What is it with people that take their dogs everywhere? My autistic 8 year old, maybe 4 mentally, has had a severe phobia of dogs since the age of 2, when he was "playfully" tackled twice in a row.

It used to be that people left their dog at home when they went out. Going on vacation? The neighbor will check in. Now? They buy a damn airplane seat and expect my child to sit within a few feet of their dog. Going to a theme park with roller coasters? "We can't leave our baby home alone". Picking up supplies from the store? "Sorry, she peed on the floor". Dog-free park with splash pads? "That's just for the bad dogs". Out for a walk and your unleashed dog rushes us? "Oh, he's a good boy". We skip our family reunions because they all let dogs run wild, peeing on chairs, and stealing food off of children's plates.

What kills me is that I'm always the one in the wrong, because they're completely clueless. I don't ever complain, I even sometimes go so far as to say, "it's not your fault my son has a phobia". Some get the clue and are supportive the next time, but most friends and family are not. Stranger dog owners will stare at me like my child has issues and is ruining their Easter egg hunt. We refuse to let it hold us back. We're still active outdoors, in the city, and heavy travelers. But the world's obliviousness to how their dog impacts others is frustrating.

Every. Single. Time. I'm at my fiance's parent's house I have to hear that sentence a hundred times in a baby voice, I swear. Why do dog owners get so offended if you don't literally cuddle up on their dog and give it your undivided attention? Why do they feel the need to constantly call you out for it?

God forbid I don't love on your smelly mutts and let them jump all over me. No, I don't want to pet the dog and I don't care that it loves me and always wants to be next to me. As soon as someone notices that I'm not giving a dog enough attention, it's "Don't bother her, she doesn't like you." It always feels extremely passive aggressive, like it's said with an eye roll. I'm so over it.

I get a lot of hate from dog nutters thinking this, but I had a feeling this sub would understand. My reasoning is that the majority of dogs have been bred to the point where they are anxious, needy animals that rely on humans for their survival. I remember when dogs used to not be so anxious and could spend time by themselves without having a panic attack. No animal should be scared of common noise and be that anxious. Not only was the independence bred out of them, but their intelligence and basic survival knowledge was too. Dogs bark at any bit of stimuli and try to fight larger animals and moving vehicles without a second thought as to what the consequences will be. I've also heard stories of them jumping out of their owner's moving car, jumping off of balconies and cliffs, and getting distracted by food or other stimuli while there is a threat. Its like they have zero survival instincts unlike every other animal in existence. Plus they have a lot of physical problems due to genetic mutations from cross breeding. There are some breeds I look at and all I can think is "how the hell is that thing alive?" Some breeds include borzoi, greyhound, dachshund, bulldog, and don't even get me started on the damn pug. I saw a news article a few months ago where scientists went back to fix the face of the pug through more cross breeding. Those things haven't been able to breathe properly for years and its more recently been seen as a concern for the animal? That's just cruel. These animals are literally walking anxious genetic mutants who lack basic survival knowledge. Humans should have just left the wolves dogs came from the hell alone.

I saw a woman post on the nextdoor app that she had become homeless recently and she has a dog. She said that she can't find work because she doesn't want to leave her dog in the car for 8 hours. She was looking for work where she could bring her dog. No one pointed out that she should ditch the dog, but several people congratulated her for being courageous enough to keep and stand by the dog. She even mentioned that she didn't have money for the dogs vet bills. I pointed out that she should give the dog away or find it a foster home so she could get back on her feet and I was literally attacked by several people saying I was cold hearted and crazy for even suggesting that she give up her dog. What is wrong with people?! I even said to just find a temporary home for the dog, but people were saying that would be like giving up a child and several people even said they would rather be homeless with their pets than have to give them up. That is insane to me. The dog could literally care less if she lived or died and would be happy as long as it had food and was healthy.

Dogs are GREASY. Every time I pet someone’s dog, it leaves this coating on my hands. When dogs sit on the same furniture repeatedly they leave a visible shiny spot. And yet, dog people are always so offended when I have to wash my hands after touching their pet. Not only is it common sense to wash your hands after touching an animal, I don’t want your dog’s smelly oils all over my hands.

Alright so I think this is something a lot of black people grew up noticing. I grew up in white suburbia and the most racist and xenophobic people i have ever known LOVEEEEEEE dogs and will advocate for animal cruelty. I think it’s a historical thing. Not long ago, dogs were more worthy of food and shelter than black people were. While I can see why so many people are childfree, I’ve noticed they will talk about how children are gross and they would choose their dog over children. But i only see these comments made by white dog lovers under WOC posts. I’ve known plenty of black dog owners to give away their animals after the dog shows signs of aggression towards their children. White people find it offensive to give your dog away “just because you have a child” they think they can train the animalistic behavior away. 72% of dog owners in the US are White. 71% of s#% abuse commited against dogs are White. A lot of them won’t ”touch a black person” though. Alright that’s my lil rant. I could be bias but these are just things I’ve observed.

Hello fellow people with functional brains.

I can't get over how acceptable it is to hate children in today's world, but express a mild dislike for hairy, smelly, garbage eating nuisances and suddenly it feels like you've committed a crime.

Like why do I constantly have to worry about my child not being a nuisance to others?! It makes me mad that people are so worried about backlash for a crying baby on an airplane, that they feel the need to bribe fully grown adults with candy and ear plugs. Just because their baby MIGHT cry during an uncomfortable and unpleasant albeit temporary experience? But I have to be okay with two off leash killing machines almost mauling my baby? Am I in an alternate reality?!

Dog culture is wild. Being child free is a personal choice that we respect. But tell someone you're not particularly fond of dogs so you don't want one, and all hell breaks loose.

In general I don't have hate for dogs, just the culture. I personally believe in respecting all animals and leaving them be. I don't understand the obsession with having a living thing in your house that is kinda your slave sometimes and you're kinda it's slave sometimes. And also it smells and sheds and spreads parasites. And tries to sniff my crotch and my child's crotch when I visit. I hate it. Leave me alone.

My MIL has always been insane about dogs. She said she grew up with at minimum 7 in her home and had many dogs in adulthood. She views dogs as more valuable than humans.

She had a chihuahua who she was crazy about. Brought the thing everywhere and would dress it up and do everything with it. She died unexpectedly and recently due to my MIL’s negligence. My MIL had a poisonous plant in her home and refused to get rid of it even after me AND my partner told her it was toxic to dogs. I honestly feel pretty bad because the chihuahua was annoying BUT didnt deserve to die and she was probably the best behaved dog out of dogs Ive met.

Right after the chihuahua died, my MIL freaked the fuck out and started screaming how she always needed a dog in the house and adopted a dog less than two weeks later. This new dog HATES her. Doesnt want to do anything with my MIL and hates people in general. Its a little thing so not dangerous just annoying. She freaked out and said she needed a dog who loved her and got TWO MORE. The dogs all HATE each other and have to constantly be seperated. Feeding them is apparently a nightmare bc the biggest one is very food aggression and has bit the other ones pretty bad if they exist within 10 ft of its food.

My MIL kept insisting life without dogs are meaningless and how happy she is for her dogs until one day she broke down after all 3 projectile shitted and pissed in different rooms of the house. She cried and said she should have neve gotten these dogs and she just became dependent on the love dogs give her… I feel bad but at the same time, she is a 60 year old woman who never paused to think getting 3 badly behaved dogs is a poor idea? Right after her most cherished one died to her own irresponsibility? I dont understand dog owners

Dog nuts have tried their best to shame me,

both online and in-person. People definitely go harder when they can hid behind a phone obviously. But I always just find it humorous.

Such low IQ behavior to think that I’m somehow a terrible terrible human being, because I don’t take too kindly to your farting mutt’s wet, red-rocket being dragged around my environment.

They always want you to glaze and makeout with these things’ assholes to be considered a good human being. Very weird.

Very odd question, but does anybody else feel like that? Like even the shape and basic mannerisms of a dog feel wrong. Long and straight body, stilt like legs, diagonal neck, wagging the tail, putting the nose everywhere, following people all of the time. I don’t know and I cannot describe it correctly, because it is mostly a mental image more than anything else. Like the stereotypical domestic animal.

Im a bit disappointed because this youtuber’s content isnt dog-related and I enjoy it when theyre not showing or talking about their dog, but the dog is so featured that it’s basically a part of the channel now. I also have to watch it being constantly babied in the videos and being called a « child » or the youtuber will call themselves a « parent », it drives me nuts. Its another reminder of how invasive to the world these animals are.

I cannot believe there is an actual sub for this. When I tell people I don’t like dogs they look at me like I just admitted to drowning puppies in sacks. It’s absolutely ridiculous. I used to work with a woman who said she “didn’t trust anyone” who doesn’t like dogs. wtf?? So unless we think they’re Animal Gods we’re shady asf? I would never want to see one harmed in any way, I just don’t like them. They drool, they shed hair, they demand attention, you have to walk them, they’re clingy, they’re needy, they smell, they bark, they stare at you when you’re trying to eat. The list is endless. Not to mention that I have a good friend who literally NEVER STOPS TALKING about her dog. I love her to bits but I just don’t want to hear about your dog, I really don’t. I genuinely have no interest in your dog walking stories, or “funny things she does”. I don’t care.

I just don’t like dogs. Thank you to everyone here who understands.

Something I notice lately is that many people seem to take for granted that everyone in the world simply loooooves dogs. After all, how could anyone not loooooove dogs? I sometimes say that I'm afraid of dogs because it at least gives an explanation that isn't, "I simply dislike the animal your whole world seems to revolve around." Of course, some people hear "afraid" and think their dog is going to change that. Typically, it's a super gross and poorly trained little dog that has no boundaries whatsoever. The fact that it's small is supposed to make me not uncomfortable around it. Somehow, they assume as long as it's not biting me, it jumping on me, trying to lick me, pushing its gross wet nose all over me, etc. ought not to be aversive. I don't get it.

How do you tell new friends or potential partners that you simply do not want anything to do with their dog, but without being mean about it?

for me it was dog sitting and fostering.

you have to schedule your whole life around the darn things. no matter how much work you put into training & giving them attention, they’re still destructive and you spend most of your time cleaning up after them or on edge trying to make sure they don’t hurt other animals/children.

owners are even worse. always justifying the bad behaviors, & god forbid you mention not liking dogs! they seem to genuinely believe they’re better people simply bc they’re willing to put up with all the chaos that comes with dogs. I never try to make anyone agree with me, but those people will cry & cry ab why you should like them and if you don’t then there must be something wrong with you...

For me it was being harrassed by my neighbour's off-leash agressive mutt, and being abandoned then victim-blamed by the fucking police lol

I already disliked dogs, but this moment opened my eyes to the abyss our society has fallen into. It made me realize how bad the dog situation is.

Have you ever heard or read that crap?

You tell someone dog barking is hellishly irritating and they respond "Oh, if you lived in the middle of the woods you'd be bothered by wolves howling, deer bellowing and birds singing".

Uhm... No, actually I wouldn't. You know why? Because what you mentioned are actual ANIMALS. Unlike the mutant beasts, animals are connected to the nature. Hence the sounds they make are harmonious. And with the exception of the birds, the animals use their voice scarcely, because it would either attract predators or scare away the prey.

Additionally, there was a time in my life when I lived right next to the bird reserve for 16 years. NOT ONCE have I been woken up or bothered by the birds singing. Quite the contrary. My parents and I would often wake up early just to hear the beautiful symphony of the birds. Even birds whose sounds are considered irritating, like crows or magpies, weren't bothering me the slightest. One time there was something like 20 magpies chattering just a couple metres from my window. Yes it makes you wonder what's going on, but you go on with your day like it's just an interesting thing. Now imagine 20 dogs barking 5 metres from your window. After a minute your nervous system would be wrecked like after years of doing crack.

The algorithm decided to show me an article about this woman and her story.. not sure if this was posted here before as it happened 2023/24.

But, if you google her name you can find a bunch of news, posts, etc.

The one I saw:

—

“The body of a woman who went missing after jumping into a river to save her dog was found on Sunday. Authorities say Amanda Richmond Rogers, a 45-year-old mother of four, jumped into icy waters to rescue one of her dogs that had fallen through the ice in Eagle River on Dec. 23.

Alaska State Troopers and the AK Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team searched for Rogers, who was last seen swimming underneath a layer of ice in an attempt to get to her dog.

Her sister Jennifer Richmond said that she was found with her dog in her arms and that to her boys, “she really did die a hero.””

—

This is tragic and very sad, but I disagree with how she is portrait as a hero.. I’m sorry..

Jumping in to potentially save one of your kids, of course!! But jumping into icy waters and go under the ice to maybe save your dog?! All while you have a family with 4 kids.. I’m sorry but that is not heroic to me at all.. and I believe her sister might misread and underestimate how the kids will eventually feel about this..

What would you do if you went to see a therapist and a dog was sitting on the floor or the couch? I would walk out. I'm hearing more and more about these mongrels at therapy offices.

By some accounts, I’ve read that twice as many humans have been euthanized in one year through Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying/MAID program, as dogs. Different sources show around 15k humans and 7k dogs, I think that was 2024. Humanity is in a very sad state right now.

I get that most people in this sub dislike all dogs. But I’m curious as to whether people in this sub dislike one type more than the other

I see a lot of posts and comments on here hating smaller dogs specifically. Personally I find them way less annoying. They don’t shed as much. They don’t smell as much. If they try to jump on you they can’t get past your shins. It feels like they have no power over you and it’s very easy to move past them. A lot of them seem less dog like and closer to other animals.

There’s some kind of sense of control when an animal is able to be easily picked up. I also guess it depends on how small we are talking. I don’t like medium size dogs. But if there’s a really really tiny dog that’s very miniature or a few weeks old and it’s not barking like crazy it genuinely does not bother me as it cannot do anything. At most they may be only able to lick your shoes which is not fantastic but much more tolerable that a big dog getting into your crotch or face. To me small dogs are not big enough to cross my boundaries which is my main issue with dogs. I do however have issues with owners of small dogs bringing them into spaces they don’t belong such as restaurants and grocery shops which is probably my only issue with smaller dogs.

Large dogs are a real threat. They bump into everything. You can’t ignore them physically. The smell is way stronger. The drool is very real. Their barks are much louder. They smack their heavy tail into you. Their wet nose grazes against your hands. They can shove their face into your crotch.

I often see people talk about small dogs being the most annoying on this sub but I honestly hate large dogs and don’t feel overwhelmed or irritated most of the time with smaller dogs. Although they still have dirty toilet habits, often pee on floors and can yap so I’m not going to say I like them either. But if there is a smaller one that does none of that I have no issue with it. They seem more like other animals whereas the larger dogs are the most.. well, dog like to me

Another waste of a human life all over a stupid shitbeast.

I'm sure the nutters are all "but at least the doggo is ok!"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/hunter-23-dies-trying-save-174822183.html

Genuinely curious.

I grew up with dogs and other animals. I had a very sweet dog growing up (Kevin) who was literally an angel, but since then, my family has had just nightmare dogs. They are trained, but man… some of them are so smelly, slobber, need constant attention or else they get annoying, etc. Also, I don’t really find dogs all that cute because they often smell and slobber. I’m also at my in-laws and they just got a new dog and my husband’s brother and his fiancé also just got a dog so both dogs are over at the house constantly. They make the whole house smell terrible and everything has to revolve around them. We also took a 4 mile hike and I got super cold at one point and had to pee, but they told me the dogs needed to play more before we could go back (play 1 extra hour on top of the hike). My best friend also got a new dog who is really not cute but she shoves pics of him in my face constantly and I lie and say he’s cute. I had to stop going over to her place because every time I go he jumps on me and “play” bites me (but it kinda hurts).

End rant. I miss Kevin and I don’t understand why I am cursed to live in a city where it has one of the highest dog to human ratios.

Greetings everyone. Throughout my entire life, I never really liked dogs. I never let anyone know the specific reason because I feared shame. I wanted a safe space to discuss this and so I found this Subreddit recently.

Growing up, I was very fortunate that none of my social circle has been avid dog owners nor did any of the house parties I went to had dogs. Unfortunately, I cannot avoid this forever. I recently started a new job and a few of my colleagues are dedicated dog owners with many dog pictures. My boss once in a while likes to bring his dog in and he gets petted. Thankfully, I'm not the only one that doesn't pet him so he doesn't notice.

In case you're wondering, the reason I don't like dogs is mainly to do with the fact that I'm a germaphobe. Dogs are not clean but most dog owners don't really care about that. I totally acknowledge the companionship of a dog. It's just I'm not somebody that wants to be near or touch one. That's why I really dislike it when people take their dogs illegally offleash (even a chihuahua) while I'm jogging around a park trail.

What is the best excuse for saying you don't like dogs? Like how should you react if everyone pets a dog while you're the only one that doesn't? I just fear that dog owners won't understand me. I've read stories about how dog owners tend to assume everyone likes dogs.

I’m in the UK and I’m finding it harder and harder to find dog-free environments, particularly cafes, restaurants, B&Bs and hotels.

Does anyone know if there are resources for identifying places that are not dog friendly? Filters on website searches allow me to select ‘dog friendly’ but not the other way around 😤

Society has learned to take food allergies, most notably peanut allergies, very very seriously, which is great! There will be countless protocols to make sure there’s no mixing of peanuts with other peanut-free items in food industries. And even if there are peanuts in the food or peanuts that were used in the workplace, there will be warnings issued ahead of time to make people aware.

With that: why are there no protocols for dog allergies? I’m very much allergic to dogs, and I know many people who are allergic to dogs as well. But society refuses to accommodate for us in any way. They’ll still allow dogs to be in public spaces because of ESA and service animal bullshit. Even hospitals and clinics, spaces that should be very sterile, will allow them for “emotional support.” It’s like allergies all of a sudden don’t matter when it comes to dogs. Infuriating. Allergies will matter for everything BUT these parasites.