this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2023
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Unpopular Opinion

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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.

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[–] [email protected] 67 points 1 year ago

I'm a dog owner and dog people have made me hate people 😂

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 year ago

I love dogs too but I agree, something went very very VERY wrong in the last few years. I can't remember exactly when this illuminati memo went into effect but there was a month where every single place suddenly had a "service dogs welcome" sign on the door, which was different from the "service dogs permitted" signage that was always there. The signs came with some kind of policy change that basically said service dogs are a social construct, so even a screaming husky that needs to be dragged behind it's owner is a service dog if the owner says it is.

And on the subject of huskies, the thing that pisses me off the absolute most about modern dog owners is how they have this obsession with pure bred dogs to the point where they'll pay thousands for their favourite breed and turn it into their personality. But they don't give a shit about any aspect of the dog besides it's appearance, like they don't even google search the history of why the breed was created, or what it's nature is intended to be. So they get a German Shepherd, which is a guard dog, and they don't understand why it won't stop barking at guests. Or they get a husky, a dog bred to love running dozens of kilometres per day, and they can't get it to stop running out the door. "Walks" aren't enough for a dog like that, it will always be hyper no matter how much you scream at it. AND THEY'RE MEANT FOR FUCKING ANTARCTICA HOW DO YOU THINK IT FEELS LIVING IN AN APARTMENT IN BURBANK CALIFORNIA? It's straight up cruelty to animals.

Which is without even considering the health issues that these dogs have to suffer through due to being severely inbred. It makes no sense to me that people do this. I don't even buy a pair of shoes without researching what the differences are between types of shoes and what situations different shoes are designed for. These people spend $5k on a living thing without a millisecond of thought put into it.

[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year ago

I agree, mostly.

My parents owned a kennel and bred and boarded and trained dogs, so we had at least a dozen or so full-time residents and generally another dozen or so being boarded and/or trained. I literally grew up surrounded by dogs and I've always loved them.

BUT, dog owners, at this point, are fucking awful, and that's led to a whole lot of awful dogs, exactly as you so colorfully and accurately say.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m a dog owner but I agree. The worst are the people who bring them in the grocery store. Like if you’re out walking the dog and go in a convenience store for a drink that’s one thing but there’s fresh vegetables and stuff in the grocery store instead of prepackaged food so pets definitely don’t belong there. These same people don’t clean up their poop even at the dog park so before I can play with my own dog I have to go hunting and clean up so I don’t get crap on my shoes.

Us responsible dog owners are tired of this crap too.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This just happened to us today! We took the dog to some trails nearby. On the way home wife wants me to go by Target for a few things. We get there and she asks if we should take him in with us. I’m like “Hell no. I already think Home Depot is a no go even though it’s a common site there, but I draw the line at a place like Target.” And don’t even get me started on the rudeness of owners who don’t carry waste disposal bags any time they have their dog.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I spent the last 3 months reporting my neighbor for letting her dog roam off leash and bark into my bedroom point blank. She threatened to sue me and im like you can't sue me for calling animal control you dumb entitled bitch 🤣

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

She must not realize that you can actually sue her for this lol.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I thought about it and if she sues me im countersuing for the cost of a cheeseburger, and then before the judement is rendered Id ask the judge if I could get fries with that.

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago

I absolutely love dogs and I have one.

I absolutely completely agree with everything you have said here. None of those behaviors should be appropriate.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

It sounds a lot more like you are actually tired of inconsiderate dog owners.

I have a dog. I think he's great. I also realize that not everyone feels the same and I don't bring him to places that are not acceptable for him to be. I also watch him when I am out walking him and do my best to make sure that he doesn't approach people who may not want that kind of attention.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Show me a bad dog; I'll show you a bad owner.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago

As a dog owner.. I couldn't agree more.

I took a package in for my neighbour because they were out.. Took it round in the evening and their little dog ran out and immediately jumped at my hand and bit me.. "oh sorry he's just defending his home"

Won't be accepting anymore packages for them

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago

Untrained dogs while you're out on a run is another level of hell. & there are so many!

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

It got a lot worse since covid. A lot of people who shouldn't have dogs got dogs during the lockdowns.

Before covid most people in the forest I go to were regulars. By looking around the parking lot I knew who was there. There was only one person with 2 untrained & unleashed dogs who would come there daily. He always did the same tour, so if I saw his car I'd go the same tour to avoid him.

Now it's completely different. I never see those regulars again, except for that one person who still goes the same tour. Everytime I go there I come across different people. The one thing they have in common is that they leave their dogs unleashed and their dogs don't listen.

I really miss the calm walks I could have in that forest. If I went for a walk during noon or in bad weather, I would usually be the only person around. Now I can't remember the last time I didn't come across an untrained dog during my walk.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

I have very low expectations for dogs. I expect them to act like dogs. My expectations of people are higher.

I think you are okay with dogs, it's shitty people you have a problem with.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

I'm scared of dogs because I've been attacked by one before. I have a trauma reaction to them essentially. I wish more people understood this and were at least considerate of the idea that people have valid reasons for not wanting dogs in their space. I don't care that your dog is awesome or whatever the fuck justification you want to use for being inconsiderate of others, my nervous system is terrified of it. I especially dislike people who walk their dogs off leash in busy areas.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As a dog person, I totally get this. I like dogs, I'd generally rather spend time with a dog than a person. But I'm under no impression it's my child. I don't get this "furbaby" bullshit, you're an adult human, act like one. The dog will survive 10 minutes without you in constant contact, if it can't, then it's a neurotic fucking mess and you should maybe find another breed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

furbaby

honestly I think this is a coping mechanism because our society makes it so hard to have a family - housing, decent wages, health insurance etc. all make families a lot easier, and we won't let people have those things without it costing 20x what past generations paid.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I completely agree, the problem is the people who refuse to train them, as though enforcing behavioral expectations is a bad thing.

My friend let's her dogs run absolutely wild, they have absolutely no respect for people, they sniff their crotches, rub up against them, beg while eating.

The daughter will have one of the dogs flipped in her lap and will literally be popping a zit on its back while you're at the dinner table trying to eat.

One of her other dogs will be biting you in the dick because it's trying to get you to feed it.

And when you shoo the dog away because it's literally sexually assaulting you while you're trying to eat, you're the asshole.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (3 children)

will literally be popping a zit on its back while you're at the dinner table trying to eat.

Excuse me, wtf?

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago

Gotta hand it to you man, very few posts have belonged in this community more than this one

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

I love dogs, I have one, but I agree. What bothers me the most is that here people leave their dogs in their front yard, so they bark whenever someone or something happens. And it seems that barks only bother me, because everybody leave their dogs barking day and night. I hate dog owners.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

I love dogs but when I was NYC I couldn't wrap my head around why there were so many dogs in Manhattan. My dogs need space and room to run around which isn't something Chelsea Village et al. are known for.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Oh don't get me started, I was on the elevator with a guy in NYC who had two beautiful huskies. Yeah, your little one bedroom is perfect for them dude.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

Add "people who don't f-ing care to clean up after their dogs" to that list.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Where do you live that people bring dogs into restaurants?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm a dog owner and a dog lover, but OP is right that many people who own dogs have gotten bad. The sense of entitlement people have is out of control, and it extends to their behavior with their dogs. I, too, have seen people take (usually little) dogs into restaurants. Owners sometimes don't notice, but even when they do, I think they just wait to see if anyone complains. I've also seen all manner of dogs in grocery stores. People with legitimate service dogs usually have vests on them, not just to make it clear to business owners, but because they usually don't want people petting and distracting the service dogs when they're on duty. That pug on the bedazzled pink leash wandering through the produce aisle probably isn't a service dog.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've seen it several times on the east coast of the US. So I'd be kinda surprised if it doesn't happen elsewhere. Same with stores, I assume it's usually a case of it being against policy, but the host making minimum wage not wanting to deal with the "THIS IS MY SUPPORT ANIMAL" ridiculousness. I don't see it often, I just think it's a good example of this narcissistic attitude.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

No kidding, that's hardcore against public health rules in most of the USA.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Man, I love dogs, I've had dogs my whole life. BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE: dogs in supermarkets, dogs in restaurants - fuck that, if it's not a genuine service animal fuck off with that bullshit. Dogs do not belong where food is stored or prepped.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I feel the exact same way with the exact same feedback to parents. I am tired of people's shitty kids running around, crawling on floors, looking at me in public, screaming and crying for no discernible fucking reason... I think we need to look at building segregated places for parents and animal owners and those of us that are one or the other and not interested in interactions with the opposite side.

Because it's the internet, I will clarify that this is partially a joke. It's also partially not a joke. And I apologize as a owner of multiple dogs for the experiences that you were having. That doesn't sound like something that's going to make anybodys day any better.

Personally, I keep my dogs at home unless I'm doing something like going hiking or out to the lake or somewhere else that seems like a reasonable place to bring an animal. Certainly not somewhere that's going to have their hair flying in the air and getting into people's foods or drinks or anything like that.

Thinking about it, I treated my kid the same way when they were first born...

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Our neighbours across the road let their dogs roam; one has nipped at a neighbour's visitor; they occasionally get out as a pack and topple garbages down our street. One of them poops on our lawn at night. They had a year-long ban on getting any more dogs and some taken away, but that's expired. They've taken to letting cats (in)breed this past year, three litters in the past year. One kitten got run over last week, since they're all allowed to roam free and obviously are foraging for food.

The owners are totally negligent and we wish they would get a perma-ban from Animal Services... or at least required to gate and fence properly.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I feel you OP. I have sensitive skin and can get hives from just having fur brush against me. People walking unleashed dogs in my apartment complex are infuriating. "Oh he's friendly, he won't bite, don't worry". Yeah, no, I just don't like dogs touching me. And I don't like your dogs paws on my clothes after it was running around wherever. It's on the dog owners 100% though. Dogs are just being who they are. It's dog owners who don't have any etiquette when in public. I can have a longer rant here on actual things that happened in my apartment complex, but I'll save that for next time.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'd agree that it's inconsiderate to bring an untrained dog into situations where they may cause problems, and I'd even extend this to say that it's inconsiderate to not train your dog properly. My experience is that a well-trained dog is happier - as the owner, you should be squarely in charge, and you need to help your dog understand which behaviors are acceptable and which are not.

A well-trained dog, on the other hand, should be possible to put most if not all social situations. They do not treat the wrong places as bathrooms, they do not make sounds, they do not eat things they have not been given permission to eat, and they do not greet anyone that hasn't invited them to greet.

I believe that dogs trained to this level should be allowed in restaurants, offices and shops.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Mostly agree with the first 2 paragraphs.

I don't think dogs should be allowed in restaurants though, regardless of training. The problem is people will say their dog is trained to an expert level, but there's nothing to actually prove that.

A flat ban on dogs in restaurants is the right move in my opinion.

You can maybe make an argument for offices, but honestly, I don't love dogs, and don't usually enjoy the presence of one. I'd be fine leaving them out of this environment, but I also understand this is a place people spend 8+ hours a day at, and it's not feasible/ethical to leave them at home all day by themselves.

I could be swayed on offices and shops, but I wouldn't like to see them at restaurants.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It’s a regional thing. Last place I lived in a small town and the dogs there were poorly trained and always unleashed and I stopped running for that reason. “Oh he doesn’t bite, hahahaha, only snap a little “

Now I live in a bigger city and the dogs are well behaved, leashed or not. Regularly there are groups with a dog trainer. That really makes a difference.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've rarely seen this. I have seen some inconsiderate things like people thinking they could bring their "purse dogs" in Dollar Tree? But I've never been to anyone's house where the dog is just allowed to steal food, or jump on people, etc. Other than a few well-behaved service dogs in my lifetime, I've never seen a dog in a restaurant. That's not legal. I've heard of people acting like ESAs have public access, but I've never actually seen it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

It's an issue of enforcement rather than whether they're "allowed" to or not. I've been to many houses where the response to the dog jumping on a guest is "Hey! Don't do that!" Pets the dog. They think it's a child learning English, not an animal with no understanding of language. Even when I worked retail close to 10 years ago, people bringing their dog into the store was a regular occurrence. We had a policy against it, I just wasn't paid enough to care. And if I said anything, I'd get the "iTs My SuPpOrT aNiMaL" BS anyway. And whether it's legal or not, I've seen it, several times lmao. I was at a restaurant in Boston just a few weeks ago and a guy had his dog in one of those sling baby carriers across his chest.

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