I like dogs like I like toddlers. It’s fun to hang out with other people’s for a while, but ultimately they’re annoying, loud, and make a mess. I feel like in the past 10 years or so, dog owners have become increasingly convinced that everyone thinks their slobbering, untrained mutt is god’s gift to everyone, and expects everyone to love it unconditionally. Dogs in restaurants. Dogs in stores when you go shopping. “Oh it’s so funny that your dog is jumping on me and getting it’s dirty paws all over me while it tries to sniff my crotch.” “Oh oops! Your dog ate my food off the counter, fucking again. Guess that’s my fault because in this house nothing is safe from the coddled fucking dog.” “Hey man can you watch the dog? It’s really easy, not like it pisses all over the floor and knocks the trash over or anything. We have to leave the house for 2 hours and it has anxiety/depression/borderline personality disorder and he’s a wittle special boy who needs constant attention.”
I’m just tired of it. Nobody gives a goddamn about your stupid dog. Stop bringing your animal to restaurants, it’s disgusting and inconsiderate. It’s not your child, it’s a dog. Dog people have made me hate dogs.
I love my dog more than anything on this planet, but she’s mine and I don’t expect anyone else to like her just because I do, she can be annoying as fuck, but I have more than enough love for her that it makes up for everyone else who doesn’t like her.
I also agree tho, you don’t have to take your dog everywhere you go unless you have a legitimate reason and that’s what service dogs are for.
I’m a dog person, but I agree, for the most part. Nobody should have to put up with wild, untrained animals in public places. That’s kind of the point of civilization- taming and controlling nature. Untamed dogs do not belong.
That said, I think properly trained dogs are less offensive than most people. I do my best to train my dog, and I actually think she still has a long way to go. (She is very obedient, but being young, has a very short attention span and requires repeat commands to stay focused.)
The average training level of dogs these days is simply atrocious. I went out for a walk on a trail that allowed off leash dogs, and several people told me how shocked they were that my dog always came and stayed by my side when I commanded her to “heel” -frankly, this is disturbing. I consider a reliable recall the BARE MINIMUM for a dog.
“Good” dogs are usually the most predictable, reliable things in their environment
I literally cannot find a girlfriend because for some reason EVERY girl that I come across on dating sites has “MUST LOVE DOGS” or “I’ll steal your dog” or “I want to own all the dogs.” as one of the first things on their profile… Before even talking about themselves it’s dogs dogs dogs… It’s actually infuriating how obsessed so many of them are with dogs, not because I hate dogs or anything, but just because it’s everyone around me. I’m perpetually a fish out of water.
How does this effect you? Do you envy the attention and affection the dogs are receiving?
I blame the big pet supply stores in the US for normalizing bringing your dog into a store. It was there first, then people started bringing them into the big box home improvements stores - sure the floor is unfinished concrete and everything is hardy so it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s creeping change. Now I see them in almost any sort of store. I don’t care for it.
Also - why isn’t there a proper certification/accreditation for proper service animals? Like the ones with extensive training? Someone’s untrained anxiety comfort animal or whatever gets treated the same as a trained-from-puppy seeing eye dog?
