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)

Your comment is more stupid. She didn't say she hates lions! Just pointing out that we hang out with wild animals that could (and do) kill us, like lions. Not everyone loves dogs, and that's ok.

@luckylavender why shouldn't my dog, who lives with me/shows me signs of loyalty/brings me joy and comfort, be more important to me than a child I literally don't even know?

No, she said you can’t love a particular animal as it could harm you … re-read. No mention of her feelings on dogs.

No, that’s your words, that’s not what people who have dogs are saying on here.Many also have children and know the difference between, their child and their dog There’s no real need for you to get so worked up about it.You don’t like dogs, fair enough, there’s just no need to keep pushing your view onto people who choose to have a dog.It’s their decision not yours.

For me, my dog is pure goodness, and deeply synonymous with my home, domestic happiness and love. We are just as much her family as she is ours and she returns all our love and care at least tenfold.

I always loved this excerpt from Don Juan by Byron:

"Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark
Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home;
'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark Our coming, and look brighter when we come"

We have lived together side by side with our doggy friends for tens of thousands of years. They were domesticated long before any other animal and for ages it was humans and dogs vs everything else. They were our defenders, helpers and friends.

You can read epitaphs from the ancient world which heartbroken owners put on their dogs' graves, like this one:

My eyes were wet with tears, our little dog, when I bore you [to the grave]. So, Patricus, never again shall you give me a thousand kisses. Never can you be contentedly in my lap. In sadness, I buried you, as you deserve. In a resting place of marble, I have put you for all time by the side of my shade. In your qualities, you were sagacious, like a human being. Ah, what a loved companion we have lost!

Exactly how we still feel today when our faithful little friends leave us.

I do think to love animals and most particularly dogs is an essential part of being human. It's so ingrained in our nature and our history, and their past in particular is so intertwined with ours. If you don't feel it yourself, you're missing something

The dog haters are the ones that project and peddle the substitute child narrative, not we, the dog owners. I've never seen my dogs as children. Nor do I ever refer to them as fur babies. I love them for being what they are, which is a big furry creature that I am privileged to share my life with.

What a lovely post @JackGrealishsBobbySocks .
Thank you.

Yeh not a massive dog fan and have no fear about saying this to my friends who love their dogs. I wonder why you don’t feel able to voice an opinion?

Oh me too! Glad my husband and I aren't the only 2 in the entire world!
I can't figure out why, when your children are grown up and you have freedom, you would tie yourself down with a dog!!

If you feel awful for not liking dogs it's probably nothing do with not liking dogs.....

....and everything to do with how/to whom/and where you said it.

I feel the same about dogs as I do children. I love my own but have no interest in others.

Dogs aren’t real and shouldn’t exist.

Why is it so important for humanity and society to continue on? Human beings are a virus, we destroy everything we touch and this planet would turn into a paradise without us. Now, let's compare that to say bees, if the bees died it would have a devastating effect on this planet and everyone and everything who inhabit it within weeks. Bees are important, people are not. Spare me this bullshit about how badly we need human society to continue or how special humanity is, it's not. On the other hand, dogs are compassionate, loyal and will always be there for you. I'll take dogs over kids any single day of the week.

Yes, welcome to our world- the people who don’t like dogs but are surrounded by people obsessed with them.

We have family members in their 70s who refer to themselves as mummy and daddy when talking to their dog, it’s weird af.

It’s because dog lovers always say things like “well I don’t want to put up with children in a cafe but I have to, so you’ll have to put up with my dog”, thereby equating children with dogs. (I’ve seen it countless times on mn).

😂Really, so you’re speaking for all dog owners, that’s what they all think.You’re conveniently forgetting, there are many people with children who have dogs too You’ve read it countless times on MN, so it must be true, on a dog bashing thread.Back in the real world…

That’s up to them, why would that bother you so much, like really how does that impact on your life.
All you’re doing is generalising, there’s nothing wrong with how your family members refer to their dogs, but that doesn’t mean everyone does the same🙄

Oh how very awful for you.Another disappointed person, who was hoping this was going to be yet another nasty dog bashing thread.

Likewise, how awful for you to have to bother with this thread when you could’ve just scrolled on by.

Try using context when reading - I was replying to a post that said people don’t treat their dogs like replacement children. Clearly some do.

But many don't. And not all of us take our dogs to shops and cafes either, but you still lump us all in together just because it better suits your narrative.
Why can't you just just take people (and their dogs) as you find them, without having this weird agenda of hate?

Oh dear, when you don’t like the reply, patronise.
you clearly said you have family members in their 70’s who refer to themselves as mummy and daddy
when they talk to their dog.It’s as weird af!
Who are you to say it’s as weird as f*
You’re generalising, that was my point, so what, they speak to their dogs, in that way, that doesn’t mean everyone else does, hence you’re generalising, there was no misunderstanding on my part.
Get a life and mind your own business, how’s that for context.

What, why should l scroll on?l have experience with dogs, use to be a dog trainer.Had my own dog for 19 years.Why are you on here?
I’ve read some of your comments, you’re clearly on here just to have a go at people who have dogs.
You don’t like them, so what, that’s a you problem.

You're 'surrounded' by people, who know that the more people they meet, the more they love their dogs. Thanks for reminding us.