To think dogs are unhygienic

[bottomsup12]

I know it sounds judgey but hear me out..

DH would love a dog and I do love the idea of having one when I see them out and about it seems really nice and fun having a dog as a companion. I absolutely love other people's dogs!

However when I get down to the nitty gritty of thinking about the actual reality of having a dog in the house it gives me the ick because...

• I hate dog poo and I don't want to pick any of it up in the garden (DH says he will but I just know this will be slack and I'll end up stepping in it)
• they're butts are just there out in the open and it will be sitting on the floor maybe even the furniture (have a baby so I don't want him crawling around where the dogs arse has been after a horrible dog poo!
• I think they all smell bad! And I don't want me or the house to stink!
• they lick everything on the floor outside and lick things in the house which makes me wince.
• they obviously walk barefoot outside treading in all sorts of shit and the streets are filthy and they'd be walking all around the house and furniture with these gross dirty feet.
• the hairs would be everywhere

I just can't get past all of that but I feel I am being unfair on DH who really wants one and grew up having them in the house

I’ve had a dog for 3 years and she’s the best thing ever. She’s a little ray of sunshine and she’s brought so much happiness into our lives. My husband hated dogs but absolutely adores her. She sleeps on the bed with me and is allowed on her blanket on the furniture.

She doesn’t shed hair but she does sometimes smell and then I bath her. I don’t think my house smells but I may be used to it now.

The “germs” she brings in haven’t given me any illnesses at all in the 3 years I’ve had her.

I started working in a school in September and the little darlings have literally caused me to pretty much be permanently unwell since October!

I agree and I have dogs that sleep on my bed. The main thing that bothers me is all the poo everywhere on walks….I just feel so despairing when I’m diligently picking up my own dogs’ poo next to a big heap of another dog’s poo that’s been squashed and trodden all over the grass. This depends on your area though. They eat cat poo too if they get the chance…luckily we don’t get cats pooing in our garden. I don’t care too much about germs myself but if I had a baby or young children I would probably become obsessive about cleaning.

I don’t notice the smell, probably because I love it, especially the hormone smell from my intact dog! (Yes I’m weird!) Except for anal gland secretions…they’re not too pleasant🤣

It's totally fine to not want a dog for the reasons given and you shouldn't be pressured into it. Dogs are our families business tho so we love them but they are at times undeniably gross! But I also have horses and spend 6 months of the year covered in mud. Always had animals and can honestly say I've never caught an illness off any pet. Humans on the other hand are disgusting germ infested vestibules I try and avoid as much as possible. I'll happily eat a bag of crisps at the yard with mud and grime under my fingernails and all over my hands but won't put my fingers near my face til I've washed my hands from being at the shops

Maybe wait until you don't have very young children. I was a bit paranoid about germs when mine were little, but then they have allergies, so maybe a few more germs would have helped a bit?

Our dogs have increased my workload by several hundred percent (ditto my husband) but they give us so much joy.

Dogs are gross! I have to suppress the urge to vomit when I see people let dogs like their faces, or even worse literally their lips 🤢 just beyond disgusting!!!

Houses that have dogs in always smell, no matter how much the dogs and/or house is cleaned.

That said, I don't hate dogs. My Dad has an adorable dog, my inlaws have always had dogs. Dogs can be wonderful companions for sure, but I wouldn't consider it as I can't get past the gross side of them. I'll visit other people's dogs instead..

IME dogs are more hygienic than most people and children.

But if you don't want a dog, don't get a dog. You don't need to justify it as they are unhygienic. You can just say you don't want one.

I adore dogs, but they are a lot of work OP, and restricting. I'm happy to put up with that, because for me the benefits are huge. If I didn't want one, I wouldn't trust my partner saying he would do everything. The person at home, when they make a mess, or need care, is the person who has to deal with it. There's no way , you'd get away with never having to do anything.

Per ownership is supposedly great for microbiome health and stress.
Yes probably unhygienic but not necessarily a bad thing.

Yanbu. People who get dogs don't really care / think about it. Your list is fact. They always smell horrific. A very clean person could never have a dog.

Yep. They are all these things. You can minimise a lot of it by how you manage things and the breed but yes. They don't bathe daily and they are animals.
We benefit from the dirt and germs they bring in. Dc who grow up with dogs have been shown to have stringer immune systems.

Don’t get a dog if you have a baby - nuts idea - you have enough cleaning etc and I promise you DH will not clear up poos well enough to have a toddler in the garden.

Absolute bullshit. Have you met every single breed of dog in the world? Been to houses of every single breed of dog in the world?

NOT ALL DOGS SMELL but dog haters always insist they do. Why not do some research before spouting such rubbish.

They all smell. It's true.

Oh another dog expert! Again, I ask, have you met every single breed of dog in the world?

Not all dogs smell and the dog haters are doing an excellent job of making fools of themselves

Yanbu to not want a dog. They can be smelly, most shed hair and they trail mud in from outside.That’s obviously not why I have one though. He keeps me fit and active ( he doesn’t care if I cba with exercise sometimes, we are doing it anyway 🤣), snuggles in on the sofa and he loves us. He hears my car when I get home and runs to the door to meet me. It’s so sweet. He’s family. If you’re just going to view a dog as an unhygienic animal, who’s an inconvenience to clean up after, it’s definitely not for you.

this is just your issue what is a "very clean person "

Can you borrow one for a few days? Offer to pet sit for a family member or friend, just to give you the idea of the reality.
They are pretty,gross to be fair, but for those of us who love having them in our lives, the chaos they bring is nothing compared to the love and joy.

@bottomsup12 I have a Whippet who is more like a cat.
Small, clean, arse not on display, and quiet.
My dog disliking mum allows her to stay as she’s unobtrusive.

The poo is small bore so not onerous to pick up.

But if you don’t want a dog DON’T get one as it WILL be you doing the poo picking, walking and foot washing no matter what your husband says.

This. Please don’t get a dog unless you desperately want one

What is a very clean person in your opinion?
I hope you are showering daily and wearing fresh clothes, bedding done weekly, hoovering done daily, loos cleaned daily etc as a minimum before you start spouting tripe like this!

I agree about the extra work that a dog would involve and is mainly the reason we don't have one (nor any pet currently, despite the fact that the children would love one!)

But I have to agree with a PP that kids are way more germy.

There’s absolutely no obligation to have a dog.

Husband can go volunteer at the reject/abandoned dogs home to assuage his dog need.

You sound in a similar position to me. Other than I also had dogs growing up.

My DH was desperate for a dog. I had no capacity. We discussed (argued) for quite a while as it turned out he thought I’d just ‘do what I normally do’ and take responsibility for everything. When he realised I wasn’t going to do that he put quite a lot of research in, waited about 6 months and we’ve had our dog for years now. I love her and I do help with clearing the garden, the odd walk etc, but she’s definitely DH’s dog. He does the insurance, vet visits, kennel stays etc.

She is a lot of work but our DC love her, so do I. I wouldn’t take on the extra work myself at the stage of life but I’m very happy to have her round. Will not deny that the house is less clean though!

I think you need to clean them, and their environment quite thoroughly. And it depends on the size, breed and behaviour of the dog (and crucially owner) how messy/ smelly/ hair shedding they may be.
I personally would not do it. Cats are self cleansing, (unless sick/ old), but they do also shed hair.
Some dogs drool a lot which i think is foul. I also hate if they beg for food off people's table/ plates. And who wants to walk around for an hour with a bag of shite in your hand/bag?
They are (often) cute though. : )
My family have small dogs and they don't smell but I'm pretty sure they could and would at some point if I lived with them.

I partly agree OP, in that I don't like dogs that are allowed on chairs, sofas or in beds. They can also be smelly but owners get nose blind and will deny it. Don't get a dog OP.