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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people wouldn’t like dogs if they could talk

221 replies

DonnaBanana · 22/10/2022 11:24

I am not a dog person. But I know lots of people who are and they commonly say the thing they love about dogs (as compared to children, for example) is how their love is unconditional and they don’t speak or share their opinions with you like people do.

That seemed a bit sad to me. It seems like saying having a dog is mostly good because it can’t talk or share its opinions (and as a sentient animal it surely has some) but if it could, it would become annoying and undesirable.

Would you still have a dog if it spoke its mind?

OP posts:
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5
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 23/10/2022 06:45

I think that cats can talk, they just chose not to.

PoseyFlump · 23/10/2022 06:48

I'm pretty sure a dog could be trained to use an indoor toilet as long as we invented something more dog-friendly.

My dogs do most of their business on walks but when at home and even though they have access to the whole garden, they have been trained to do it in one particular spot that is easy to clean down.

Dogs are way more complex than some posters on here give them credit for!

PoseyFlump · 23/10/2022 06:49

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 23/10/2022 06:45

I think that cats can talk, they just chose not to.

I'd be willing to believe that!

stillvicarinatutu · 23/10/2022 07:01

My dogs would say
Dog 1 : ooo ooo there's a leaf - I'll bark . Ooo ooo there's a car . I'll bark . Oooo ooo There's a person , I'll bark let me out - it's parameter check time ..... I luff you I do . Can I sleep on the bed tonight ? Can I mum ? Can I ?

Dog 2 : fuck off . Fuck off . Fuck off . I love you . Sleeping in the bed tonight so tough . Fuck off . I love you .
😂

stillvicarinatutu · 23/10/2022 07:21

Nb
I'd still love them .

thelobsterquadrille · 23/10/2022 07:22

ChagSameachDoreen · 22/10/2022 22:35

I despise dogs.

They are so idiotic and servile that they probably wouldn't have a single thought in their head to articulate.

I suspect they'd be much nicer to have a chat with you.

PicaNewName · 23/10/2022 07:23

Thing is .... I don't think dogs 'love' their owners. They're a pack animal, we're their pack and they have a place in there, it's just instinct.

stillvicarinatutu · 23/10/2022 07:29

My dogs absolutely do love me - I can see it when they look at me .

And my big bear remembers people- he goes bonkers when he sees my dd or ex dh .

He made me cry once when he saw my ex rid past on a bike and he went racing after him whining . I sobbed in the car for 20 mins.
Dogs aren't stupid .
They know their people and they are absolutely capable of loving them . If you doubt that you've obviously never had a dog ! (That loves you )

I trust dogs more than humans . My boys are my life these days .

Imissmybabygirl · 23/10/2022 07:33

I know what my dog want than my teen girl most of the time!

I would like my dog to talk in my language when he feels unwell though.

Me and my dog talk all the time 😆

stillvicarinatutu · 23/10/2022 07:34

That is a dog that loves me - and he knows I love him . He often comforts me if I'm upset and he actually cuddles - he is loving , his eyes say everything.

To think people wouldn’t like dogs if they could talk
stillvicarinatutu · 23/10/2022 07:37

No bloody wonder I prefer dogs to people reading this thread!

Dogs are sentient . They are intelligent. They are absolutely capable of love.

caramac04 · 23/10/2022 07:40

Keyansier · 22/10/2022 11:25

I can't stand dogs, they're utterly foul.

I'd hate them even more if they could talk. YANBU.

Wow that’s a very strong reaction. Are you including assistance and service dogs too? Well trained and well behaved dogs who ignore you?

caramac04 · 23/10/2022 07:41

Testina · 22/10/2022 11:26

But isn’t what they actually mean about the love being unconditional, is that if a dog could speak its mind, its genuine words would be, “woof you’re just amazing, I love being with you”?

Absolutely agree, also they could tell us if they felt poorly or had pain.

Sindonym · 23/10/2022 07:41

Testina · 22/10/2022 11:26

But isn’t what they actually mean about the love being unconditional, is that if a dog could speak its mind, its genuine words would be, “woof you’re just amazing, I love being with you”?

Yes this. If my dog could speak he would have said “ I love you I love you I love you I love you”. Hence why we have such a great responsibility towards our dogs. (He died recently. I miss him so much).

stillvicarinatutu · 23/10/2022 08:17

Mine would also tell me he wouldn't let a leaf , a car , a crisp packet or anything ever get me 😂. He'd be like "I'll have em first mum ...stand back !"

PuppyFeet · 23/10/2022 08:20

I would genuinely love my dog and my cat to be able to communicate with me.

PoseyFlump · 23/10/2022 08:41

If dogs could talk we'd stop having children.

Madein1995 · 23/10/2022 09:04

I strongly suspect my dog would say 'food please' on a loop intercepted with 'let me down' (when you're wanting to hug her) and 'I love you' and 'where's dad?' Her favourite human!

piscespickle · 23/10/2022 10:06

What!!!!! My dogs can totally
talk. We have a three-way conversation all day long!

Stars71 · 23/10/2022 10:49

IAmAReader · 22/10/2022 23:39

You're right, its a red flag IMO when people say they love dogs as much as/more than humans. Especially when dogs - at least well-trained ones - are basically raised to obey their owner for their whole lives and stick to the owners routines etc. To me it basically tells me they can't deal with the more complex human emotions, and if dogs were capable of experiencing them and communicating them in words and made all their own decisions then no, I don't think they would be as well loved.

You're reading far too much into that sentiment. Some ppl love dogs more than humans because dogs don't cause you pain, except when we lose them, of course.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 23/10/2022 11:24

This isn't far from the truth of where dog's interests really lie.

(Link is extract from Disney cartoon Up!)

NashvilleQueen · 23/10/2022 11:27

If my dog could talk he would say that people on mumsnet who spend a not insignificant amount of time talking about how much they dislike dogs should find a new hobby.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 23/10/2022 11:34

I would love mine to be able to tell me how he feels and it would have made identifying his health issues fa4 easier instead of years of tests.

Stars71 · 23/10/2022 11:41

NashvilleQueen · 23/10/2022 11:27

If my dog could talk he would say that people on mumsnet who spend a not insignificant amount of time talking about how much they dislike dogs should find a new hobby.

👏 dogs are really hated on here. Pretty sure every other day, there's a thread about them. So bizarre.

AnApparitionQuipped · 23/10/2022 11:43

Stars71 · 23/10/2022 11:41

👏 dogs are really hated on here. Pretty sure every other day, there's a thread about them. So bizarre.

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I think it's more that they seem to divide opinion. People love them or hate them - there aren't many who can take them or leave them (or perhaps there are, but they don't bother to comment on dog threads).

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