To not like dogs

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Awkward subject, but I recently was in a social group and everyone except me was bonding over their love of dogs and I just knew I had to keep quiet but of how socially unacceptable it is to dislike them.

I’m not scared of them, I haven’t had any majorly horrible experiences to make me hate dogs. I just simply don’t like them. I would never find a dog cute, I think they make your home smelly and dirty, having to walk them and look after them just seems like a form of personal torture I don’t know why anyone would want that. But I could NEVER say that thought out loud I would be crucified!

Also, another thing I’ve noticed is, it’s a certain demographic of people who seem to be obsessed with their dogs, people without kids, or older people whose kids have moved out. I may be wrong but it’s like this need to mother something/someone.

But anyway, I know dog lovers will come for me that’s fine I just genuinely want to know, why is it such a problem for dog lovers when someone else doesn’t like them?

I have kids, and when someone says they don’t want kids or don’t like them I don’t then judge them and start scrutinising them, I sort of agree lol! (Obviously love my own)

I think the problem here is your stereotyping of dog owners, using words like dirty, smelly etc etc. It is not a nice attitude, so please don’t generalise.

It would be the same as someone describing your children as unruly, dirty, misbehaving and germ ridden.

@MyMauveWaspNo I understand to dog lovers that’s not nice to hear, but you can’t compare them to children. They’re animals at the end of the day. It’s not the same thing

Yes, we can compare, go and take your goady spitefulness elsewhere.

all the responses saying it’s not a big deal I agree that’s my whole point. But in person whenever it comes up I’m made to feel awful for saying I’m not a dog lover or pets in general. So it was more aimed at anyone who has done this to someone, I want to know why it’s such a big deal to them

WE'RE animals too. Mammals to be specific. What makes us so much more important?

See that’s what you don’t get. You are applying your attitude and opinion on others! Some people absolutely hate children! It’s not about status of being an animal or not, it’s about being respectful of peoples preferences and opinions. I get from your post that you felt a little ‘left out’ when your friends were chatting ‘dogs’. That’s a little emotionally immature.

Also, another thing I’ve noticed is, it’s a certain demographic of people who seem to be obsessed with their dogs

I don’t particularly like dogs either tbh especially after the wave of poorly trained lockdown dogs, but I disagree with this OP, there’s plenty of parents with young kids who are obsessed with dogs!

Some of them even keep their dogs on after they’ve been aggressive or bit their own children. They “joke” that their dog is as important if not more than their children!

You don’t like dogs being compared to children, or people saying children are unruly (you’ve replied to these comments), so why can’t you understand that people don’t like you bitching about dogs. Why do you have to keep telling them you don’t like dogs? Just keep quiet and stop being an antagonistic weirdo.

I was so pleased recently when MIL and SIL dogs passed away within a few weeks of one another (not that I wished them dead they were very old and it was expected) they’ve always moaned about not seeing the dc at their homes (dc are allergic) I said to dh how it’ll be great now we can have a better relationship with them go to visit , help out etc . The dc were happy. Then they both got new dogs 🤦

Yes but tbf you'd probably get a similar reaction if you said you didn't like chocolate, cheese, warm weather or Christmas. Most people would react as though you were some kind of psychopath and the remaining few would greet you like a long-lost twin. People do like to be OTT about their enthusiasms and dislikes.

I really like dogs, but I can totally understand why some people don't. Sorrg to be so boringly reasonable

Wow that’s intense.Doesn’t really cover it, why would you think people hate children? It’s ok for you to hate dogs, but if someone dare say anything because your child is running around disturbing other people, that makes them a child hater! Strange logic.

This hasn’t happened to me. I think one guy I was talking to expressed some surprise I wasn’t an “animal lover” and I clarified that
I liked animals fine including the elephants in the sanctuary that I donate to every month but just not keen on dogs in particular and he dropped it.

Everyone else has been ok though and don’t seem to care shrugs , including friends who own dogs.

How are you made to feel awful? What did too say that brought on that response?

As long as you wouldn’t harm one then you like what you like I suppose. However one exception to that is any one who doesn’t find puppies or any baby animal irresistibly adorable is an odd ball.

Yeh I’m wondering too what you’ve said OP, because no one else I know seems to care.

Even when I was a kid people didn’t raise an eyebrow when i said no I didn’t want to hold the new puppy on the block 😆 I think some of them are cute yeah but no desire to be up close to them.

The only issue I’ve had is with daft owners who let their out of control dogs run at me and aren’t happy when I tell them in no uncertain terms I don’t care if their dog is “friendly” I don’t want it touching me.

Those people are generally unreasonable though and even sensible dog owners struggle with them.

OP maybe you just know a lot of excessively dog obsessed people. Find some people more on your wavelength or just don’t care what they think of you.

How are you made to feel awful? Why is this such a big issue for you? Why the need to say you don’t like dogs or any animals.You’re making an issue out of nothing And as others have said, this type of thread has been done so many times of here.You don’t like dogs, fair enough, why the need to keep telling people?

I have a dog and a child. I don't love both equally as that would just be batshit. My child will always be more important than a dog. If you've never had children I can understand why you'd not be able to relate to those who have had children but children are for life and dogs are for 15 - 16 years or so. I don't take my dog everywhere with me either and it bugs the hell out of me if I'm in a cafe and there's 2 dogs barking their heads off at each other or wandering around. Dogs don't have the same rights as humans to be anywhere they like. Since Covid lockdowns, some businesses are afraid to turn them away.

In real life people don't hate/fear/despise dogs as much as people on mn do. Dog hate on here is disproportionate to what the average dog owner comes across in real life.

It’s fine not to like dogs. I personally hate cats. Completely useless in the grand scheme of things

Admitting it would of been inappropriate with the social group who were bonding over dogs - your opinion was rightly not voiced.

Newsflash!

Maybe people don't care what you think?

😆 😆

I don't think many people adore all dogs. I adore my dog and a few select others that I know. I dislike some and I am neutral over others. I think it's like anything - people, kids, cats, dogs... your love for them grows when there is a bond. I certainly wouldn't expect a stranger to love my dog like I do.

I don’t hate dogs but I don’t love them either.

Owners and dog lovers can be extremely irritating. Some of them are the most delusional, entitled, aggressive, defensive, batshit people you can come across.

I would think it’s a bit odd to take stance that you dislike dogs, rather than just you wouldn’t want to own one.

I wouldn’t want to own a cat, but I don’t dislike cats.

I don’t think it’s that uncommon for people to not want dogs?