To not like dogs

[lookpar]

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)

Don’t know where you go to😂 I’ve never been to a cafe or a pub, where dogs are barking at each other and roaming around.Quite the opposite, quite often there’s only one dog, lying on floor, not causing any disturbance.That’s probably why, cafes and pubs allow dogs.Really don’t get, why you feel the need to say, dogs don’t have the same rights as people, hmm yes we know, but if it’s ok with you, people will take their dogs out with them.

Does it matter what they say? You're the one feeling awful over something so trivial. They can't make you feel anything. I've just screamed at a bit fuck off spider, as I put my parasol up. I bloody hate the things - spider lovers can piss off 😆 🤣

Yippee, another dog hating thread! 👏

Yes, all dogs are vile, aggressive, nasty hateful creatures.

That what you want to hear @lookpar ?🙄

I am not even a dog person, I'm a cat person, and I have no feelings either way about dogs, and even I am sick of these dog bashing threads!

I can honestly say it bothers me zero if someone tells me they don't like dogs. Or cats. Or children. I love dogs but have a couple of close friends who just don't like them. And thats fine. I always remember a radio piece I was listening to though that said never trust someone who has a dislike of animals as they're generally not nice people....not sure how true that is though

This thread completely proves your point op. The minute you say you’re not keen, dog people get very nasty and defensive and many of them ‘hate’ little children and compare them to animals. Shameful.

😂

Perhaps some dog owners are sick to death of these tedious threads constantly bashing dogs. 🙄 Just a thought. Of course they are going to defend them! As I said, I am neither here nor there with dogs, (don't dislike them, don't love them, I am a cat person,) and even I am sick of these dog bashing threads!

And let's be honest, a lot of cafes would close down if they didn't allow dog walkers, especially those near parks and countryside. Children these days are kept inside on their devices. It makes life easier for parents not having to trek out to take their children for walks and outdoor play.

I don't hate little children. I guess though it's a similar situation to dog haters - dislike lazy parenting just the same as i dislike lazy dog owners. Both groups create badly behaved children and badly behaved dogs. Not the children's' or dog's fault....

it is fine to not like dogs. I just don't get why it has to be announced all the time like it is some important news. Someone should come up with a flag for dog hating like there are for the hundreds of genders/sexualities so you can fly it proudly.

Dog owners get wound up because every thread on here goes from a simple dislike of dogs, which is fine, to stereotypes and crap about their owners. Things like dog owners are simple minded and can't form human relationships. Oh, then the plain daft like dogs are not natural and are "man made".

It's fine to not like dogs, just don't be unpleasant about people who do. That is unreasonable.

Exactly this. Like dogs, don't like dogs, it doesn't matter.

I love dogs, but don't fit the OP's demographic, as I've loved dogs all my life - long before I had kids or was old (thanks for that!) I equally respect the right of others not to like dogs (or kids, or rabbits or whatever.....) People like different things.

I don’t like children. We’re all different.

What a nasty, judgemental person you are - nothing to do with your opinion on dogs, everything to do with your opinions on people. FWIIW, I don't like you. May I start a thread on it?

I've often wondered about that. I'm of similar view to the OP and I have got into some very uncomfortable situations when dog lovers have realized I don't like dogs. I don't really see why anyone would care about what I do and don't like.

The worst was a dog walker I passed every single day on the school run who stopped me one day to accuse me of teaching my children to hate dogs.

ExDP's relative was also incredibly offended when my children weren't interested in playing with her dog (who had just done a poo on the lounge carpet).

Wow and your comment isn’t hateful! all you’re doing is stereotyping.This thread isn’t about people not being keen as you put it, on dogs, it’s just another thread of many, to moan about hating dogs, that’s very different to not being keen on dogs.Many comments on here, are saying, they understand if people don’t like dog, it’s the hate, fed up of hearing it over and over again on MN.
Does this really have to be a regular thread on MN, of course people are going to be like, ah not another one.
According to you many people who like dogs, hate little children!!! And compare them to animals and it’s shameful.
Think reading your comment says more about you as person.

Nobody does care if you and the OP hate dogs. You're entitled to hate dogs. But why do you feel the need to recount negative experiences? What is it that you want? Validation? Acceptance? Do you think these experiences prove that all dogs are nasty?

Have you never had a single positive experience with a dog? Never seen a well behaved dog anywhere in your entire life? Or do you just look for the negatives and feel compelled to share them with the world just to get a reaction?

Judging by your response on here about dog owners - implying that they are either sad and pathetic people without children or sad and pathetic people whose children have left home - might have something to do with why you feel you're made to feel awful. Not the actual not liking dogs cos, as a dog owner, I don't care. I adore my dogs but they are mine and I don't need external validation from anyone.
Saying that, I do find that people who don't like animals are somewhat...missing something in their soul.

For me meeting someone new I try to cycle through conversation topics to find common ground between us. And bearing in mind 36% of UK households have a dog that is a fairly easy start point to find some common ground. If they said they didn't have any pets - well no big deal, move on and try and find something else. If they told me they hated dogs I'd think that was bloody rude and it would put me off trying to find the next topic as they'd obliterated my first attempts.

See, I don't have any issue with you not liking dogs. But when you start suggesting that people who love them are filling a void left by the lack of children you're starting to make yourself look like a bit of a tit.

Hey man, you do you. The world would be shit if we all liked the same things. You don't see the point of them, I think they are wonderful companions.

It’s not unreasonable to dislike dogs and it’s not unreasonable to like them either. I’m not sure that anyone else cares unless it affects them e.g. insisting on bringing a dog along when visiting or insisting someone else’s dog is crated. Live and let live.

There are a lot of things it's not 'socially acceptable' to express dislike of, particularly when you're in a group of people who are currently discussing their enjoyment of that thing. Just part of life. Listen and nod politely for a while, then introduce another topic of conversation that's more in line with your own interests. (And realise that someone else in the group may be internally groaning, 'Not this again! I don't like fill-in-the-blank.')

Doesn't bother me you hate dogs. I love my dogs more than my kids. Then again mine are adults, so can fend for themselves 😂

Perhaps it's not what you say but how you say it.

If you can't be open and honest in your social circle it's either your choice of social circle, your social skills or a confidence issue on your part.