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Original poster

Why do people take their dogs with them everywhere?

86 replies

JoshandJamie · 04/07/2006 20:25

I'll admit it - I'm not a fan of pets of any description. Dogs give me an itchy nose and I hate the smell of a house that has dogs living in it. I also hate the hair that gets left everywhere.

But what drives me nuts is when people take their dogs with them everywhere - particularly to my house. When I grew up we had dogs. But dogs were dogs. You took them for walks and obviously if you were going away for a weekend or whatever you took them with you or possibly put them in boarding for a while if it was a long holiday. This was in South Africa

But here in the UK it seems that if you have a dog you cannot leave it alone - even for a few hours. It must be with you - like a child. But it's not a child. It's a dog. And personally when someone brings their dog over to my house uninvited I want to turn them around and send them home.

The worst thing is that most of our friends now have at least one dog so if we have a get together it becomes a gathering of the dogs. How do I politely tell them that they are welcome but their dogs aren't?

Apologies to all the animal lovers out there who probably want to lynch me but this is a real issue for me.

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 05/07/2006 14:00

I do understand that dogs get lonely, but dogs and their owners should just learn to behave unlike the arsehole who let his dog crap in the lovely clear freshwater stream where dd1 was paddling on Saturday .
what really ticks me off is when people bring dogs to a house or to a get together and then get irritable with dd1, who is nervous of dogs. I get a little tired of "oh he's friendly, he won't hurt you, don;t be silly, there's nothing to be scared of!" as they bounce all over her.... she tries to be brave but when she is crying in fear I don't much appreciate them telling her she's being silly.

nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:02

yes my dd's are like that too

get upset when told they are being silly of an animal that to them is enormous and covered in drool

and as for cats.....

coming into my garden and shitting all over the place, for my children to tread in

cupcakes · 05/07/2006 14:04

Blu - that's terrible. I hope they reported what had happened to the letting company. Those dog owners should have been penalised.

nailpolish - that's so horrible. I bet you were hysterical! (I assume friend + dog haven't been invited back. )

nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:07

cupcakes - she thinks its all a big joke, she still brings the dog whenever she comes round. she didnt even offer to help me clean it all up, i was on hands and knees in tears scrubbing

thinking about it makes me want to scream!

harpsichordcarrier · 05/07/2006 14:07

I know, np, it's not like it's irrational or anything. I mean, dogs are big and jumpy and bark loudly and have big teeth and do unexpected things. and most of the ones we see are much bigger than dd1 and quite capable of sending her flying.
it's like expecting us to be calm with a highly strung horse with a loud bark cantering about the living room.

harpsichordcarrier · 05/07/2006 14:08

christ, if any dog pissed on my baby's bed i wouldn't be responsible for my actions, I must say.

Original poster
JoshandJamie · 05/07/2006 14:09

I 100% think people have the right to have dogs - I just personally will never have one. And I don't like them coming to my house. But on the issue of them being social and not being left alone - that's why we always had two dogs. They kept each other company.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:10

even FIL's little yappy teeny yorkie thing i dont like - it chews all dd's lego, books etc

and mooches at the table, FIL feeds it scraps from the same fork he is eating from

disgusting

nope, dont like dogs one bit

but feel better having a good moan about it

Whizzz · 05/07/2006 14:12

We must have had at least 5 letters asking people not to bring dogs to the school when picking up kids - there are at least 3 dogs there every day - ranging from tiny spaniel puppy to massive Alsatian!

cupcakes · 05/07/2006 14:14

blimey - would she let her children behave like that? It's not only rude it's weird.

A lot of these dog owners don't sound like they've ever attempted to train or discipline the dog in anyway.

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 14:24

No offense, NP, but that person would NOT be my friend anymore. Sorry, but to think it's funny to bring your pet uninvited and then laugh when it misbehaves and snigger whilst you clean up poo and piss?

No, that's not on. She wouldn't be in my house again. EVER.

I agree 100% w/your feelings on dogs.

They're SO stinky and I just can't abide the smell.

nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:25

i dont think ive ever met anyone who has attempted fully to train their dog, apart from one uncle who has a farm and sheepdogs

FioFio · 05/07/2006 14:27

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nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:28

yes, expat, i know what you mean

i still seeth

we were at theirs for tea the other day and my 18mth old dd was walking about with a treasured fairycake in her hand, delighted

bloody dog pinched it straight out of her little chubby sticky fist

friends do not have any children themselves "pooch is our baby"

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 14:29

Bugger that! Sorry, but she seems a little dozy to me, even when I had kids I still wouldn't have let my pet treat my guests like that.

I'd have been absolutely mortified if my dog crapped and peed in someone's house and have offered to go straight to a cash machine and give them money to have it professionally cleaned.

nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:34

nah, shes not dozy, just lazy and selfish

(i didnt realise this was bothering me so much and that i was bottling it all up til i saw this thread!)

Riddo · 05/07/2006 14:35

I ring my sil and say "you're not bringing the dog are you?". It usually works especially if I wheeze a bit while I'm saying it.

JanH · 05/07/2006 14:37

nailpolish, she's lazy and selfish (and thoughtless too!) she must have some really good points to make up for all that and the dirty dog?

nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:40

weve been friends since school, im sure there are things i do that she hates, like moan about her dog

although i cant think of anything, i am perfect and so are my children...

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 14:40

No doubt, Jan, cuz she sounds like a real cow.

The smell of dog poo makes me hurl, it really does.

There's no way I could have cleaned that up.

FioFio · 05/07/2006 14:41

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nailpolish · 05/07/2006 14:41

hey, ive just thought of another dog annoyance - my 3 yr old dd and her little friend doing handstands in the park and putting their hands in dog shit

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 14:48

boak, NP. i'd have vomitted everywhere. bring back the park wardens and FINE all who leave dog crap £100 minimum straight off.

expatinscotland · 05/07/2006 14:49

i was shocked at the way people just allow their dogs off lead here. unheard of in denver, BIG fines! there's one park in town that is exempt from leash laws for that express purpose. for everyone else, keep your dog on lead, pick up hte mess, or take the fines.

shimmy21 · 05/07/2006 14:59

I'm off to walk my dog now -in public!

I confess that she will probably breathe in and out, possibly near some children.

I am ashamed to admit that she may even wee on some grass. (We haven't trained her to use the loo and wash her paws afterwards because we are irresponsible dog owners and she does have trouble with loo roll.)

She will be walking within 50 metres of the vicinity of a primary school.

And, oh how happy my children (and believe it or not their friends) will be to see her!