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?!?!?

Awww! How cute🐶

Make the most of these precious years, they soon grow up🤣

I think ops point is that this quite recent culture around dogs means that other people are affected by ‘people loving and enjoying their pets,’ which actually can be a bit awful. For example, dogs being allowed in cafes etc isn’t great if you are scared of/ dislike/ are allergic to dogs. Personally I just find it really unhygienic! My MIL lets her dog sit on seats in cafes and eat off the bloody table 🤢

It will be popular the dog haters love complaining and the repeat issues, which are basically the same story

We got a puppy a few months ago, and yeah I'm smitten. Far more than I expected to be honest.

But it's not my baby and we are in the process of training him to do dog things and understand human commands. He's allowed in the hallway, the family room and the bathroom when it's time to scrub the fucker. No upstairs, no human treats, no sleeping in beds.

I swerve any establishment or shop that is "dog friendly" because to my mind, it's disgusting to have dogs on chairs or in beds - or even recently I saw a guest house with a dog friendly hot tub -what the fuck?? As bad a festering soup a hot tub might be with multiple different people using it, adding a dog? That can't be good for the dog, the humans or the tub...so why??

So don’t go to dog friendly cafes then. Boo hoo.

He is 10 in 2 weeks 🤣

This 100%!

I’m completely with you op.

I see my brother on average twice a year, and the first hour at least of conversation when we do meet is about the details of what his dogs have been up to. He hasn’t once EVER asked a question about my two actual human children, now aged 12 and 15 😭.

He’s a beaut & looks very comfy😊 I am only here for the pics of cute dogs🤣

a guest house with a dog friendly hot tub

Wow I didn't realise it was possible to make a standard hot tub even more disgusting 😖

And what about the cat cult? People constantly banging on about cutie Tiger who leaves them presents of partly eaten rodents. Fucking rank😖

i find much of the cult bizarre in the sense of 'they're my children'

but i like them enough to welcome pictures of my best friends dogs because they're part of my friends and i love them dearly (especially my bff's service dog)
i also dont mind following doggy insta accounts when the posts are fun.

I'm just as welcoming of cat pics, or cute cows/horses, mostly follow animal oriented accounts on tiktok/insta.. more fun than celeb shite or twee 3 line poems.

my own dog is just that, a dog, not my child. He's not allowed to harass people, i do take photos but i don't then shove them under everyones noses unless invited to.

The recent 'my dog is devastated' clothes wringing in sadness at dogs having to wear muzzles/walk on a leash when XL bully owners clearly haven't actually bothered investing in properly muzzle training these dogs they claim to love like their babies is case and point.

Why would anyone choose a dog friendly cafe/restaurant if they’re scared or allergic to dogs?🙄 Just go somewhere else.

There's no such thing as a cat cult!

It's just natural, healthy feline worship ok

@Cantalever haha you’d hate me. I take my dogs to very expensive hotels and he loves it. We even went to a London hotel with a dog concierge

Would be equally annoying if it were as widespread as the dog one.

Some cat owners can be irritating in that they somehow think they're genuinely superior for preferring cats - very tiresome.

But it's just not as common. I actually see far more cat hatred than love of cats.

I have a friend who hates cats, no bad experience just doesn't like them - when she comes round the cat is locked away from her. Fair enough. Couldn't help but think though, why then do I have to endure your dog jumping up all over me when I come round and endless pictures of him?

But obviously I can't say this, because the way dogs have become babies means people get their backs up

Ridiculous people behave in ridiculous ways about their animals. I’ve obviously seen it in real life and online but it’s not a feature of the people I associate with. Maybe it’s your circle?

Stop going round your friends house then.

You sound more obsessed with dogs than the ‘dog lovers’ you’re moaning about.

I dislike dogs. The only ones I have any time for are genuine working dogs, guide dogs and those who can sniff out survivors in earthquakes etc.

However, this obsession with fur babies (the most vomit inducing phrase ever coined) is saving us a fortune.

We were recently away for a few days in a popular area. Not one cafe, tea room or restaurant was dog free - I had done a lot of research - so we didn't go into any. Same with my home town. I used to meet friends for coffee but all the coffee shops accept dogs. One even encourages them to get on the sofas. So we meet at one of our lovely dog free houses instead. The local independent cinema used to get our custom but since they allow dogs we have stopped going. I was browsing in a gift shop in the high street. A dog came in and peed on one of the displays. I put down the gifts I was planning to buy, over £40 worth, and walked out. My savings are mounting up very satisfactorily.

Dogs are life.

Yanbu

I love dogs and I've had dogs.

BUT I don't love dogs chasing my daughter, pushing her over and generally being a total pain and owners either doing nothing or saying "they are just being friendly".

I have had people get very very angry and abusive when i say, "If you can't control your dog and call it back, put it on a lead".

There is definitely a link between people being ridiculous and not being in charge of their dogs and the rise in dog attacks.

I'm with you 100% on this op

YANBU op

the term fur babies makes me want to vom 🤮

@MillicentRogers

they’re not though. They might be your life. But they are not my life.

@Nw22

how do you know he loves it? Does he tell you?

I'm chatting to someone from OLD (we've met once and got on, and are hoping to meet again soon). One of the things that I like about him is that it transpires he has a dog (actually his DD's), but he made no mention of it on his profile. I'm not keen on guys whanging on about their dogs, including several photos of their dogs on their profile etc. It makes you think that dog ownership for them is just a substitute for having a personality.

(I may have a photo of me with my cat on my profile. What can I say- it's a flattering shot because she's covering some of my wobbly bits 😳)