To think we need to find a way to infiltrate the dog cult?

[dogsdilemma]

I'll start by saying I favour cats but love all animals. I don't want a dog just now because I find them tying. Would date someone who had one because, contrary to what I'm about to say, I like them and it wouldn't be my responsibility.

But the obsession drives me nuts. It seems no one can own a dog in a normal way anymore. As in I have a dog, the dog is a pet not a person, dogs aren't god-like solve all creatures, it's fine if not everyone loves my dog as much as me - like I am with my cat.

Someone gets a puppy and I go to their house - all conversation is about the puppy and I'm expected to fuss like they've just given birth. I can't say 'ah I've actually come to catch up with my friend, not have endless chat about the puppy's sleep schedule and whether or not it shat in the house today' because their dogs are their babies, so I should treat them as such.

Instagram accounts for dogs - captions written like 'my mum took me for a walk today, I had so much fun'. Only mildly cringy but wtf? Are you a springer spaniel mother or Katie from uni?

I do an exercise class and the owner has a puppy. She brings him along so he's not home alone. At least 15 minutes of the session I've paid for is always taken up by the hive mind fussing the puppy. Everyone loves dogs so no one minds apparently - except I DO mind. If I say this though I'm gonna be the dick.

I'm OLD, and every other profile says 'must love dogs'. I do love them but don't want one, and if I say this it's like I've confessed to being Hitler in a past life. Cue messages trying to change my mind, as though not being obsessed with dogs is a moral failure. I love my cat but wouldn't rule out someone who doesn't feel the same?

The final nail in the coffin. I've been dating someone new. Had an absolute shitter of a week so far - nothing he can help with, not really serious, just work stuff. His response is 15 pictures of his dog being cute to cheer me up. He's just trying to be nice but I do not get it. I wouldn't expect pictures of my cat to cheer anyone up except, maybe, me. I'm being narky but I actually found it so so irritating and cannot even fake enthusiasm to reply. If I say 'awwww cute, thank you' he'll continue with this approach. If I say 'cute but why would your dog cheer me up ha' I'm gonna look like a knob.

I have no problem with others doing what they want to do but recently it is infiltrating everything. I know there are worse issues but ffs it's so annoying - what is this dog cult and how to we stop it? Can I tell this lovely man I'm dating that I actually have little interest in his dog?!?!?

I'm with you mostly OP. I have a dog. He's great, but he is a dog. He's not akin to a baby or another child.

I also don't care about other people's animal's sleep schedules, I like to stroke their dog and have a play but that's it.

This, plus they don't grow up and leave! You basically have a very loving, obedient toddler for 15 years.

So don’t go to restaurants and cafes and bars that allow dogs then? Go to ones that don’t. Or do you think all eateries should change their policies to suit YOU specifically?

No :)

I've worked as a vet nurse for 23 years so I've met a lot of people with their pets. It's true some people treat their dog inappropriately by treating it as a small furry human rather than meeting its needs or understanding its behaviour as a dog. It's also true plenty of people who take the "it's just an animal" attitude also treat their dogs inappropriately because for some reason they think the fact that it's an animal means they have no obligation to do more than the bare minimum if that to meet its needs, and if it becomes difficult or inconvenient or expensive they think they can just get rid of it.

Just because in your grandmother's day dogs lived in a kennel outside on scraps doesn't mean those dogs were ok!
We know a huge amount more about dog health and welfare and their emotional and social lives now than we did a few decades ago, and it's completely appropriate for them to be treated as part of the family, they're intelligent social animals who need interaction and stimulation and don't deal well with being left alone for too long. That doesn't mean you have to have them in your bed if you don't want (though it's also fine if you do, and that's no one else's business) but frankly if you're not prepared to be at least a bit devoted to your dog, you shouldn't have one. Get a snake instead, they're low maintenance, don't want to go anywhere with you, and don't care if you love them or not.

Also, speaking as someone who gives advice to pet owners professionally, I'd far rather deal with someone who adores their dog and overindulges it a bit, they're much easier to nudge in the right direction because they actually care, it's the owners who think it's outrageous that they have to spend any time effort or money on "just an animal" who you can't change.

Stop moaning then :)

😂Doubt they view it quite like that 😂

Some folk are dog people! Right now I am not feeling too well and my dog is lying next to me making me feel better.
My youngest (teen), on the other hand, is in a huff as I won't get up and make her a snack.
Obviously I don't love my dog more than my actual child but at times like this, I am so glad I have her comforting presence (single parent).
And, yeah, I take her anywhere dog friendly and the vast majority of folk who meet her, love her. I also don't take her to lots of places she isn't welcome due to her being a dog.
If someone didn't like her, I'd keep her away from them.

Cat mad people are also a bit annoying (we have a few real classics round here) but at least you can't take cats to places. You're never going to get a cat friendly hot tub...

Why do people put their dogs in outfits all the time now? I grew up in the countryside and if someone had put their dog in a natty little jacket they would have been mercilessly mocked. That's what their fur is for surely, unless you've got some daft breed like a chihuahua. I keep seeing poodles in them who are literally bred to be cold and wet.

Anyway I can only conclude a lot of people are making a lot of money from the dog cult. Perhaps by infiltration you will get a share of the spoils OP?

I quite like dogs, I have two, but people sure are weird about them now.

You’re proving the point of this post perfectly.

Yes, and our dog:

• lived outside
• drank water from a bucket
• did not have his own Instagram account
• didn't come on trips in the car very often as he farted too much
• didn't go to the hardware store/cafe/etc.
• was washed with a hose
• didn't require doggy day daycare
• didn't have his own clothes
• was perfectly happy digging holes and going on unsupervised walks.

I'd be concerned about his gastric health if he was really that flatulent. Perhaps he wasn't as fine as you thought. I'd address the unsupervised walks thing but hopefully it's obvious why that's a bad idea. Luckily dog ownership has generally progressed since your childhood.

She said she's annoyed by people on OLD insisting future partners must love dogs, and she said she was annoyed thst a man she's seeing sent a bunch of photos oglf his dog instead of any meaningful attempt to cheer her up after a shitty week.

She doesn't want to spend ten minutes or more of an exercise class she's paid for standing around waiting for the instructor to get the class started while the instructor and other people in the class go nuts over the puppy. This is absolutely reasonable - if you pay for X minutes of a class and you get X-10 or 15 you are getting less than you've paid for.

You can love dogs and still be miffed that other people seem to forget that the sun doesn't shine forth from their furry little rear ends, and in the case of the exercise class I'd be asking for a refund.

@PrawnLiberationFront

I'd be concerned about his gastric health if he was really that flatulent. Perhaps he wasn't as fine as you thought. I'd address the unsupervised walks thing but hopefully it's obvious why that's a bad idea. Luckily dog ownership has generally progressed since your childhood.

I think he was excited about being in the car, and that made him fart. We did try to address his escapee nature, but he could dig his way out of anything. One time I answered the door to a dog ranger (they would scout for loose dogs and take them to the pound). He told me my dog was running loose, and I swore he was not. Just then the dog in question ran up the front steps and greeted the ranger happily.

He was a much-loved dog.

Lol, no, sorry, if you love dogs you do think the sun shines out of their furry little arses, that's what love means. A lot of people on this thread seem to be using "love" to mean "I tolerate them only if they don't ever inconvenience me for so much as a second by existing" which is obviously not the same thing.

And again that's fine. It's ok not to like dogs. It's weird to insist that you do when everything about your language and behaviour suggests otherwise.

You realise no one is forcing you to go to dog friendly places? If it bothers you so much then do some research beforehand & make sure where you’re going is pet-free. There’s plenty of options out there 🤣

@Coincidentally I'm pretty sure they're crying into their cheap wine. They were boring fuckers with not many friends.

As a newish (3yrs) dog owner , I 100% adore and love him BUT he will never be referred to as my 'fur baby'. I absolutely hate the term. A good friend always posts this and it makes me cringe!

When he was a pup I probably did overdo pics on fb a bit, and family who came were as excited as us but I don't want dogs everywhere. I wouldnt take them to the shops and although I do enjoy walking, goibg to coffee shops that accept them, I'm also aware, and accept, that some people don't want to eat with them.
It does annoy me though when people complain that a shop/pub has dogs in, when it's obviously a dog friendly place, just go elsewhere !

@PrawnLiberationFront

so yo genuinely think the exercise class situation is ok?! Why should op pay money to exercise then lose about 10 mins of that time due to all the faffing on with the owners dog?!

I’m a dog lover and a dog mum ( I adopted her, will raise her, feed her etc I’m her mum ) I do agree that some people go a little overboard.. not just dogs tho because Iv seen the behaviour you mention in lots of different pets and there’s definitely just as many cute cat profiles. Although you’re not expected to love everyone’s pets like they do, don’t forget that some people pets are the only reason they smile or get out of bed in the morning. Let them get on with it.

I feel the same as you and am also a cat person. Love my cat to bits but in no way would I expect a million pictures of her sleeping would cheer people up! Massively agree on the Instagram accounts for pets... absolutely bore off! 😅

I love animals- my degree was animal behaviour and I work with animals. I have a cat who I adore. What annoys me is every social event I have with friends/ famil/ work the subject of dogs always comes up and I’m asked ‘do you want a dog?’ and ‘why don’t you have a dog?’. I say no I have a cat. They then detail how awful cats are and tell me why I should get a dog. I find it incredibly rude and disrespectful to my choices. I didn’t ask for my pet to be insulted, nor for their opinions on how my life is less without a dog. I actually love dogs and am always happy to see them out and about, i just prefer cats as pets!

This. I'm in a walking group. Dogs do not join us but most members have them ( or cats) . Most are single and I appreciate that their pets are very important to them. I had dogs ( last one died 8 years ago) but that time has definitely passed. I do sometimes wish they would stop going on and on about them.

The excerise class is unprofessional - I don’t think dogs should be brought to them at all (unless assistance dogs) - it’s ultimately a workplace and a place where customers are paying to be. It’s assuming that all the customers like dogs/ don’t have allergies or phobias. You are also paying for an hours class - you should be getting an hour of exercise. If it’s at a gym or part of a wider network of classes I would be telling the manager. If not I’d be looking for another class.