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?!?!?

Ew. Dog bum germs on all the furniture. Yuk.

You are not BU OP. I am in your camp.

My point is, why does it matter?
My dog is a HUGE part of my family, and I love her intensely, she brings me joy.
I don’t question other people finding joy in their children, or their horse…. Who cares how they describe them - it’s not hurting anyone and it makes them happy, so 🤷‍♀️

You do realise that human bum and genital germs are most likely on the furniture (and 100% certainly the bedding) too?

We only have pant wearing humans in our house. Not a dog’s bare anus in sight.

🤣🤣🤣…Only if you are a naturist!

They were talking about a hotel.

The worse thing with increased dog ownership is the amount of times I have to see people bend down to pick up a fresh steaming turd in their hands with a poo bag🤮. How people are prepared to do this revolting act day in day out is beyond me.

What a nasty thread. The problem isn’t the dogs. It’s human beings, total intolerance and lack of empathy to anyone who thinks differently to you. It really is simple if you don’t want to be around dogs then don’t go in a dog friendly establishment and if you don’t want to be around kids go adult places. If someone bores you going on about their dog, kid or bunny rabbit tell them to give it a rest. I go out and about all the time and have yet to see all these examples of dogs everywhere and kids screaming and running about. I think there are a lot of angry people on mumsnet who are looking to pick a fight, probably because they are unhappy in some way. Back in the real world none of this is a real problem. If you are wound up about someone loving their dog ‘too much’ then take a good look at yourself. You need a real problem in your life. Weirdos. 🙄

a friend of mine was describing how they turned a corner to find a woman just finishing up doing a dump down an alley and before they could stop it, their dog had wolfed up the (still steaming) poo. That did make me think that maybe a cat would be a better bet.

Because if we don't, MN would be in up roar.

Yep! 👆

But why doesn’t it put people off getting a dog? I can’t imagine loving any human or animal enough to want to pick up a warm pile of poo off the street in my hands every day for years.

What happened?!

But where are these dog free places? Honestly I would love to find a cafe, pub or restaurant or even a park that didn’t allow dogs.

I’m a dog lover. Our dog is our adopted child.

We struggled to conceive, multiple tries with IVF and 4 miscarriages. our dog pulled us out of a dark place. Gave us purpose again. This is very much a private thing and many people don’t know what we have been through (close friends/some family), please bear this in mind. I do also know this isn’t the case for everyone. Also in my darkest place funny/cute animal videos/pictures would make me smile. when someone got pregnant I felt a part of me die.

I am now one of these crazy dog parents or at least will come across this way. I have always had dogs but with my dog now I am probably extra (as I say he rescued me from a very dark place)

I don’t force my dog on anyone, if they want to fuss him they can if he wants it. If they don’t then he won’t demand it.

We do take him with us on holidays, out for meals, the odd drink but also we are happy to leave him home.

I also see where you’re coming from about strange dogs jumping up/being a nuisance.

I also would be this person that would need a partner that loves animals like I do. I would hope a cute photo would make them smile. I would also want them to have an interest in my dog. This would be a deal breaker for me unfortunately. He could be the perfect partner in every way but if there was no interest in my dog then I’m out of there.

She had to take annual leave. Compassionate leave for a pet really isn’t a thing

Why are you watching them pick up poo? Just walk past and get on with your day.

I pick up after my dog (like every responsible dog owner does) and it does not bother me, so it bothering someone that does not even have a dog is truly bizarre.

Why are you watching people do that? Bit bloody creepy of you.

Youd be on here moaning about standing in shit if people didnt pick it up 🙄

Dog owners are immune to how revolting it is though. I don’t need to watch, there are so many dog owners now I can’t even walk my children to school or walk to work without seeing it all the time.

I really hope I never meet people like you but rather people like the guy you are dating. Really odd to start a war on dog lovers.

Oh yeah people who don’t pick up dog shit are worse. But the actual act of picking up a steaming turd in a bag is foul. I just simply don’t understand why anyone would choose to own a dog and do that.

@Frangipanyoul8r Yes, cleaning up poo is just something you have to do when you love someone/thing who depends on you. I did the same for my kids, and for my cats when they were kittens 🤷🏼‍♀️

Same with people who have kids and change shitty nappies for years. Least dogs are cute

Do you think the same of people who clean up poo as part of their job? That could be anything from a zookeeper, to a nurse.

How did you manage nappy changing when your children were small? Oh, you must have become immune.