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?!?!?

Apparently now it's more reasonable to effectively end a friendship of 15 years by not visiting her (essentially have to stay over as she's long distance) than for dog owners to respect others boundaries I have truly heard it all ha

It's hard not to think about dogs when we're bombarded by them against our bloody will

Who said they have to be your life? If you don’t like dogs just ignore them and move on?

Oh and people who say they prefer dogs to humans …get a grip hun!

I’m an old fashioned dog owner in that I don’t treat them like babies, they are given boundaries and need to know how to behave in company. They are trained and respected and I love them. I don’t foist them on to anyone else in reality or in photos. I’ve actually not invited any friends around whilst my youngest is a puppy because I can’t bear all the high pitched greetings when they come in which then makes the puppy hyper. That’s not to say the puppy hasn’t been socialised because she has with puppy classes, daily walks etc. I’m in agreement with the op - dogs these days are treated like human beings and everyone is expected to love them, which is unreasonable. I would hate it if cats were foisted onto me as they don’t do anything for me but I wouldn’t actively tell a friend I didn’t like their pet.

I do like dogs but agree they do seem to be literally everywhere now. I’d quite like one but my cats would never forgive me.

@delamore

i was replying to someone who said “dogs are life”

At least dogs don’t call you “hun”😂😂

I think the second option from your OP is the response to go for. Be honest. If it’s a deal breaker for him that you are not particularly comforted by pictures of his dog when you are upset, then better to find out now.

Incidentally, I am a dog owner, but not part of a dog owning cult. I love my dog, but don’t treat him like a human being.

This does my head in as well.

When in the prompts section it's 'One thing that is a must in a parter: loves dogs', 'I won't shut up about: my dog', 'I am passionate about: dog walks on a Sunday'

I just think - do you actually have a singular other interest. Literally anything. Give me something to work with of course I don't match these people but surely they must know it makes them look very dull

To respond to a PP, the issue is that it's not always clear if an establishment is dog friendly or not. If it's clearly posted it's easy to avoid. I've structured my life to avoid dogs, I cross the street to avoid them and prefer to go for walks on the streets instead of parks. I also don't live in suburbs/rural area.

I think these guys people are dating love their dogs but are also being performative because they heard women like dogs and they want to show how off devoted they are.

I love dogs and would be more excited to visit a new puppy than a new baby. However, dog bores are just as bad as baby bores.

Yep I think I'm gonna have to tell him. I suppose if he's the type to think his dog is his baby and he's going to be annoyed if I disagree, better finding out now!

@Cotonsugar

they can’t talk at all which is one of the reasons I think people like them so much.

@LuckySantangelo35 😂 strangely I can tell when he’s happy or unhappy. He loves being around people, new places and getting attention

And it seems to be quite normal for dogs to sleep in the actual same bed as their owners. Ughhh.
I have had dogs before and might have one again but would never, ever sleep in the same bed as one.

I neither love nor hate dogs and I'm not allergic or scared of them. I would prefer cafes and restaurants to be dog free but it would actually be impossible in my town to go out to one if I avoided all that are 'dog friendly' as they ALL allow dogs now. It's not as easy as just saying find one that doesn't accept dogs as, here at least, there are none. If I was scared or allergic then I guess I just couldn't eat or drink out anymore.

I don't think I go out of my way to look for annoying dogs as I don't care too much about them but in the last couple of years I have had dogs jump up and dirty my coat/clothes several times, a dog eat my child's sandwich out of their hand, seen two dogs crap inside shops and seen another suspicious yellow puddle next to a display stand in another shop. The 'anti-dog cult' of recent years that someone else mentioned is probably because people don't seem to be able to (or want to) control their dogs any more. Or maybe there are just more of them. I understand why people are increasingly annoyed with dogs and their owners. And yes, kids are annoying too (and parents should try to control as best as they can in public). I genuinely can't think of any occasions when I've noticed kids shitting on shop floors though.

puppies take up so much more of your time than kittens, I’m learning at the moment. My son got one and he’s great and I love him but my son is like a new mum with the lack of sleep and being tied to him in a way I’ve never been with my cats.

Yes I can see that. Pretty obvious that poster didn’t mean dogs are EVERYONE’S life.

@LilyLemonade

S Korea has just banned eating dogs (with a transition period of several years until full implementation). I think partly because of the rise in keeping them as pets.

My understanding is that the new rules will outlaw the breeding and sale of dogs for food - but not the eating of them . I don't know what the difference would mean in reality .

We have two dogs and I adore them. They aren’t my life but I love them to bits.
However, we have agreed as a family no more dogs when they pass. It’s too much work

Just don’t stay at those hotels then.

Everyone now seems to own a dog, & treat it like it’s human. They even give them human names, seriously, I heard a woman calling her dog Carol just a few days ago. If you think you can hear a brawl in the street it’s usually just a gang of COVID doggers meeting up to screech & baby talk each others dogs. It’s almost like they’re abusing the dogs by treating them like they’re deaf or daft.

No, no they're not. I am definitely a dog lover. I've always had dogs in my life; I love my current dog and will be devastated when she's no longer with us. But she's a DOG, not a person. I don't insist on taking her into every cafe and shop I go in (and she would hate that too, because she's a DOG and these are not dog places). I don't expect other people to like her as much as I do. I treat her in a way that's appropriate for a dog, because that's what she is, not a person, which she isn't. I'm her owner, not her mother. (Aaaand breathe)
Completely agree with you OP.

Honestly, my lunch time walk is absolutely ruined by the modern day menace that are off lead dogs. I walk along the canal and the dogs jump up at you, you get 'Don't worry, she likes to be friends with everyone' but human friends don't tend to get mud all up my leggings and attempt to swipe me into the frozen canal thanks! Then when i say can you recall your dog please they give me the dirtiest looks! Yesterday I had a jumper and the owner just shouted 'No!' at it repeatedly, the dog carried on regardless and didn't bother to apologise for the dog jumping at me. I have been looking up deterrant sprays on Amazon I am that sick of it!

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

She has a dog that jumps all over you, when you have the courtesy to shut your pet away for her? She sounds a bit unaware, but also if you haven't asked, she might not know. I presume she told you she doesn't like cats.
If you did ask, and she refused to stop the dog jumping on you, that would be very rude.