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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

MN seems to be very anti-dog....

115 replies

roslyndee · 29/04/2015 10:26

....just been told I should lock my dog away or tie her up if someone comes to my house who doesn't like/is scared of dogs!

Do any of you do this?

OP posts:
Original poster
roslyndee · 29/04/2015 11:02

steady I've actually found that many people are scared of dogs without any good reason actually, eg just 'I've read there are more dog attacks nowadays' or 'I've never been around dogs'.

I adore animals. It makes me really sad that people think they are not worth anything.

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Original poster
roslyndee · 29/04/2015 11:04

steady yes agree, would not allow dog to jump or lick etc. I also have a very licky rottweiler who loves to jump and cuddle. I'm perfectly happy to confine him to the garden with non-dog-loving guests as he loves being outdoors anyway.

FWIW, I would genuinely trust my baby DS with my rottie more than I would trust my MIL with him!

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crappyday · 29/04/2015 11:05

I love my big Labrador. I have a good friend who is terrified of her. I always shut dog away when she comes round. She always apologises & I tell her not to.
Why wouldn't I want my friend to feel comfortable? Dog is fine in a different room for an hour.

Original poster
roslyndee · 29/04/2015 11:06

crappy my cav is not fine in a different room for an hour. my rottie is, so that's fine.

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Hakluyt · 29/04/2015 11:07

Who am I to say what's a good reason to be scared? There is a workman who comes regularly to our house and he asked the first time if I would move my very quiet, small dog becaue he was frightened of her. So I did- and I make sure she's out of the way before he comes now. Just basic courtesy.

SingingHinnies · 29/04/2015 11:09

The council and gas board when you make an appointment now always ask if you have a dog and if you have one it must be put into another room or outside or the workman can refuse to enter

Steadycampaign · 29/04/2015 11:10

Same here, I adore animals too roslyndee but if people are scared and worried, then they are scared and worried. You might perhaps try and change a child's perspective about animals (for their sake) with their parent's permission, but an adult is entitled to their opinion. Some people (like my sister) are squeamish about the hygiene aspect of dogs in the house for example. Just because I don't hold the same view, doesn't mean she isn't entitled to think that way.

It's a bit like people who are adamant they don't want dc. Those of us with dc may feel sad because we think they are missing out, but not everyone is the same/shares the same opinions. Surely they are entitled to feel differently?

Hakluyt · 29/04/2015 11:10

But that's a very specific case- you would need to negotiate something with her- in that case her needs would outweigh most people's.

Pootles2010 · 29/04/2015 11:11

People don't have to justify to you why they're scared! Phobias don't make sense, and no one chooses to have them. Don't lock up your dog if you don't want to, but don't be surprised if you don't see the person in question anymore.

Sparklingbrook · 29/04/2015 11:11

I don't like dogs. I had a bad experience and I am wary. But when I go to friends' houses who have them I suggest they let the dog come and say hello and have a sniff of me.

Generally that's all they want to do-check you out then they go to sleep or wander off.

I did actually go round and walk one when my friend went out for the day. It was quite nerve wracking but ok.

Notso · 29/04/2015 11:11

I love and have huge respect for all animals but I don't really enjoy being up close to them.

I also think not being used to being around a dogs is a valid reason to be cautious of them, not because you think they might hurt you as such but because you don't know how to handle them etc.

Steadycampaign · 29/04/2015 11:13

Grin at trusting your rotti with your baby ds more than your mil!! Grin

tabulahrasa · 29/04/2015 11:13

Disliking and being scared of are different things though...I'd quite happily (and have done) put a dog away in a different room if someone is scared of them.

I wouldn't if they just don't like them though - assuming the dog isn't going to be jumping all over them then they can put up with a dog in a room.

SingingHinnies · 29/04/2015 11:14

I adore animals. It makes me really sad that people think they are not worth anything

I don't see how locking your dog away mean's you somehow don't like your animals Confused. I also get that some people are scared of my staffie, there is no reason to be, she is harmless, the last thing someone needs who is scared of her is her jumping on their knee which is her default setting, if i don't catch her she will sit on your knee and lean in for a cuddle. Tried to train it out of her but i can't, she's a massive lap dog. I get why some people don't like this, i would much prefer they met her through the gate if they want to.

I like animals, if i didn't i wouldn't have dogs, i also like people and dc's friends visiting

Original poster
roslyndee · 29/04/2015 11:17

yes tabulah, that was my point.

I don't mind if people are scared of her, I'm happy to ensure she's in the corner away from them. And I can understand why people would be scared of my rottie as to be fair he does look very scary (though he is completely at the bottom of the pecking order in our house, even the cats run rings around him).

I object to people who just don't like dogs dictating what I can and can't do with my pets in my own home. There are friends I have who don't like babies and I wouldn't shut my baby away in another room for them.

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Original poster
roslyndee · 29/04/2015 11:19

steady my MIL thinks my dogs are disgusting so I enjoy watching her freak out when my dogs and my kids are all in a pile together on the floor :)

She is a terrible parent, she frequently left DH and his little brother alone at weekends when they were 10 and 8.

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Hakluyt · 29/04/2015 11:20

If somebody told me to put her in another room I might be a bit miffed, but if they asked- then why wouldn't I? Except in exceptional circumstqnces, like your Cav.

Steadycampaign · 29/04/2015 11:23

You've got me thinking with that last comment roslyndee but still think perhaps that human vistors' needs should out way those of animal needs though, out of courtesy.

I know we all consider our dogs to be valuable members of our families, but friends who dislike dogs don't necessarily think like that, and would perhaps therefore assume that we rate them less than what to them, is "just an ordinary animal" (if that makes sense).

Steadycampaign · 29/04/2015 11:25

By 'last comment', I meant the one about not putting yr baby out of the room, not the one about your mil btw!!

Steadycampaign · 29/04/2015 11:29

and 'outweigh' not 'out way'!!

tabulahrasa · 29/04/2015 11:32

"I know we all consider our dogs to be valuable members of our families, but friends who dislike dogs don't necessarily think like that, and would perhaps therefore assume that we rate them less than what to them, is "just an ordinary animal" (if that makes sense)."

I've literally never been friends with anyone who actually disliked dogs...as opposed to just not actively liking them if that makes sense?

But I'd expect my friends to understand that I consider my dog to be a family member even if they didn't feel like that.

Even if you go along with treating pets as possessions...I don't expect people to remove furniture if I dislike it, so why a dog that's not doing anything?

Fear is different though, obviously.

Steadycampaign · 29/04/2015 11:39

YY perhaps should re-word that to say "friends who don't actively like dogs" but still, on balance, feel it is good manners to put a human guest's preferences above those of the dog or ours in relation to the dog.

The guest by definition is only there a little while. And surely if you value someone's friendship, then you put up with (what we might consider to be) their idiosyncracies?

As you say, I think many people who don't actively like dogs would tolerate them sitting quietly in a basket.

tabulahrasa · 29/04/2015 11:44

See I think it's worse manners to go to someone's house, point out something you don't like and ask them to remove it because you don't want to look at it from across the room, lol.

PITA dogs (glares at hers) are different, not everyone appreciates 6 stones of dog throwing themselves at you, but not if they're just lying quietly.

BlueKarou · 29/04/2015 11:46

Seems to me MN is fairly 50:50 in terms of pro-dog or anti-dog (there are probably some that don't care either way, but they don't tend to speak up on the many dog-related threads.)

For me, my dog is a part of the family - if someone comes round then I will stop my dog from jumping up/licking/other potentially unwelcome behaviour, but I will not shut him away unless it is for his own safety.

Hakluyt · 29/04/2015 11:47

So I should say to my aforementioned workman "Sorry, the dog stays"?