r/Dogfree

I just read someone ask if it was okay that they locked their child away in a play pen for most of the day, because their dog is too hyper and scratches everyone unintentionally. Of course, everybody said it was okay. I pointed out that they should be locking their dog away rather than the baby if they couldn’t train the dog. Dog nutters went wild as they always do. What is wrong with this new society?!

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 🤷"

"omggggg I feel so bad for the poor puppersssss, is it going to be put down???😟"

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.)

I just tried to have dinner with a neighbor friend. She seems like a bit of a recluse. For context, so am I. She asked me to dinner at her house.
I was happy and excited to oblige. What a great gesture!

I arrived and the dog jumped on me several times with a hose in his mouth. He’s a purebred German Shepard. I met her by saying hello while she walked her dog. So I was fine with him jumping at the house.

But he followed me around somewhat defensively of his territory. He at one point nibbled at me. Not in a flirty dog way, he showed his teeth and nibbled harder than I was comfortable with.

I asked if he could be outside during dinner. After I hit behind a door after his nibbles.

She just went outside with him and kept the door open not talking with me. A full 10 minutes.

I leaned out and said- neighbor’s name- are you ok?

Her response, yes-I’m just texting with my brother.

She was out with her dog. I was inside trying to be cordial and eat the meal she made.

I left. I don’t want to feel threatened by a dog. I don’t accept that. Maybe that makes me not a dog person. But I graciously said thank you and left.

If you have a human guest, the dog comes second, period.

Yikes. Venting. This was so fucking weird

Recently moved into a new home. My neighbor’s dogs (both loud, aggressive pit bulls) are chained up in their backyard 24/7, literally through the night. Sometimes the dog will be in the front yard (they have a fence, albeit low) and bark at me or any guests I have who walk in the front. It’s honestly very annoying and has made me hate dogs.

Funny enough, when I was a kid I wanted a dog soooo bad, but my parents refused because they didn’t want the responsibility of taking care of a dog to fall on them — I now completely understand. Now that I’m an adult I passed up the opportunity to get a dog, especially when I was single. So glad I opted for a life where I had 0 responsibilities. The only time a dog maybe makes sense is when you’re fully settled down with kids. If you’re young, in a major city, do NOT get a dog. Go be social and talk to actual humans. Why in the heck would you leave the club, bar, or dinner with your friends to go check on your dog? Sounds miserable.

Just to preface, I don’t like using the word “hate” for any animal. I think all animals deserve a degree of respect, especially animals that are purely instinctual and natural. Those that do have the highest intelligence. Dogs are just codependent, man-made, human parasites… they’re just the one animal I like the least out of any animal. I just think a good amount of them are dumb and nasty lol. SOME are actually acceptable, when well-trained, aren’t large and threatening, and give you space.

Now….

My boss’ dog is my fucking nightmare. I work with her every week. This dog is a CANE CORSO. 1 years old but practically the size of a small horse.

Firstly, cane corsos are an ugly breed. Look like sin - I’m sorry it’s true. Anyways, aside from this dog CONSTANTLY coming up to my office chair when I have food, shoving its ungodly sized face near my lap, slobbering puddles of nastiness, farting the most trifling hot garbage gas, it gets worse.

Over a month ago I tried to pick up papers that fell near him on the ground, he actually GROWLED and lunged at me. WTF?! My boss put him outside and apologized. “I don’t know why he did that!!” She says in dismay. Because, boss, Fido is a psychotic breed with zero “social” skills and a man-made killing machine.

Mind you, this dog jumps and tries to HUMP people ever so often, with its putrid, sickly rocket out. I’m a little girl in stature, I HATE DOGS JUMPING ON ME! I DESPISE huge dogs especially for this reason.

Today, I had an injury I was looking at on my hand, what does Fido decide to do randomly during my time of ill focus? JUMPING ON ME AND HUMPING ME!!!! Like nearly knocking me over. At this point I yelled and told it to get off and my boss detained it. He did this several more times throughout the time I was there. It was my turning point to write this. I’m so over this thing.

I have no idea where this story is going other than I actually think i can say that I hate this dog. He’s the most dangerous, foul canine I’ve ever met. I literally can’t even fathom why anyone would want something like that in their HOME or their life.

I’ve been a part of the dog free community for over a decade now, mostly on Facebook: but it’s not local!

This year, I want to really try to get out of my shell: as an introvert. I’m not lonely, and I want to try dating. I’m 31m, west coast. I own my own small business that (dun dun dun…) works with dogs: entirely indirectly :) so I don’t have to deal with mutts!!! I’m legit thinking of expanding, to ANYTHING besides dog walking and dog sitting *grossssss*

I’m just keenly aware of how disgustingly inane dog culture is. I went to a NICE part of town yesterday, a school playground and a park next door. There was a zillenial couple (my age) pretending their stupid pedigree dog was a toddler, coaxing the damn thing at the play structure: the dog was indifferent, and only wanted to play when an actual toddler came in a stroller: the dog probably wanted to bite the baby.

I have tried dating women (who were otherwise great) who own dogs: some just own a dog, some, are stupid and the dog serves as their master and lord. I think I’m saying that I recognize the yellow-flag aspect of this possibility: and the likely chance that somewhere, a woman is DONE with dogs, but still has an old one.

Back in Nov before thanksgiving, I randomly met a woman, Veronica, who also dislikes dogs, and we hit it off. Unfortunately, she’s incredibly NORMAL to a fault, and I’m unabashedly a nomadic punk. I’ve got a good job I made, a good reputation, but she didn’t want to see past that, once she sobered up (we had a beer together, and she’s the side chick of some stupid local singer who owns her decisions.) it made me sad!!

I also happen to live in a city FULL of dog nutters, counter culture idiots who destroy wonderful things, and it’s also bleeding out: the city is expensive and stupid to live in.

I’m losing hope but I want to find a summer romance, summer dog free friends. Anyone in Portland Oregon?

Ok, I've never been a dog person (they stink, they lick, they bark, they run into you, they're trouble, they fulfill unhealthy human needs for relational control, etc.). But since I became a dad, it seems that my annoyance with dogs grew into something deeper, stronger.

Before I became a dad, I once took a walk at the beach. There was a large unleashed dog who growled at me and my gf. The stupid owner just laughed (as to ease tension) and said "don't worry, he's not mean". Back then I was annoyed and I thought the man was a moron, but I wasn't pissed enough to insult him, or call the cops, or anything.

But today? I think about it and I feel worse than I did back then. And the thoughts of an unleashed dog growling at my 3 years old...

I think I now see those wrong-behaved or unleashed dogs as potential killers. It doesn't help that there was a young child in my community, a few months ago, who was disfigured by an unleashed pitbull at the beach. And the owner admitted to the journalist that the pitbull had a past of biting people, but he "never caused any serious injury before".

Potential threat aside, seeing my son getting scared each time we walk past a dog is also annoying. I cannot blame my kid, he's young and this is a predator 2-3 times bigger than him. I don't think I would feel comfortable around a domesticated grizzly.

I live in a nice neighborhood so most owners are responsible, but I don't know... I just think society would be better without dogs (although some would say the same about the alcohol that I enjoy drinking, to each its sin perhaps ?) .

Is there any parents (or anyone) who had a similar change in view at some point?

OK, I'm in UK in Scotland, I know the laws are different.

My partner's son's dog attacked me. I wasn't doing anything to provock the bag of slobbery shite.

It was a bordie collie, a sheepdog. We were staying at his house,on holiday, if you like.

One morning I decided to get up and make coffee for myself and watch telly. When I sat down, I heard the growling and my lip went hot and cold at the same time. The fuckin beast of satan had my lip hanging off. I tried to stand up, but the manky beast bit my right elbow and right wrist.

I had to get reconstituty surgery on my lips, about 30 stiches, and they will never heal!

Just need to vent. I have a small front yard and one guy keeps coming by and is allowing his dog to stray into the middle of my lawn, take its dump there and then kick around in the rest of my lawn. Yes, he cleans up the crap with his little bag, but I have gardens and I sit in my lawn, I don’t need dog crap smeared on the grass. I wouldn’t care if was on the grass between the sidewalk and the road, just not my lawn! It’s happened twice, but it’s been while I’m taking my lunch so I don’t see it until I get a notification from my security camera. Flippin’ inconsiderate dog owners and those stupid retractable leashed that are 15ft long, ugh. Anyone know of dog repellents that actually work?

Is this an unreasonable annoyance? Am I a little biased posting the question here? Haha, yes! But I just need a little anti crappy dog owner commiseration.

I’m going to an event at the weekend - a castle with jousting and the usual falconry etc. Imagine my delight when I look at their website and I see this! People are wising up to their nonsense - emotional support animals are not real!

Dogs, including emotional support dogs, are NOT permitted due to the presence of horses and birds of prey.

Although I suppose it is a bit sad that it needs saying!

Yeah? Your dog loves you so much and is so loyal? Is that why it needs constant training, leashes, fences, barricades, etc. to not run away from you?
Over 10 million pets in the US alone go missing and run away, the majority being dogs.
Your dog doesn't love you. You hold it captive.

"Dogs are a man's best friend" yet they bite and attack over 4.5 million Americans a year?

Make it make sense.

There is an apartment building on my street from which several residents (4 counted so far) walk their dogs in the neighborhood off-leash. They go to the coffee shop nearby, walk to the dog park nearby, or whatever else. Just this morning I saw a father with his young child and a collar-less off-leash large dog return to that building - both his hands carrying coffees. These are all medium to large dogs.

This is too good, I had to share. My response was to ask her if she had asked to talk to the manager.

To the old man with the long white beard and a baseball cap on that scolded me and my dog this morning on Bent Ave while walking past my house. . . I know you probably won't see this because you're likely not interested in social media at your age... But, maybe one of your limited # of friends might see this and let you know that I have questions and comments for you.

1. How close do you live to me to complain about her morning barking? Because I know most of my neighbors, especially my next door neighbors, and none of them would be so rude. They know our situation and are kind. And if you're not my neighbor, how much harm can her once-a-day barking session cause you? You're obviously retired. What?, she's keeping you up an extra hour when you have a whole day of nothing to do and nowhere to go? How do you cope?
2. My girl is 12 years old (84 in human years), and can barely walk from arthritis. We used to go for long walks in our neighborhood, but now she can't go half a block without getting very short of breath and struggling to walk. She doesn't play with toys anymore either. The only joy and exercise she gets now is when she patrols the yard, barking at things that are and aren't there...her eyes are clouded and she sees everything as a potential threat to her mama (me).
3. Her most important job, her meaning in life, has always been to protect me. Had her since she was 4 months old, and she has always been that way! I definitely did not train her or encourage her to protect me, but it is her mission in life. I have been alone for most of the time she's been with me, and have always felt safe with her protecting me. You wouldn't know what that means to a woman living and traveling alone in life....as a white privileged man.
4. Have you never loved a dog with all of your heart? And watch them slowly get weaker and less playful when they get old? Every day wondering if this is the last day to see them excited, and have the energy to do what doggies do?
5. I'm a nurse, and have been for more than 30 years. I work 12 hour shifts, 5 pm to 530 am. I am legitimately exhausted when I get home, helping and saving people like you every day. I don't need negativity from anyone when I get home from a 12 hour shift.
6. My doggie sleeps about 20 hours a day, but for the time she and I are both awake when I get home in the morning, she will continue to go out in her little front yard to vocalize for 30 minutes once a day. If she were a chihuahua it wouldn't bother you.
7. If you have something to say to me, don't scuttle away as you're saying it next time. I wish you would have come on back and talked to me about your concerns rather than running away as I was still talking to you. Coward.

Tl;dr: So, she's calling out an old man who politely asked her to stop her dog from barking 30 minutes every morning by going full Karen mode to defend her dog and herself because she's a nurse and the dog is old. While criticizing the man who just tried to ask her to act like an adult.

my mum is a "dog lover", my brother has a dog and whenever we stay at his place, she chooses to be a dick whenever i complain about the dog barking too loudly by telling me to shut up instead of actually doing anything to make the dog be quiet.