I've never been a fan of dogs. They make me nervous. I like animals, but dogs are just too needy, destructive, and abrasive. Working dogs are fine, but pets/companion dogs really bother me.
They are given so much free reign in homes, it makes me nervous. I shouldn't have to be hyper-vigilant to guard my food and possessions because "the dog might get it!"
They're often very loud, they demand your attention constantly, and they're always in your space.
The worst part is that people nowadays bring their dogs into stores and restaurants, because apparently a lot of dogs have separation anxiety now.
Owners will let their dogs walk right up to me while I'm actively backing away, and assuring me that "they're friendly!" But I do not want to be approached by a strange dog!! I do not know how they will react so I do not want them near me!!
I get that people love their dogs, but there is far too much poor behavior from dogs and their owners that I just can't excuse it.
It dampens my enjoyment of a place when I am forced to guard my possessions, listen to loud barking and/or constant whimpering, be interrupted by the owner who always have to yell at their dogs mid-conversation to keep them from doing something their not supposed to, etc.
Dogs are just..... exhausting.
And I'm very very tired of having to accept them into my spaces & having to deal with them in public settings. I don't believe I'm a bad person for thinking this way. I'm just tired of dogs.
That is all.
Edit: Some of y'all are really offended & have taken that fact that I don't like dogs very personal. Why can I not dislike dogs?
As a dog owner that's absolutely fair.
We do bring our dog places, but they have to be 1) explicitly dog friendly (and still not just randomly in stores, even if they allow dogs, and definitely not restaurants? breweries with outdoor spaces though, sure) and 2) we do things like go for big hikes or doggie play dates beforehand, so our dog is happy to just sit underneath our table or right beside us and people watch. If he ever starts getting disruptive (barking/crying, won't stay still) then we pack it up and go - that means he's not having a good time (and we're not either if he's not just chilling) and there's no reason others should have to deal with that too. Fortunately this is rare, but this is how the dog owner social contract should go I think.
And absolutely he can't just approach people and is never off leash outside of his specific home spaces (our home, specific family homes). Are people just bringing their dogs to your home and setting them loose or something? Like that's wild and outrageously rude, our dog never goes to someone else's private space without 110% knowledge that they're good with it, and even then he gets tons of stuff to ensure a successful visit (again, lots of activity beforehand + things like his gates, crate, toys, etc. to keep him occupied and safely away from things that could just potentially be issues).
If you're someone who just really doesn't like dogs, the only time and place our dog should ever occupy your attention at all is if you're physically in our house. Which like, he's very social and friendly, but still very much a dog, and while we'd do everything we could to make you comfortable, we'd probably just not meet you in our house most of the time.
Well said. We do the same with our dog. Never off leash in public spaces and also did a lot of on leash crowd training so she stays calm when being randomly approached by people. We run her before going to a pub and have her under a table at a welcoming outdoor terrace. We will leave if any problem, which I think only happened once.
We also have a different problem. Our dog is beautiful so gets approached and petted without us being asked and before we have time to sit her down and get her in a calm state. So we worked on that too, but I wished people just asked before approaching us. Especially sending their kids running towards my dog. She's never reacted badly, and we're in good control, but why send your kid towards an animal you don't know, especially when she has the hunting skills to hurt your kid (small prey) in a flash if she decided to?
Basically no one should impose their dog to someone who doesn't like them.
I am sorry OP feels many owners don't respect their boundaries.
Similarly, no one should impose themselves on a dog and owner either.
Live and let live.
Thank you.
It's very tiring being told that I shouldn't dislike dogs. Apparently it's a big taboo and folks take it very personally.
Appreciate your respect towards people who have a differing opinion on dogs.
Might I point out the reason why people might react so offended by it? You have your opinions. And that is fine. Nobody can tell you your opinions are invalid. But if you look back to your message, your opinions are stated as hard facts:
I understand what you mean with this. But it kind of reads similar to someone saying something like "All Americans are dumb". And then when everyone gets offended by it they be like "It's just my opinion, why is everyone angry at me?". And of course people get angry, You get all the responses from people who have an American friend, and THAT person isn't dumb! So of course your facts are invalid!
Anyway. Not a dig at you in any way. Thought I'd just let you know how it reads.
Yeah, I think this attitude that you can't dislike dogs is actively harmful, both as an unnecessary social stigma and to dogs themselves. Like, this cultural idea that you should just have and enjoy having dogs contributes to bad dog ownership, because people end up owning dogs that they don't properly care for because they think it's what they're supposed to do, or that it'll all be sunshine and roses.
Dogs are needy pets (especially puppies, lord help me)! They need physical, mental, and social stimulation to be happy, if in varying amounts by breed/individual, and not to mention training. You gotta be prepared to (and ideally enjoy) providing these things.
I'm about as far away on the dog opinion spectrum from you as it gets - I love em big, goofy, and slobbery, and if I was independently wealthy I'd be some weirdo that lived in a mansion with an entire pack. That said, it is okay not to like dogs.