To thing the worlds gone dog mad...

[mrspotatohead21]

I just feel people put dogs on too much of a pedestal. I like dogs, but I just think people almost see them than more than they are, which is, let's be honest, an animal.

I understand how they can be an elderly persons only companion, can fit well into the right family, can help people in need in many ways I do, but just some examples.

I work in a cafe. When we say dog friendly area is outside we get looked at like we've said they can't bring their child in.

I live with my mum and my daughter who's 16 months. She bought a sprocker puppy, he's big, he's massively energetic and he play bites.
He bit her and made her cry, then knocked her over and jumped on her. She's heavier than him. When I asked her to put him behind the gate she said "he's only a baby" and "this is his home, it's not (my daughters) home) every time he's a little bugger she just says "he's only a baby"

People who will fully argue with that they they thing dogs are equally worth the same as children, like there is some comparison. I'm sorry but my own flesh and blood who literally grew in my is never a comparison to a dog?

I just don't go gooey over them. I like a cute dog as much as the next but I'd never seem them or put the trust in them around children like some people do, and recent news of a dog sadly killing a little girl doesn't seem to make people think twice even it's just "my dog would never do that"

AIBU to have that opinion?

My dog is my family and is more important to me than your child. I don't even know your child.

I find this attitude very odd. Anyone's child and the safety of that child must surely be more important than a dog! Are you saying that if you were in a position of being able to save either your dog or someone else's child you would save the dog?
I have had pets but that's what they have been pets, looked after and cared for but not on an equal footing with the family. I have always seen people as more important.

@aSofaNearYou

Well how long is a piece of string? Personally I think there is inherently a difference between human beings and animals. Whether you agree or not or put that into a religious or a philosophical bracket is up to you. AI is highly intelligent but lacking in human qualities.

You originally came on saying you were uncomfortable with the “undertones” that humans are worth more than dogs. Well what did you actually expect on a thread like this?

@benten54 and all other idiotic short sighted dog owners. Children are more important than any pet because children grow and become integrated members of society that might fix your gas boiler, treat you in hospital, deliver your shopping to you, cut your hair, create entertainment for the masses, make life easier/better in some way for other people (and not just single digit numbers of people) and pay for pensions and support of those who cannot help themselves in someway...and your dogs contribution to society is...?

@mrspotatohead21 you are in a pants situation and your mum is deffo the problem and I hope you can get out of there soon x

@MelaniesFlowers what a horrible thing to say.

And in some cases, mental health issues are manifested in people having an unhealthy and unbalanced attitude to what is, after all, a different species with a limited life span and regardless of how fantastic, unable to offer both the joys and complexities of human relationships. I like my dog a lot, am a conscientious owner, will be sad when he dies but his place in my life is as a dog/pet, not another child or family member. Obviously, I would never want to have anything to do with people who would treat animals badly - although arguably that includes all of us who eat meat and dairy products - but I also find it difficult to understand some of the attitudes towards pets vs people which some people have on this threads.

I agree with you and think it's really shit that your mother puts her dog above her grandchildren, also that she is drunk every evening and not walking the dog. I think it must be quite hard having a daughter and grandchildren back living at home- having to childproof your house again and maybe having different views on putting boundaries on the kids etc, but surely you'd wait until they moved out before adding a dog into the chaos?

I like dogs as dogs but don't feel any need to have one in my life, trashing my home and garden that I worked so hard for. I did have a dog, she was lovely but such hard work and so much of my stuff got chewed.

I also resent dogs a bit, precisely because when I was a kid the family dog got more love and affection than I did.

I hope you can resolve your living situation soon

There isn't really a "personally" about science though. We are known to be intelligent animals. Anything else is just blind faith, there's nothing behind it.

I'm not uncomfortable with people prioritising humans over animals. I do it, I think it's perfectly natural for people to prioritise their OWN species over another one. I just dislike the argument that we are, from an objective perspective, something "more" than other animals making our lives worth more. I find it arrogant and ignorant of science.

But science does have that fundamental problem doesn’t it regarding human consciousness? Unfortunately science hasn’t solved everything so yes personally I believe there is an inherent differing quality between human beings and animals that goes above and beyond intelligence. You can find that arrogant all you like.

No, it doesn't? There is no problem regarding human consciousness. Scientists have shown what we are - a highly intelligent, animal species.

I can see both sides of this. We have a dog. We love her and enjoy taking her places. This time of year it's good to find a pub or cafe that takes dogs inside because it's pretty chilly eating outside. Generally speaking I wouldn't be grumpy about an outside eating area unless somewhere advertises themselves as being really dog friendly but then expects you to be outside.

It is definitely useful to be able to take her into shopping centres and things for when we are away from home on holiday but I certainly don't think it's necessary.

She's not like my child, but she is a part of the family. I think we all things some people have taken it too far, but for most dog owners there is a happy medium.

@aSofaNearYou

So you think scientists have solved everything around human consciousness? I’ve read plenty to disagree with that and most scientists do actually keep an open mind. With all due respect I’ll listen to them and not asofanearyou from mumsnet. I’m actually not the one arrogant enough to think that I know everything about life and I certainly wouldn’t give credence to a scientist who thought that. There’s lots to be discovered. You should stay curious.

I have already said we will have to agree to disagree. You think we are just highly intelligent animals who are equal to all other animals which is fair enough. I however do not. I do believe there is a fundamental difference between that of being human and just high intelligence.

I love dogs, I own one, but they are not on par with humans.

It’s not a comparison, but it’s a hugely important thing to identify. A dog biting a child can put the child’s life at risk, whereas a dog mouthing is a normal developmental stage that all dogs go though, and completely normal at 6 months.
but it’s still not okay to act like they’re ‘just mouthing’ especially with kids in the house. I have a legend of a spaniel who is nearly a year and was quick to take to the ‘grab a teddy’ rule for when he needed to mouth but on the very odd time there wasn’t one about and he took to my hand instead, I’ll tell you, if that had been one of the kids he’d have well broken their skin and hurt them. Everyone one uses the ‘just mouthing’ thing, and some dogs mouth until nearly age 2 and it’s bloody sore!!!!

😂

What a fucking horrible thing to say.

@Tirednest

With you there. I prefer my dogs to all of them.

@MelaniesFlowers come enthrall everyone with your amazing, fulfilled. Life. We are all ears.

If you have a dog or any pet you are responsible for its wellbeing, that means feeding, watering, caring for, excercising, cleaning up after and caring about your dog. My dog can be free in my house for example, don't like it, don't visit and I won't hold it against you. We'll meet for coffee at a cafe instead

Except playdates for my kids friends, dog goes away for those into my husband's office and hangs out with him and if he's not here we don't do playdates at home. Because my dog is small to me but big to a wee kid. He's just a wee shmauzer but a child who isn't used to dogs would be put off by his bouncy, panting, slobbery barking self.

Your mum though choosing a puppy over housing you and her grandchildren as you rec ok ver from an abusive relationship? That's her being a shit parent not a great dog owner. I'm sorry you're not more taken into account.

It's just childish to say we must be special just because we want to be. There's absolutely no reason to think we're something "more", other than the desire to be, and it's highly illogical to think one species on the planet, that went through the same process of evolution, would be. I'm perfectly open to new things being discovered but there's absolutely no basis for this, and a belief in inherent superiority has never been a positive trait in humans - in fact it has always caused a lot of harm.

It sounds like your mum is really struggling with having three extra people living in her house and it’s causing her a lot of stress. It sounds miserable for everyone. I would be looking at the emergency housing you mentioned and moving my child’s school for a fresh start.

She's going to have an unruly dog if she does not teach him how to behave. He's not a baby, and dogs, like kids, thrive knowing the boundaries. Sprockets are very energetic and intelligent and I hope she understands how much exercise snd stimulation it will need.
I don't know anyone who values a pets life over a humans. I have four pets currently- two dogs and two cats - and while they are all loved I in no way regard them in the same way as my children. The dogs are well behaved, do not bark much, are good on and off lead and are calm in the house. I still put them in another room when my autistic niece visits. She gets stressed by animals and in turn will stress them. Saying 'it's their home' is a ridiculous stance. Children do need to be trained in how to treat a dog too though.

In your opinion

With you all the way OP. Is there some way you can move out?

@mrspotatohead21
I'm really sorry for you. Yanbu btw.
Im not a huge dog fan but even if I was I would choose my child / grandchild's safety over a dogs comfort.
I don't think your mum loves you and the grandkids like a proper mum/ grandma should. Get yourself out of there. Do you have any friends who can house you for a bit? Xx