away from me”

And those that think they are more important than humans… well that’s a whole different level of nonsense

How come the litter tray is only used three times a week if the cat never goes outside @mathanxiety? I used to have two cats, and the litter tray used to get cleaned out at least every day. More often if required.

YANBU. I like dogs but I don't love them. I'm not liking the trend now to never leave them alone and to have to take them everywhere

I agree with you @Twizbe. I know dogs shouldn't be left all day, but not being able to go anywhere at all without your dog must limit your choices considerably.

Most dog owners I know are pretty sensible, but it is the inconsiderate "love me love my dog" owners who give all dog owners a bad name.

I don't understand the "cats are pointless" comments. I adore cats. They are affectionate but need less attention than dogs and are far less of a tie. I love their independence and their haughtiness. I love that you can sit watching TV with a purring cat on your knee. I appreciate that not everyone loves cats and would never foist a cat on someone who dislikes them or is scared of them.

@MissyB1 Cats perform a hygiene service by keeping rats and mice at bay. Dogs are far more pointless than cats.

I despise them.

Smelly, desperate, sniffing, wagging, dribbling nightmares.

Shitting everywhere, too much energy - like a toddler that never grows up.

Not a fan at all. Most of my friends have them and I roll my eyes at their furbaby adoration.

YANBY, I hate them.

They seem to be EVERYWHERE now and I hate that more and more places are becoming 'dog friendly'. I'll never understand how people can enjoy their food with a stinking panting dog near them 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

Also, shitty owners who let their mutts off lead when they have zero recall pisses me off! If your dog doesn't know when to stop/come back to you in a busy public area then DONT HAVE IT OFF THE FUCKING LEAD!

@WifeMotherWorker Your post is so full of ignorance, that I feel sorry for you. Cats are far more loyal than dogs, and are good with babies, I can post many YT videos and stories of cats saving their owners and saving babies (inc saving a near-SIDS baby through the baby monitor). They are far more loyal than dogs and don't attack toddlers like dogs do. They perform a hygiene service by keeping rats and mice at bay, they helped end the bubonic plague. Dogs will go to anyone who pats them, are dirty animals, don't wash themselves, cause most neighbourhood disputes with their barking, are unpredictable and will jump up at and attack humans, and are far more pointless than cats.

literally couldn’t care less about their owners

You have no idea how truly ignorant you are @RootinandTootin . Maybe you should 'make more of an effort' to understand cats.

I am not quite sure what point you are trying to make.

It is true that dog ownership comes with responsibilities and can be expensive but there is no law forcing you to have a dog!

You are perfectly entitled to prefer cats and not to like dogs.

Many people are scared of dogs and find them too boisterous. I also think badly behaved dogs very often have rubbish owners who don't train them correctly.

I love animals in general including dogs. I have had mostly cats because I don't have a big garden suitable for a dog and cats can also be a handful and much trickier to handle when you need to get them to the vet...