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 @miseryguts1988 I used to LOVE dogs when I much younger. We always had a family dog when I was growing up, and one in particular I adored. (We had her from when I was 12 to 22.)

However, I would not have one if you paid me now. They are a tie, they're clingy, they're needy, they're whiny, they're noisy, they're smelly (yes they DO make your house stink!) and also, the vet bills are fearful. You have to have a LOT of surplus income to have a dog. (AND a lot of patience and time!)

Also, in my experience, some of the biggest areshats are dog owners these days. Some are OK, but I can think of more that are utter arsehats.

I have so many reasons for not being keen now.

1. The neighbour next-door-but-two has her two big-ass dogs sitting on the front lawn some days, no tether or chain or gate, just free to run at anyone passing.

2. Every fucking day some arsehat walks past with their mutt and lets the mutt piss up my fence, or gatepost, or recycling box, or wheelie bin. (Or shits at the foot of my driveway.) Hilariously, they don't let the dog do it when I am watching. Funny that!

3. Some owners just let their mutts bark bark bark and don't give a damn!

4. Some owners let their dogs shit anywhere.

5. I have lost count of the amount of times someone's mutt has run up to me and jumped up me, and sometimes barked growled and snarled, and pinned me against a hedge or fence.

6. On the beach a few summers ago, a loose dog bolted up to my backpack and dragged it across the sand. Everything fell out including my digital camera that got ruined because it got sand in the lens. The owner sheepishly ran off, leaving me with a ruined £300 camera.

Loads more reasons/negatives to dogs IMO. But yeah, SOME dog owners are right up there with MAMILS who ride their shitty bicycles, and men who like football, and who play golf. Selfish, and annoying. Shame really, coz it ain't the fault of the dogs, but I have very little tolerance for dogs now (and dog owners.)

Off you trot then 👋

Fancy going into a rant like that over dogs. I feel the same about kids, but I couldn't be arsed to sit and type lengthy points, just to justify my dislike for them.

“Fancy going into a rant like that over dogs. I feel the same about kids, but I couldn't be arsed to sit and type lengthy points, just to justify my dislike for them.”

Oh ding ding. The dogs and children comparison again…🙄

And? ...I have mentioned them, not gone into a rant about them. Dogs are slated on here at least once a week. I find it bizarre to start threads about furry four legged animals. Some of the hate is way OTT.

It’s totally fine not to be into dogs.

I love my dog, but I have zero interest in the hundreds of social media snaps of other peoples pretend child/dog. My dog is fantastic. But I would not be basing any conversations with other people about her. Because love her to bits, but she’s my dog. It’s like ranting to other people about my hobby, why would you?

And like other dog owners. Many of us do not like other people who let their dogs shit on the pavement. Or without a lead. Or dangerous dogs with children. Or untrained dogs. Or dogs who lick your face. My dog walks very well, is non aggressive, is fully trained. It’s even worse for me with other untrained dogs on the loose or barking, they go for my dog and make her anxious. Drives me mad, just lazy arsed owners.

But between you and me… when I get home and feel sad, my kids are driving me up the wall, my dog is always pleased to see me, and makes me feel settled and happy… And my dog is the best thing for my kids, hormonal teenagers, who just need to hug a furry thing, but that’s our business!

Well you sound single minded and a bit aggressive so I imagine it’s easier for you to get on with dogs than other people to be honest.

Don't get me started on those ridiculous dog prams I've seen everywhere!

I always thought dog prams were silly too until I actually got a dog. People generally don’t put their dogs in prams just for fun, there’s usually a good reason. Either it’s a puppy who can’t walk on the ground yet or it will be old, in pain or recovering from surgery and unable to walk.

I’ve never put my dog in a pram but he does have a little carry bag that I used to carry him in as a puppy, and which I still occasionally use if he can’t walk for some reason, like bringing him to and from the vet with a sore leg. If he were bigger and heavier or if I had problems lifting and carrying him for some reason, a pram would be incredibly useful.

Single minded? I hope so. Aggressive? Nope. This is an AIBU thread, where I have an opinion. Strange take on my posts.

Don't get me started on those ridiculous dog prams I've seen everywhere

Those ridiculous prams that help elderly/ dogs who’ve had an
operation get to a place where they can wee you mean? Or allow an elderly dog to spend a pleasant day out with its family…

Saying people have a no personality and are ‘questionable’ because they aren’t a fan of dogs is a bizarrely aggro response. It’s normal for others to dislike things you like - to immediately assume that means they have no personality is odd behaviour.

YANBU .....Not a dog fan......Dreading how my 12 year old maine coon size Heinz 57 puss is going to react to the rat dog..sorry....chihuahua....we are taking in next week.....MIL has dementia and is going into a home......who knows....I may be converted

Jury will be out

Just came across this on one of my Facebook groups just now, I just had to share it!

Yet it's OK for those, who don't like dogs, to pass comment on those that do. Funny that.

Hmmm, I agree. There's plenty of ignorance, snobbery and arrogance in this thread. All over an animal.

The more people I meet, the more I like my dog. Never was there a truer quote. When you read these comments, you can see why.

Me and my partner have an 8 week old son. For the past 4 years my partner has always been talking about getting his dream dog, a staffie. Now our baby is here he is mentioning it more and more to protect our little one. And I know that dogs are great with children providing they are taught correctly etc etc but I'm just not a massive dog lover. I've always been a cat lady. Plus you hear so many stories of dog attacks on children and I think regardless of how well the dog was with him I'd still be a nervous wreck. Not to mention how much staffie puppies go for these days! He says we can get a cat in the future but he wants a dog first. Sigh...

I always thought I liked dogs, but I have been put off them I think by my SIL acquiring a puppy. She had never owned a dog or had any previous meaningful contact with dogs. Not much happened in the way of training, other than toileting. SIL still lives with her parents and their lives started to revolve around the dog. Then SIL decided she needed another puppy because she was depressed and one overindulged dog wasn't enough. So then there were two untrained, endlessly barking dogs which clawed at our clothes until we paid them attention. And I know full well that this is not the dogs' fault, but I hate visiting PILs now because the entire visit is about the dogs. Being ordered to pet them to get them to shut up. Sitting on the floor or bringing in extra chairs because they are on the sofa. Talking about them. Watching their 'antics'. And allowing them into our home for fear of offending very sensitive SIL, where they scratch the sofa and occasionally piss on the rug. And the delightful time one of them was 'so excited to see us' that she shat all over the floor boards in a big runny river of diarrhoea. Knife and cloth job to get it out from between the boards🤢

So I don't know. Maybe I like some dogs. Maybe some just have very, very annoying or irresponsible or incompetent owners.

I don’t pass comments. I said more people have dogs than really should, and that I wouldn’t have another dog because of the ties you have ie holidays, days out. I didn’t say those who like dogs have no personalities and are questionable people. You said that.

I feel similarly about dogs and children tbh.

I love my own and I make sure they're thoroughly trained and well behaved around others.

I'm often not keen on other people's though when they're messy/loud/poorly behaved.

I'm the same. I tolerate dogs, I'm quite fond of my friends elderly whippet, but I can't really see a world where I'd want one of my own. Huge tie, huge expense!

I don't like them and will avoid at all costs. They're animals and I can't understand people who treat them like children. SIL and BIL just got a great big slobbery thing and MIL started calling it her 'granddog'! 😬 FFS!🥴🙄

Who are you to say who has a dog?!

Your son is more likely to be injured by a staffing in the home than protected by it. What sort of protection is the dog supposed to be offering a baby?

I said more people have dogs than really should

Agree with this.

I see (in rl and online) frequent examples of people getting dogs completely inappropriate for their house/lifestyle. Huge penis extension 'protection' dogs in a 2 bed flat with 2 dc under 5. Large, high energy breeds that are not exercised nearly enough but got because they're cute.

However, by far the worst example that I see of inappropriate dog ownership is Cocker Spaniels and it's matched by nothing else I've seen. So many people have them and think of them as a cute fluffy small lap dog and do no breed research. Then they discover they're an extremely intelligent, high energy working breed that starts chewing their house up and wreaking havoc because they cannot cope with the daily 20 minute walk around the block that the family can offer.

I volunteer in a very large rescue centre and the amount of Cockers they have in is heartbreaking...i was totally shocked at just how many are given up before 3 years old. At one point, about 40% of all the dogs they had were Cockers.

And why does what your MIL calls her child's dog impact your life at all?