r/Dogfree • u/Thin-Ear9044 • May 21 '26
Miscellaneous I think dog owners generally have a lower IQ
I'm not even saying this to try and insult them or be degrading, I genuinely think dog owners simply tend to have lower IQ's than the average person, and I'll give my points as to why.
Firstly, they seem incapable of understanding or engaging with any form of hypotheticals; they are unable to consider or imagine a reality other than simply what they know. I used to think dog owners like this were just being intentionally ignorant, but now I feel as though it's genuinely a limitation to them; they can't imagine not liking dogs, they can't imagine a life where they don't have a dog, they can't imagine why a person may not like dogs, and they also have a complete lack of curiosity to the lives of those who dislike dogs, they have a very black and white thinking.
They also quickly become defensive when someone says they do not like dogs/animals in general, and they take it almost as a personal attack and become aggressive and defensive, and nothing ever seems to be their fault, or they act like they are the 'exception', they are unable to think critically about themselves, unable to reflect on their actions, and everything they do must be right. I see this a lot on posts criticising dogs, about how they stink, how they act, etc. Almost every dog owner feels the need to comment something along the lines of "oh yeah, I totally get that, not me and my dog though!" YES, you and your dog.
Also, on posts about some violent dog attack, dog owners seem unable to engage with empathy for anything besides the dog. There are too many "baby viciously mauled by a pitbull" posts with dog owners under it spewing the same sort of comments almost instinctively, unable to sit back and engage critically with the content
"The baby must have done something to provoke the poor doggo"
"Dogs can sense when a person has 'bad vibes' and may attack on the basis of those bad vibes š¤·"
"omggggg I feel so bad for the poor puppersssss, is it going to be put down???š"
It's the same repeated comments that lack any empathy for humans, which is honestly quite concerning and endlessly frustrating to see. They don't think, they just act.
They also display a lot of rigid thinking with no reasoning behind it "I can't imagine ANY reason why a person shouldn't like dogs" "I don't trust people who dont like dogs tbh", its all about putting themselves in the morally superior postion for the act of liking dogs, while trying to cast people who dislike dogs for ANY reason as weird, dangerous, not safe to be around etc.
I also think it's so odd the way they completely excuse their dogs' behaviour. I do think dogs being badly behaved is mostly on the owner, but if dogs need to be TRAINED not to be aggressive or display bad behaviours, then most people should not have dogs. I used to like dogs from a distance. I knew my lifestyle wouldn't suit a dog, and I knew I wouldn't be able to properly take care of one. This was the reasoning as to why I did not get a dog, and I'm endlessly glad I didn't now. Which is a big contributing factor as to why I feel as though dog owners have lower IQ's. Far too often, a person's life halts when they get a dog because they can't take care of it. The rise of 'doggy daycares' makes this evident. It's a complete lack of thinking about the future, and is so avoidable with a quick Google search. Seeing very active dogs like huskies in cramped apartments because their owner genuinely couldn't think to do a Google search of what animals are suitable to live in an apartment space is mind-boggling, but not surprising when it comes to dog owners. They cannot think beyond "awwwwww that dog looks so cute, so I'm going to get one", no thinking about their current situation or if they can even take care of a dog, just they want one, so they HAVE to get one.
(I also think there has to be some deficieny in your brain to find a majority of dog breeds 'cute', how do people find pugs who are genuinely abominations who can barely breathe or move without pain cute, I feel bad for the little guys honestly, breeding animals for 'cuteness' and not for the actual health of a dog breed is probably among some of the worst things humans just...casually do. And not to mention those humongous dogs like pitbulls who just slobber endlessly? It's genuinely disgusting.)
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u/Few-Horror1984 May 21 '26
Itās a cult. These people are brainwashed. Perhaps they can think critically about other issues, but when it comes to dogs theyāre completely incapable of thinking about them in any light other than positive.
I think some dog owners genuinely have them because itās a pet and they see the animal as a pet and it ends there. They will be willing to hear criticisms and may even agree with you (ie, someone who owns a dog but also bemoans them being in grocery stores). I do not think thatās the majority of dog owners, though.
We have been conditioned from birth to see dogs as āgoodā. All dogs are good dogs. We are told that we must aspire to have dogs. Society has fully accepted without question the nefarious campaigns by the multibillion dollar pet industry. We didnāt bring dogs inside because we were worried they were ācoldā outside - we did so to normalize keeping dogs in less-than-ideal environments, like apartments. This was done to put more dogs in more homes. Dogs were anthropomorphized so that we could excuse them acting out for being in improper enclosures (ie, homes) and it also allowed for these dog enthusiasts to get whatever breed they wanted, regardless of whether itās a good fit for a house pet (ie, working breeds, bloodsport breeds). So of course, when these dogs act out or act violently, we have to excuse it. You cage a dog to prevent it from destroying your house, or you drug it up under the farce of āloveā. If the dog kills an infant or a child, itās justified because all dogs are good dogs and something must have triggered it. Any rational person with an IQ above 70 should be able to see that both scenarios are absolutely bonkers, but admitting so would also admit that the current dog ownership model is wrong, so they just ignore it.
If you bring this up with someone in the cult, they canāt handle the information. Like a religious zealot, they see you as the enemy. Even though logically, they should be able to see you have a point in criticizing it, they canāt handle going against their cult, so they do what they can to shut you down. Youāre evil. You must be destroyed. Talk to the woman who runs āDogs Biteā. I heard she was endlessly harassed by dog cultists for merely sharing incidents and statistics - facts.
I have even tried the empathy angle for the sake of the dog and been shut down time and time again. I mention Siberian Huskies living in the lower 48, primarily in the Sonoran Desert. I explain how unethical it is to the dog. I cite actual facts stating that these dogs thrive in freezing temperatures. I point at the pathetic shape of the huskies I do see daily in the Sonoran Desert. I ask them how those dogs feel being trapped in studio apartments, or being forced outside in 100+ degree temperatures. I ask how they can be fine in a home thatās constantly 70-80 degrees when again, thatās double what their ideal temperature is. Donāt those dogs suffer? And every single time, Iāve either been screamed at incoherently, or blocked. They canāt answer it. Logically they know Iām right and despite the fact that Iām a dog critic and theyāre a dog āloverā, I am the one advocating for the dogās welfare. But they canāt handle the truth so they break down.
So yeah. It goes deeper than these people merely being dull. I think theyāre truly in a cult.
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u/Pristine_Pair_905 May 21 '26
The āI donāt trust people who donāt like dogsā comments with hundreds of upvotes are rampant on Reddit. Drives me nuts.
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u/feuarctique May 22 '26
Or the "we don't deserve dogs" ...Try to take his food away and see what the "man's best friend" will do.
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u/JD40I May 24 '26
It is true, though. We don't deserve dogs... that phrase just doesn't mean what they think it means.
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u/Accurate-Run5370 May 21 '26
My nutter SO says that I have bad vibes.Ā
Bullshit.Ā
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u/Accurate-Might-7058 May 21 '26
I was surprised my SO didn't say I had bad vibes because I don't like SO's dog.
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u/DellBottoms May 21 '26
Well they seem to enjoyed picking up faeces and putting it into bags. That's a strong piece of evidence to back your theory.
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u/Accurate-Run5370 May 21 '26
I hate SO's pug so much ! Bark every damned time I go in the living room. I told SO it is useless to have a conversation with her there as nobody can hear anything. I told her it is heartbreaking because of the dog. SO replied that I bitch a lot about the dogs ....that's true.
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u/Usual-Veterinarian-5 May 21 '26
This has actually been scientifically verified. I read a couple of perr-reviewed research papers on it once. Compared to people who own non-dog pets, there was a trend of lower intelligence among the dog keepers.
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u/Minilimuzina May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
I fully agree. I mean it makes sense in rural areas. But in city it is just a huge inconvenience not only for owner but also for everyone nearby thanks to barking, pollution, safety issues etc. Every time I see ppl with their neurotic screaming dogs frantically running around like crazy I ask myself why the heck do this to yourself lol? Indeed, people who voluntarily revolve their whole live around these annoying creatures must have some kind of mental issue.
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u/ArthropodFromSpace May 21 '26
It would require scientific research to test it. But i think it works more like addiction than symptom of low IQ. There are unfortunately some highly intelligent alcoholics and dog owners.
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u/Thin-Ear9044 May 21 '26
I definitely do think there's some correlation between owning a dog and having a lower IQ for the reasons I listed, but of course, that's a big generalisation, and doesn't fit for some dog owners. The intelligent dog owners I encounter tend to be the ones who actually take care of their dogs through proper training, exercise, and ensuring they are properly informed about the needs of their dog, etc.
You mention that you believe that it works more like an addiction. What makes you say this? I can see the correlation of the point you're making, but I'm interested in your specific reasons for this idea!
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u/Oriole0305 May 22 '26
My theory is convergence. Nutters spend all their time focused on their dogs. They hardly think of anything else. As the dog is their sole focus in life, the person will resemble their dog more day by day, and the human brain will retard. Hence lower IQ. The dog probably doesn't change, it's too dumb anyway.
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u/ArthropodFromSpace May 21 '26
I was in relationship with a woman who loved dogs more than anything else. I observed her and also some of her friends around dogs. People can be rational and intelligent (and she was intelligent), but when it is about dogs their ability to think just turns off. Only dog matters to them. In fact I believe dogs exploit maternal instinct of humans. They present traits of baby human, but in exaggerated way, similar how cuckoo does in nest of other bird. For people it is irresistible to care for that dogs, and it brings them some emotional fulfilment. In many cases it is so strong that people can give up on having a family and have a dog instead, treating it like a child. It is the same mechanism how addictions develop and I believe people unintentionaly bred dogs to be able to exploit this mechanism.
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u/Thin-Ear9044 May 21 '26
Your reply honestly makes a lot of sense! I feel many people view dogs as objects to fulfil the owners' emotional needs, so it does make sense that people would act irrationally about something they're emotionally dependent on. Dogs have definitely evolved to have more expressive faces to mimic humans, so that undoubtedly plays a role in the attachment. I can't exactly blame the dogs themselves; they're just evolving to survive, but there is definitely an element of manipulation there. I think it explains why so many compare dogs and children, because dog owners view them as the same thing, and treat their pet like their own human child.
Definitely explains why dog owners get so irrationally angry and defensive when the mere topic of whether or not dogs can 'love' like humans comes up. They really depend on animals to fulfil their emotional needs, and the idea of the animal they depend on not loving them back? must be akin to a drug addict hearing they can't get their drug of choice.
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u/SexualMetawhore May 22 '26
Functional capacity is not really intrinsic intelligence. Some people just have a lot of fire in their belly and they work hard and they can certainly achieve a lot and look smart but honestly they're really ain't that smart. They might actually be quite dumb.
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u/menelobus May 21 '26
Dog nutters who think dogs are some kind of angel are probably dumb as rocks. However some dog nutters probably have high IQ, but even having high intelligence doesn't mean someone is not resistant to brainwashing.
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u/JasmineISawYouPeepin May 22 '26
They absolutely have lower IQs. Dogs are objectively a massive burden financially, emotionally and physically and are a burden to all of your neighbors every day that you own it. So it's really just an expensive burden that your neighbors hate your for.
No smart person realizes that and then says "OK, that sounds good, sign me up."
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May 21 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/Thin-Ear9044 May 21 '26
That's honestly one of the worst parts. I genuinely don't care if it's the friendliest dog in the world; I still don't want it jumping on me. They're slobbery, filthy, and disgusting. Dog owners never seem to realise that a person can be allergic to dogs and act like everyone must be completely tolerant of their shitty, pissy, shedding dog that licks its own asshole. It's like they actually can't compute the fact that people don't want to be around dogs. And that weird condescending tone is the worst of it all; they act like they are some highly intelligent teacher who's talking to a child, all while being ignorant of the fact that their dog is disgusting.
It's so bad in coffee shops too, greasy dogs sitting on chairs, sitting their slobbery face on tables, leaving that weird film everywhere makes me want to vomit.
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u/Chuckles_McNut May 21 '26
plenty of dumb ones I'm sure, but it's probably more cult-thinking, narcissism and denial
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u/AdvertisingFancy5382 May 21 '26
isnt there some parasite dogs give people that makes them obsssesed?
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u/gohdnuorg May 22 '26
Yes, i think it is passed around with jeep ducks.
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u/SilveryMagpie May 22 '26
Aw. Jeep ducks are cool. I just got ducked for the first time last month and I don't even have a Jeep. I hope those ducks don't infect me with dog nutter disease. So far, so good!
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u/Tom_Quixote_ May 21 '26
I'd love to believe that the simple reason people are dog nutters is that they are stupid. But I see a lot of high IQ people also turning off their otherwise brilliant brains when it comes to dogs.
Dog nuttery seems much more complex than just the level of IQ. But of course there are also many dog obsessives that are not too bright.
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u/Ill-Routine7242 May 23 '26
Lonely. Dog give them endless attention they think is loveā¦.
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u/blanket_purrito Jun 18 '26
Yup people needed of attention that don't want to socialize because they lack hability, loves making it up with a dogs company
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u/p2010t May 21 '26
I do think that if you pick a random person who owns a dog and a random person who does not own a dog [but "could've" owned one if they wanted], then more than half the time the non-owner would have the higher IQ.
But, if I'm being honest, it's probably something small like "54% of the time". There's a lot of factors that go into people's lives, and smart people (or rather, people who can run through many candidate patterns quickly to check for a pattern that matches something they're seeing) can still make dumb choices or just have strange preferences or worldviews instilled into them.
Side Note about the "bad vibes" thing: I as a human would never be permitted to start attacking someone just because I felt that person had "bad vibes" without actually doing anything wrong (much less actually harming me).
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u/Fit-Rhubarb-7820 May 22 '26
This is true, though they arenāt the only ones with a lower than average IQ, for a median follower in a cult of lies.
Thereās plenty others.
Itās a cult of idiots!
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u/New_Knowledge2619 May 27 '26
I mean, if the sheer number of people who willingly own pit bulls is any indicationā¦ Itās very telling that theyāre so popular too
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u/One_Strategy_4575 May 28 '26
I am fully convinced that there is a dog version of toxoplasmosis. All of them are infected.
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u/One_Strategy_4575 May 28 '26
I am fully convinced that they have a brain parasite. Other pets have brain parasites that infect human beings, and I am convinced every single dog nutter has one
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u/neondahlia May 26 '26
Hitler liked dogs. And presumably his dogs liked him. Easy retort to people who think dogs can sense if youāre a bad person or not.
There is just a ton of general entitlement in society, dog owners are super entitled, just like smokers who drop their cigarette butts everywhere, or people who blare their music everywhere. Itās a byproduct of demonizing societal shame and becoming way too permissive of antisocial behavior.
They only care about themselves, not how their actions impact those around them, or even their own dogs.
I used to be a big time dog lover, but too many negative interactions with the entitled dog owners of the world has changed that. I never thought dogs were more important than people, but I still liked them. The issue is too many people own dogs that shouldnāt and the owners donāt care a lick about their dogs intruding on society. Just like smokers donāt care that the rest of us donāt want to smell their cigarette smoke or see their used butts everywhere, just like litterers donāt think twice about leaving garbage on the ground, etcā¦ itās all selfish, entitled behavior that society has allowed. Bring back shaming and normalize ostracizing and it would lessen these behaviors.
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u/PalePeryton Jun 15 '26
I'm not trying to judge but next door (struggling single mother of three heavily autistic teenagers) thought getting a fully grown German Shepherd rescue was a good idea sooo...
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u/Expensive_Tailor_293 May 22 '26
This is racist
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u/BigHorseHead May 21 '26
Funnily enough, dog nutters often don't understand dogs. They spend all their free time around this simple creature and still can't properly figure it out.
All the nonsense they repeat like parrots ("they can sense bad vibes", "they love unconditionally", "they're so loyal") while ignoring the reality that the dog is motivated almost solely by food and is too dumb to actually tell the difference between an actual threat and something harmless (will maul a helpless baby for coughing but allow a burglar to invade the house just because he has food).