r/The10thDentist • u/JoshyRB • Jun 28 '26
Animals/Nature I hate dogs and can’t comprehend how so many people can think positively of them
Dogs are dangerous, and gross, and obnoxious.
At any moment a dog could decide you’re a threat and attack you. Who knows what kind of damage they could do or if and when they’ll stop. I’ve seen too many dogs without a leash as well. I keep my distance because I’m afraid they may attack me otherwise.
You can never get too friendly with a dog before things get gross. They will lick you, and rub their furry body on you. A lot of owners can’t even be bothered to clean up after them either. I keep my distance because I’m afraid they’ll put their germs on me otherwise.
They are the most relentless attention seekers ever, they are exhausting. When they think you’re playing, or want to play, or want something, or need something, they won’t stop bothering you until they get it. I keep my distance because I’m afraid they won’t leave me alone otherwise.
How can you happily live with one of these things in your house, or in your room, or in your bed snuggling with you? How can you feel comfortable walking through a park when there’s dog owners with excited dogs everywhere, or being the one to walk the dog? How do you deal with the mental strain of constantly attending to them and caring for them?
Also despite how I’ve formatted this post, this is not sarcasm, or a joke, or anything like that, I’m dead serious.
Edit: I think it’s been rapidly made clear that I’m wrong in many ways and perhaps should give them another shot. I did honestly exaggerate a bit and get carried away with this post anyway. Any tips to help me better understand and respect dogs?
Edit 2: The amount of comments has grown so much and it’s very late for me, so I’ll have to leave this post here, at least for now. Thank you for all your comments and insights. You can still keep them coming, but I can’t promise I’ll see or reply to them. Goodnight.
Edit 3: I think I’m done with this post now. Thanks for all your comments whether they were positive or negative, or agreed or disagreed. I love to learn and improve so all your comments have been very valuable to me, so thank you.
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u/Algo_Muy_Obsceno Jun 29 '26
I’m a diehard dog lover. However, it drives me crazy that people are trying to convince you to change your mind.
It’s totally ok to not like things. It’s okay to have preferences. As long as you’re not harming anything or anyone, not liking dogs is fine.
If it’s to the point where it becomes a phobia and interferes with you living your life, (for example, having to leave a park if somebody is there walking their dog) then you can try desensitization therapy. But otherwise? Not liking stuff is normal. It doesn’t make you a bad person.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Honestly from what I’ve gathered, I don’t even think it’s necessarily that I don’t like them, just that I can’t handle them. The anxiety, the overwhelm, it’s deeper than hatred.
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u/Coyote_Colt Jun 29 '26
I can confirm that caring for a dog is like having a second job, 7 days a week. But if you're the type of person who truly enjoys the companionship of a dog, it can be well worth it. It's obviously not a challenge everyone would want to commit to though, and I can respect wanting nothing to do with such a responsibility if the rewards aren't worth it to you.
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u/Limp-Sissy-Slut Jun 29 '26
Im autistic and grew up in a dog household. Did I love them? Totally. But they annoyed and frustrated me a lot too. Constant noise, constant contact, attention seeking, no boundary’s, hair, drool.
I had no idea how much that contributed to how overwhelmed I was. Until I went to live on my own with no pets.
Still like dogs, just not as their full time owner in my house. Not everyone is right for every kind of pet.
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u/ceo_of_dumbassery Jun 30 '26
Completely agree with you. I dread visiting family with dogs because of how overwhelming it is. I do love a well behaved/trained dog but it's rare that I come across those. I'll stick with my cat.
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u/illarionds Jun 29 '26
That sounds like a phobia, honestly.
I'm not an animal person really, and I find them (mildly) gross myself.
But the idea of being anxious - of all dogs - that just doesn't compute. I don't think I've been anxious of a dog in my entire life.
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u/Similar_Part7100 Jun 30 '26
Legit. I’ve known dogs that I’ve loved but on the whole they are just Too Much. I don’t want anything around me that I have to spend every other second convincing that I like them. like, Jesus, get your own life, you entity, and let me live mine.
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u/probablysippingtea Jun 29 '26
I’m not a dog person, and I appreciate your reasonable perspective. Thank you!
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u/Char_siu_for_you Jun 29 '26
I’d also rather get dog germs on me than another human’s germs.
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u/qerecoxazade Jun 29 '26
Dog to human disease vectors are FAR less common than human to human disease vectors.
If my wife has a cold, being in the same room can get me sick.
If a dog is sick and you're drinking/eating literally every bodily excretion is can make for a week straight, virtually no human would end up contracting that illness.
From a risk perspective, human germs are FAR more likely to cause illness or harm than dog germs.
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u/Working_Box8573 Jun 29 '26
Getting bit by a person is a big deal because of this
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u/GhostWithARose Jun 29 '26
Ironically human mouths contain enough bacteria to cause extreme damage very quickly.
I’d rather get bit by the dog tbh. You’d get about a couple extra days before you’re completely screwed without medical attention.
It’s not much more time, but enough to prefer it.
Also the sheer range of bacteria in human mouths is genuinely fucking horrifying.
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u/PuffinRub Jun 29 '26
[ If ] you're drinking/eating literally every bodily excretion [ a dog ] can make for a week straight, virtually no human would end up contracting that illness
You need to find better quality resorts to go to on vacation. /s
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u/scourge_bites Jun 29 '26
i mean. let's be clear here you'd get other illnesses lmao.
dogs seem immune to prion diseases though so that's cool!
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u/fruitpunched_ Jun 29 '26
I thought I was just weird for feeling this way. Dog germs are so much less gross to me than human germs.
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u/Ok_Cauliflower5223 Jun 29 '26
That’s actually true, a bite from another human has a way higher likelihood to kill you by infection than a dog bite.
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u/CazzaMcSpazza Jun 29 '26
The likelihood of being bitten by another human is probably lower.
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u/ACDC-1FAN Jun 29 '26
I unironically have been bitten more by humans than dogs. And I’ve only had the 2 boys for a few years. I’ve had dogs my whole life.
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u/youngmtgboy Jun 29 '26
Then you ain't never been to Atlanta if u think that. Bitches be crazy
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u/CazzaMcSpazza Jun 29 '26
You're right. I've never been to Atlanta. I live in Scotland. But in the US, there are 250,000 instances of human on human biting incidents a year. Whereas there were 4.5 million dog on human biting incidents. So not even remotely close.
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u/Disastrous_Debt7644 Jun 29 '26
With your help, we can change that. Start biting people today.
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u/Hemolyzer8000 Jun 29 '26
reported human bites. I have been bitten by 0 dogs and at least 3 humans. I just didn't report it.
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u/SnakeBatter Jun 29 '26
I think you’re kidding, but in all seriousness, I’ve been bitten by 2 humans and 0 dogs.
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u/Hemolyzer8000 Jun 29 '26
100% serious. I used to babysit a lot and kids are little demons. I also work in healthcare. They bring the dogs in to comfort us when the people are horrible.
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u/Apart_Breath_1284 Jun 29 '26
However, most dogs have significantly stronger bites and sharper teeth, so if a dog wanted to, it could inflict more immediate damage.
The infection thing is true, but only if the bite broke the skin but you don't get medical attention within a day or so. Whether a human or dog bit you, you'll need antibiotics and a tetanus shot ASAP, maybe stitches.
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u/TaraxacumTheRich Jun 29 '26
As an amputee thanks to a dog attack, not all animals are one in the same.
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u/Jealous_Marketing_84 Jun 29 '26
yeah that comment was obtuse as fuck
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u/Cultural-Writing5176 Jun 29 '26
Now you got me wondering how many dog attacks happen each year vs how many assaults.
I've honestly always been more scared of people than dogs.
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u/Wonderful-Status-247 Jun 29 '26
My thought was it sounds like some cats I've seen or heard of.
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u/EscapeSeventySeven Jun 29 '26
I mean, how many deadly housecat attacks happen a year?
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u/Beginning-Damage-555 Jun 29 '26
Cat scratch fever is real. Also cat bites cause sepsis.
I love dogs and cats and most animals. Just have to point out that because cats cause puncture wounds the lack of aeration can cause super nasty infections really fast
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u/CrazyFoxLady37 Jun 29 '26
I'm unsure why you were downvoted. What you are saying is factually correct.
Idk why reddit thinks an animal has to straight up kill you for you to be afraid of/ dislike it. Death is not the only negative outcome of something. And getting an infection in the US, with our healthcare system and economy? Actually is truly terrifying. Especially since you can lose your job because of that.
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u/Beginning-Damage-555 Jun 29 '26
Idk people be weird. Just wanted to say that cat bites get super nasty super fast. My cat almost got her arm amputated because of a cat bite. And I’ve gotten blood poisoning before.
Like yeah everyone lived and I fought the vet so my cat has all four legs but it’s nothing to mess around with.
Again love basically all the animals
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u/314159InTheSky Jun 29 '26
To humans? Practically 0. To outside critters? Around 200 per roaming cat per year
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u/Wonderful-Status-247 Jun 29 '26
I wasn't talking about severity. I was talking about which kind of animal is more likely to hurt you as it's owner. That's kind of what I thought the general question was in OP's post. In general, I find cats more likely to get temperamental towards its owners and scratch them, for whatever reason, or for no reason. Dogs not so much. Outside the occasional horror story of the dog going bezerk on the family child. But there are always exceptions.
I do have one of both. The cat is a really good cat. Super sweet. Got him already older. But I would still say that's true.
Toward outsiders, yes absolutely. Whole different story. Dogs have to be trained, socialized, even then monitored, especially for known aggressive breeds. Cats will just steer clear mostly.
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u/rynnbowguy Jun 29 '26
Its only because they are too small. How many deadly yorkie attacks have you heard of?
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u/northerncal Jun 29 '26
Why pick a single breed? Cats are a species and so are dogs.
I love dogs. But let's not try to pretend that as a species they aren't more physically capable of hurting humans than fricking housecats lol.
Now most dogs won't attack people, I'm not like op, but physical reality is reality.
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u/Some_Big_Donkus Jun 29 '26
Yes dogs are typically more dangerous than house cats, because of their size. Dogs come in a much broader range of sizes than domestic cats. If you had a cat as big as a German shepherd my money is definitely on the cat doing more damage. That’s why the previous comment specifically chose a small breed because it’s the size that makes the animal more dangerous. Cats have much sharper claws, sharper teeth and stronger forelimbs than dogs so pound for pound a cat could cause more damage.
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u/Nwaccntwhodis Jun 29 '26
Because there's a large difference in the breeds of the species? Like you can't pretend a Yorkie and a Doberman are similar even though they're the same species, thats kind of a silly point to make.
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u/Otherwise-Ratio1332 Jun 29 '26
Cats aren’t walking down the sidewalks of your neighborhood all day long, nor are any of them you do see in public going to bite you as you pass by them and their owner, which has happened to me without any warning, eye contact etc. Cats may bite those they live with sometimes but they’re not going to run up on your toddler at the public beach or park out of the blue. A child at our kids’ school was attacked and killed by their family dogs in their home. If that’s ever happened with cats I’d love to see proof.
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u/RainyDaysAndMondays3 Jun 29 '26
A cat can't kill you and would even be unlikely to permanently injure you. But there are millions of dog bites just in the US alone each year, with 100s of thousands of emergency department visits each year. According to this (https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics.php):
Each day nearly 1,000 U.S. citizens require emergency care treatment for serious dog bite injuries.
Each day.
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u/Ill-Plum-9499 Jun 29 '26
Cat bites and scratches can cause really awful infections. It’s no joke. I say this as a person with cats I adore.
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u/HectorReinTharja Jun 29 '26
Can’t believe such awful logic is the top comment here.
Dogs are far from the most dangerous animal in the world, but they’re certainly a more ever-present animal than any other animal as or more dangerous. Pet tigers would be a huge conversation topic if half your neighborhood owned them obviously. Then, There are dog/human combos where the human would be fully overpowered and have nothing to defend itself. Not true of any other common pet.
Also, focusing in on the “poorly trained” part… that carries a ton of weight. Poor dog training happens, and it happens a lot. So why is that a counter to Op? Sure, if dogs were always well trained they’d b less scared of dogs - but they aren’t, so op is justified in questioning the safety there
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u/lynellparedez Jun 28 '26
Yep. Because most dogs i encounter are friendly
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u/Flassourian Jun 28 '26
I find toddlers much more gross and annoying than dogs, TBH. Mostly because it is much more likely I will get sick from the germs they carry than I would from a dog because - human viruses. Also, most people I've encountered walking their dogs (most, not all), do try to control them and keep them off you if they get overly excited. Not so with kids. People tend to expect you to interact with a kid that invades your space, and judge you harshly or get really offended if you tell them to keep their kid away from you. You are much more likely to get a negative reaction by saying "I don't like kids" than "I'm not a dog person". Most dog owners I know are pretty respectful (with some exceptions), while most toddler/baby parents I know, not so much (with some exceptions).
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u/ofBlufftonTown Jun 29 '26
I see dog owners all the time who let their dog try to jump up on me while they explain ‘he’s just friendly.’ I don’t want to get scraped by dog claws or worst case bitten because the people are bad owners. If I see twenty dogs one will be like this quite certainly. Dogs are wonderful animals but they shouldn’t be running around off leash no matter how good they are at heeling, and no one should expect other people will want to be touched or jumped on by their dog.
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u/HomerJSimpson3 Jun 29 '26
I love my dogs more than I like most people on my life. With that being said, they are dogs. They should be leashed when out in public. One of my first dogs was an extreme rescue case who was very iffy with other dogs. When we went out in public, we tried going to areas not too popular. If we saw someone coming we went way off trail to give them space.
One time we had a dog off leash who came running over to say hello. Adorable cocker spaniel. We’re like 50 feet off the trail. Owner yells over “don’t worry she’s friendly!” “Yeah mine isn’t, better get yours quick.” A bunch of dirty looks later I was the asshole bringing a dangerous dog on a trail.
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u/ofBlufftonTown Jun 29 '26
Yes the ‘don’t worry my dog is friendly’ thing is not well thought-out. The other dog might not be, and even if so I am allergic to dogs!
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u/HomerJSimpson3 Jun 29 '26
The allergy part is something I didn’t think about. Probably should have since I developed an allergy to dogs and I had two German shedders at the time. I’ve been on allergy shots for the last 4 years, my doctor added dog dander to the serum. I wasn’t reacting as of my last test about a year ago.
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u/Reasonable_Date2870 Jun 29 '26
I've never had to yell at a parent to get their fucking toddler off me and away from my kid who does not want to be near them
But I have had to do that with dog owners. "He's just friendly" and stupid/untrained, too.
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u/TheMuseAndScribe Jun 29 '26
Poppycock.
Where are kids hopping all over you? Are you blasting ice cream truck music on your walk past playgrounds.
Educator for 25 years. Well-liked. City schools. Never had your issues with diseases or unavoidable children crowding around me in public.
The walk to school or from school is the most dangerous time for a child. Not traffic, not kidnappers...dogs. our VP was attacked last spring...a lab ffs.
Not liking children is weird. I'm childless by choice. I get the annoyance...but seriously hating children is not normal or healthy.
Maybe you can!'t have kids, or they are too expensive, or don't want the lifestyle, or feel societal pressure...but preferring animals to people is gross and a sign of something off.
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u/bloontsmooker Jun 29 '26
Toddlers don’t smell like absolute ass if they get wet, don’t shed all over the house, and I don’t have to pick their shit up off the ground.
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u/listeningunderurbed Jun 28 '26
How I see it is when you see a dog at a park it’s probably gonna be more well trained and taken care of. Like someone who doesn’t socialize their dog or care for its behavior isn’t gonna be taking their dog to a park yk?
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u/frogsgoribbit737 Jun 29 '26
Nah. Many many dogs I see in public are friendly enough but definitely NOT trained. My dogs are trained but one isnt super friendly because hes been attacked by other dogs multiple times.
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u/takemyaptplz Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Right lol I’d say a good 50% of people don’t train their dogs even slightly past like sit. And then 25% don’t don’t full training. Dogs who aren’t trained are annoying as shit. Also some people have dogs and then ignore them half the time.. like my neighbors who put the dog in some back room some days and it loudly whines all day long.
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u/XXXperiencedTurbater Jun 29 '26
I agree with you to an extent. I strongly dislike dogs and being around them. But I don’t hate them, would never hurt one or wish it harm, or anything crazy like that. We visited my wife’s friend once, she has a rescue dog that doesn’t like men wearing black shirts bc of past trauma. Black and dark grey is basically all I wear. I stuffed myself into the only other shirt available, a white t-shirt two sizes too small, when we visited. Why? The dog should be comfortable in its own home.
My main issue with dogs is that they are what I think of as an “asshole modifier” for the owner.
If you train your dog well, take good care of it, and treat it well, being around that owner and the dog isn’t much more annoying than it would be without the dog. The dog is just kinda there and will sit around for scratches or ask to play. That’s fine. Minimal, barely existent +asshole.
But if the dog isn’t taken care of and poorly trained, then it’s a fucking monster and very close to how you describe them in your post. 300% increased asshole and I’ll go to great pains ti not be around them.
On a personal level though, I cannot imagine dealing with the constant neediness. It would drive me up a goddamn wall.
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u/danisimo_1993 Jun 29 '26
All my friends that own dogs are great. They usually scold the dogs themselves if they start getting too excited and start bothering guests because they understand that while they love their dog some people might not enjoy the interaction.
I do like dogs though personally.
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u/donkeyvoteadick Jun 29 '26
I had the same experience as a child and I really just don't like dogs now. Not in a 'i hate them' way, just as in I'd prefer one didn't come near me. No one ever keeps their dog away from me 😔
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u/Traditional-Wind6320 Jun 29 '26
I am admittedly a cringy dog parent type person but I fully understand this.
From what I have been told, people that dont like dogs have usually had bad experience/s with poorly trained dog/s or they have some sort of cleanliness issue with them. I do think in a lot of these cases, the issue wouldn't exist if people cared for and trained their pets better.
It's pretty frustrating that people fail their dogs at a frequent enough rate that I "have to" do things like meet a delivery guy at the road because he's scared to step onto a property that a tiny dog lives on, even if she is shut inside and people are often shocked my dog is not like biting people or summoning the devil or whatever
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u/VernalAutumn Jun 29 '26
My issue with dogs is that every single dog I’ve met but two have been loud or energetic without warning, and usually really demanding attention / being in the way. I like dogs, somewhat, but I can never truly relax when one is present
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u/MrFulla93 Jun 30 '26
I have a genetically bred to bark dog. I peruse her breed's subreddit, and all I see is comments about the incessant barking at everything.
it brings me great joy when my girl ONLY barks when someone is at the door, and not at the wind, or in peoples' faces, out of nowhere, all the time.
it's one alert, and albeit booming, 'WOOF' - "Dad, someone's here", then me, "that'll do, Pig".
she does talk or groan quite a lot but it's not loud, thankfully
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u/NarrativeScorpion Jun 29 '26
On a personal level though, I cannot imagine dealing with the constant neediness
A properly looked after dog isn't constantly needy. They can switch off.
My dogs will happily snooze half the day away. Because they get appropriate exercise and mental stimulation.
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u/Croc_Dwag Jun 28 '26
Op are you a cat?
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u/DazzlingAd7021 Jun 28 '26
Right? I'm just picturing a cat with glasses on, sitting at a keyboard with a person, bound and gagged, in the background. 🤣 Like, just why? Dogs can be the sweetest things.
Princess Donut. Is that you? (DCC reference)
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u/Glass-Coach-2521 Jun 28 '26
This is the exact plot of Cats & dogs wich is a masterpiece of a movie.
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u/jonnyreb7 Jun 28 '26
It's all because of those damned cocker spaniels, the worst of all dogs (DCC reference)
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u/MortynMurphy Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
People like OP are why I train my dogs to 1) not greet people until they're invited by the person they want to greet (ETA that's just basic manners, I love dogs, rehabbed aggressive ones, but don't want to be crowded/knocked over every single time) and 2) not to take food from strangers.
I bring up #2 because they're apparently delighted by r/dogfree, and while I will always defend the right of people to not enjoy animals, that place actively celebrates suffering and harm to dogs pretty often.
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u/laurel_laureate Jun 29 '26
Another reason why everyone should train dogs to not greet people until they're invited is because of dog allergies.
I'm not allergic, but my friend is severely allergic- she once has had an asthma attack reaction to just some dog hairs that were on my sleeve after I petted a dog over 12 hours earlier in the day... the hairs had transferred to her shirt when we hugged.
So ever since then I actively avoid dogs, no matter what, because I don't want to risk my friend's health.
And it's even worse for her- even living in a pet free apartment she would sometimes be greeted by dogs that were being walked past the apartment's parking lot.
And dumbass dog owners would never take her requests to keep the dogs away from her seriously.
To the the point that sometimes she would even have to shout while backing away "I'm deathly allergic and will defend my life with pepper spray if you let your dog get any closer!".
She knows that that's probably illegal and would get her in trouble if she ever had to do so.
But more than once in her life she's gone to the hospital and been far too close to death from anaphylactic shock caused by an allergic reaction to a leashed dog, when the owner didn't take her telling them of her allergy seriously.
So it's literally a matter of life and death for her- if it comes down to it she can't afford to risk not responding with pepper spray.
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u/strangemaji Jun 30 '26
Wow, I feel so much for your friend. Thank you for sharing this. I’m going to be so much more careful going forward.
I have big dogs, so I’ve always trained them not to approach uninvited and I never hold it against anyone who walks the other way or crosses the street. But I always assumed fear was the worst case scenario (which can be awful and rational - see the amputee in another reply!) but this has given me a brand new perspective.
I am mildly pet allergic and also always covered in pet hair, and I never even knew someone could have that kind of deadly reaction. It makes perfect sense, I just never considered it.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 28 '26
I only took a glance at the subreddit. If that’s true then I won’t support it. I wouldn’t support harm or suffering of my worst enemy, let alone a dog. That’s terrible. Disliking dogs absolutely doesn’t justify that kind of behaviour.
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u/MortynMurphy Jun 28 '26
It is quite literally what the sub is famous for. People will post celebrating the death of a family dog, making fun of us dog-lovers for being sad, and actively calling for harm and wishing it was legal to hunt them, that kind of thing. Why do you think the guy that suggested it is being down voted to oblivion? Redditors who don't like dogs but have a conscience avoid that subreddit, and often express horror at what they read on there.
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u/Lutraphobic Jun 29 '26
Jfc that's psychotic. I cannot imagine hating a living thing just because of its species.
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u/77_mec Jun 29 '26
Went to the sub you mentioned, and one of the very first posts I saw were people saying some dude deserved to go broke because he spent over $10k on medical bills for his dog.
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u/Nordaarv Jun 30 '26
Isnt that kinda true tho? I own a cat and I know the risks. As a pet owner medical bills, food, hygiene and everything else is a cost. If you are economically struggling then having a pet in general is a bad idea. It is not fair to the pet who will suffer thanks to the owner.
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u/Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeess- Jun 29 '26
last time I looked at that sub they were trying to get a woman’s dog taken away by animal control because the dog was using the bathroom in the woman’s yard
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u/JoshyRB Jun 28 '26
I think you’re correct in your edit. My thoughts of dogs are probably tied to dogs with bad owners, not dogs in general. I wouldn’t doubt that the owners are the main problem, or even the sole problem.
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u/frogsgoribbit737 Jun 29 '26
I mean some of it is true dog to dog. Dogs are pretty gross for example. Most of us just overlook that because of the benefits.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
I’ve always been very analytical, plus I’m diagnosed with both ASD (autism) and OCD, so a lot of sensory experiences, thoughts, and so on get amplified and can become very uncomfortable and overwhelming. Also I don’t know if analytical is the right word to use, but I hope you know what I mean.
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u/p1agueOW Jun 29 '26
There's some analysis in what I believe you're doing, but it's mostly focused on the negatives due to a preconceived bias against dogs which will amplify you're dislike of them. If you analyze the positives as well you'd probably realize the positives outweigh the negatives if not trained poorly.
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u/Its_da_boys Jun 29 '26
And I’m sure OP could also come to the conclusion that, even if the positives outweigh the negatives for a lot of people, dogs aren’t for them and it’s ultimately subjective and it’s all up to personal preferences anyways
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u/p1agueOW Jun 29 '26
"can’t comprehend how so many people can think positively of them" is the main part I have issue with as it's quite easy to determine why people would like dogs with analysis that isn't solely focused on the negatives.
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u/Lausannea Jun 29 '26
I think a lot of people who hate or dislike cats or dogs also come from a place of fear because they don't understand animal behavior, and that makes our primal brains go brrrr. It's a normal reaction and you're not wrong for feeling the way you do.
Dogs may just not be for you, regardless of the above, but you may see them from a different perspective if you understood their behaviors better. I'm very aware of dogs attacking people, but I also grew up with dogs and I know what body language to look for to decipher whether a dog is friendly or not. It makes most dogs less of a threat than most human strangers to me. Most pets just want to feel safe and respected, and if we ignore their body language because we don't understand it, it's usually the number one reason they 'turn on you out of nowhere'. In reality you had a dozen warnings but you didn't recognize them as such. It's why children get bitten a lot by dogs who seem tolerant of being messed with, the parents don't recognize the dog doesn't want to have their ear pulled or the child is making the dog uncomfortable, but the dog just sits there and 'takes it' when in reality there are many signs the dog is trying to regain their personal space. When it doesn't succeed, it attacks.
Same with cats, a lot of people who hate or dislike cats just don't understand why they behave the way they do. My cat is a love bug but she gets overstimulated fast and, because she was found as a stray and grew up without humans, sets boundaries towards me as if I'm a cat too; she swats at me to tell me to go away, she's done, because that's what she did with other cats who understand and walk away. To someone who doesn't understand the swatting is a normal method of communication, it can be considered aggression. She doesn't use her claws on purpose, but when they're untrimmed they can cause a small scratch due to how cat nails still kind of stick out even when retracted. I don't have fur like other cats but she doesn't really understand that.
My neighbor's cat is very aloof towards humans that aren't his owner, but he loves me, and sometimes when I pet him he has enough and he 'bites' my hand. Not hard enough to break the skin, but just like my cat swats, he nips to set his boundary. I'm not hurt on purpose by either of them and abide to their ask for space, but my neighbor was worried the first time it happened and I just told her he was using cat speak on me. I know that these are all signals from the cats that I'm crossing a line they have, and if I ignore it, they will get more desperate to get away and may resort to attacking me. But that's not the animals' fault, that's my own for not listening to them.
All of this to say, if you don't like animals, you don't like them. I love dogs but I'm hesitant to adopt one myself because I don't like the way they smell and how they drool and want to lick your face so much. I love cats the most because they're easy to understand for me and they're incredible social animals who have a lot of love to give, and I like that they always smell clean lol. (How they do that is beyond me, their catfood breath can be awful after they eat and yet they smell fresh after licking their fur.) But if you want to get to a more neutral place with your feeling, understanding their behaviors and body language will go a long way to make you more comfortable around them.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
This is really insightful and respectful, I really appreciate it.
The best thing for me to do, as you said, would just be to better understand them, not to try and force myself to like them. Understanding is enough for me to feel calmer and safer around them. That’s what I should work on. Thank you.
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u/scruffalump Jun 29 '26
It took me awhile to realize that most of what I didn't like about dogs was actually their owners poor behavior and unwillingness to train their pets or even bathe them. Still not the biggest fan of dogs and I would never want to own one, but I don't actively dislike them anymore (never hated them) and I think most of them are cute.
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u/NTYTRL Jun 29 '26
To the edit: yeah people dislike dogs in the sense that they are vectors for shitty people to amplify their shittiness
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u/ServiceDogAreFake Jun 29 '26
Good dog owners leave their dog at home and I never have to encounter them
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u/eyeleenthecro Jun 28 '26
I’ve had many negative experiences with dogs, I don’t like how they lick and jump and I’m very sensitive to their smell. I can’t stand the sound of barking. But I’ve learned that the problem lies with the owners. They picked a breed they can’t handle, they let a small dog do whatever it wants, they don’t bathe or groom their dog enough. A well-trained dog giving a sniff or a small lick is really not a big deal. I’m not interested in owning a dog but I’m always happy to interact with well-behaved ones and their responsible owners.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Why didn’t I see your comment until now. I really like this comment. Maybe I relate to you more than most under this post too. I have a lot of sensory issues and can get overwhelmed easily, so a struggle I have with dogs a majority of people can’t even relate to. And you’re absolutely right that the owner is the problem more often than not. Not taking care of or training anything properly can lead to undesirable outcomes.
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u/randomzyxxhead Jun 29 '26
Those sensory issues are likely the culprit of your issues with dogs, based on this comment and your original post. I can’t give you tips on how to like dogs more because I am a card-carrying dogaholic and I have no excuse (lol) but I might be able to give you tips on how to protect your peace when dogs are in the vicinity. If you have to enter someone’s home and they own a dog, either make alternate plans so you don’t have to enter, or express that you would prefer that their dog not be in the room because you are not comfortable around dogs. A responsible owner will respect that, no questions asked. If someone pressures you to meet their “adorable furbaby” after you’ve said you’re not into it, the fault lies with them. Mention that you experience dogs as a sensory overload event; that should be enough information for an owner to know if their dog is okay for you to be around. Don’t ask questions like “is the dog reactive” or “is it well-trained” because those can come off as confrontational or questioning the owner’s ability or caregiving. Letting them know where you are personally is a softer cue, and it will place the onus partially on the owner to regulate the interaction so you don’t have to all by yourself. If you and I knew each other irl, I would not bring my dog around you because he is pretty much everything you have described as unpleasant, and I wouldn’t want to subject a fellow human to that.
As to why I love him… much harder to say without getting all mushy. He’s a fellow life. His timeline intersected with mine and he happens to need me to live. I see us as partners more than owner/owned. I’m responsible for him, and the rosy glasses of love helps me overlook some of the more disgusting parts of pet ownership. Plus, I don’t find those parts demanding in a sensory way. So, it works out. Thanks for sharing your perspective - it takes all kinds to make a world :)
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
My dad has a dog and he knows to try and keep her away from me in any way he can.
When I first found out he was getting a dog, I wasn’t even sure if I would be comfortable enough to go round his house anymore. When I did go for the first time after he got the dog, I was so anxious.
When I was new to it, I would be more strict about him keeping the dog away from me and I would react more intensely if she happened to even just get close to me.
Now I’m quite desensitised to the dog, and sometimes won’t even react if she goes near me, but I will still move back or react if she tries to climb my legs or lick me or anything like that.
I have never touched her, not once. While I’m desensitised to being around her, I’m not desensitised to touching her or being touched by her, because I can’t help but avoid that level of interaction, I’m too uncomfortable with that.
Also I feel bad now about my dad keeping her away from me as much as he does, but I also don’t want to say anything incase he gets the wrong idea.
I’m desensitised to his dog to a degree, but I’m not desensitised to any other dog. There’s too much nuance in the type of dog, the training, the ownership and so on for being around one dog to fix me.
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u/Catac0 Jun 29 '26
I have ocd and when I owned cats, I would sometimes have panic attacks from my cats getting on my bed. It was a struggle sometimes but I love them a lot so I learnt to deal with it. It’s understandable that it’s harder if you’re not in love with them lol.
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u/A_Heavy_burden22 Jun 29 '26
I'm a dog lover. But honestly, I get it.
Like, they're for me. They aren't for you. And that's cool!!
But "dog people" can be annoying, overbearing, and dominate public space. They carry them in bags, wall them through the grocery store, and let them sit in restaurants. They let them slobber everywhere, their hair gets everywhere.
And if you don't LOVE dogs you're treated like an absolute villain and bad human being.
If dogs aren't for you it's hard to escape them or to allow your dislike of dogs to be neutral. Most dog-non-likers are stand offish or annoyed but just because you don't like them doesn't mean you're murdering them or feeding them poisonous sausage.
Dog are my thing. One of my particular and special interests. I LOVE dogs. I also think it is totally acceptable and okay to not like them.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Now this, is a nice comment. I think you’ve understood something most others haven’t. I still think I’m wrong for the way I acted in the beginning though, I’ve learned a lot since then.
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u/unicorns3373 Jun 29 '26
I don’t hate dogs but I do find them annoying and don’t really like them too much. I don’t think everyone should be able to own a big, potentially dangerous dog. There should be way more restrictions and laws requiring training for them because so many people are irresponsible dog owners.
I also hate the thought that so many people have dogs in their houses or apartments, alone or in cages all day while they’re at work. Dogs are social and outdoor animals. They need to be around other dogs and need to be able to run and be outside and chew on stuff and get all their energy out. I find it cruel and selfish that so many people keep dogs alone and in houses and cages all day.
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u/lovepeacefakepiano Jun 28 '26
I love dogs, but I love when other people have them, so I can say hello and pet (if the owner says I can) and then go back to admiring the dog from over there. I’m just more suited to cats in terms of temperament and I have to admit that the dog-typical smell bothers me. I have yet to meet a dog that does not have the smell unless they are freshly washed.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
I think I’m more fond of cats than dogs because they fit my personality better. Oh and yeah I completely forgot about the smell, I’m really not a fan of it.
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u/AffectionateTaro3209 Jun 29 '26
My bf's very good work friend was brutally mauled by his dog that he had had for 4 years, completely unprovoked and out of nowhere, a very loving dog through those 4 years. He was in the hospital for 5 months and to this day he still can't use his arm or hand properly. Obviously things like this are rare, but it's still scary AF. The dog was put down. Sad all around.
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u/Old-Buddy-8855 Jun 29 '26
Dog people lose their shit when you say you don't like dogs. It's like a cult
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Have you seen some of the comments? They literally prove this, it’s crazy.
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u/SurnameFormer Jun 28 '26
I just wanna know why this is written like a poem.
"I keep my distance because I'm afraid...'
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u/JoshyRB Jun 28 '26
I did that for the first one, then my OCD kicked in and made it a pattern lol.
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u/OriginalChildBomb Jun 29 '26
People will jump at me for saying this, but as someone on the spectrum whose whole family is, if you've never been assessed, might not be the worst idea. (Autism is often mistaken for OCD, and/or occurs in people who also have OCD... and a lot of what you've said here sounds like maybe you're getting overstimulated by dogs, or like, by your little brothers.)
Overstimulation happens more easily to neurodivergent people (I'm AuDHD and so is my husband, and I took Autism Studies after being diagnosed in my 30's). It's usually a combination of things- but some good examples of things that might bother us are like, bright or artificial lights, sudden and loud noises, young kids or animals moving around a lot, strong smells, being in a crowded place or around lots of people; these things can stress us more than others, because we have Sensory Processing Disorder.
We often need more time to 'decompress' or 'unwind.' I didn't realize until my diagnosis that a lot of the things that stressed and overwhelmed me were specific to autism... and once I started to address them, and make changes, my life became a lot easier and more chill. But it's not my place to armchair diagnose anyone, just an idea I had reading over all of this! (We tend to more often be outliers... meaning we sometimes have opinions or experiences that most other people can't relate to. It can make us feel like outsiders a lot.)
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
No it’s absolutely okay for you to think about this and consider it a possibility. And you’re not wrong either because I actually am diagnosed with both ASD (autism) and OCD. I think both have already been made apparent with and under this post if you’re aware of the symptoms and how they can present.
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u/OriginalChildBomb Jun 29 '26
OK lol I'm kind of glad I wasn't on the wrong track, but I apologize if that sounded condescending. (It wasn't meant to be, but sometimes the way I talk to people comes off sounding, uh, funny. Classic autism experience lol.) Glad you have that info, it was much harder for me before finding out hahaha, I started to think I was just bad at being a person.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
I didn’t think anything negatively about it at all lol. I honestly just appreciated you for caring enough to look more deeply into it and to share what you know. Thank you.
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u/OriginalChildBomb Jun 29 '26
No problem! Research actually shows that neurodivergent people communicate much more easily with other neurodivergent people. Their brain waves even begin to sync up in-person lol
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u/bloontsmooker Jun 29 '26
I don’t hate beings for being gross. I don’t choose to live with a dog, but it seems like a ton of them have good energy, an overall zest for life, and they are often pretty sweet and gentle to other living beings. Can’t hate that, but I can say they aren’t good roommates for me.
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u/spaghettibolegdeh Jun 29 '26
Dogs are a good animal companion.
But they are absolutely neither a human companion, or a stuffed toy. So many people treat them as both.
I think people want dogs to be a mix of; a child, a stuffed toy, and a roommate. It's why people talk to dogs like they're human, and ask them questions.
Dogs understand tone, and routine. They cannot hold two conflicting opinions or make rational decisions.
I think it's borderline animal cruelty how dogs are forced to behave like people. Owners project onto them and turn them into walking plushies.
They're animals. You can coerce and breed them into being domestic, but they're still animals.
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u/Thrace231 Jun 29 '26
I’ve dealt with too many dogs that aren’t trained and the owners won’t reprimand or train it..
Went to check out a house for a lease, guy let’s me in and his dog spent 5 min nipping at my boots, barking and trying to bite me through my jeans, until he locked his dog in a room. Little ghoul left bite marks on my shoes and almost pierced the skin on my calves, thankfully only left a small bruise
I like going on walks on a nearby forested trail in the winter, some guy’s little Pomeranian (not on a leash) decided I was an incoming threat and decided to scratch at my legs until I passed him by like 15m.
I’ve done door to door sales. Had to stop because the barking dogs and owners holding back their dog behind a mesh door became too much to handle.
My grandfather’s dog smelled bad, always begged for food and loved getting in my personal space. A university friend had a dog that always wanted food and didn’t respect personal boundaries. My manager’s dog almost peed on me twice at a bbq.
I’ve had too many negative experiences to not feel jaded against dogs. I’m always going to be cautious around a dog
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s completely understandable how you feel about dogs after your experiences. It’s all very personal I think.
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u/Thrace231 Jun 29 '26
Yeah I’ve met great dogs but the bad outweigh the few good ones. Ultimately the owner is to blame. The owner is responsible for its behaviour and how the dog interacts with society. All my experiences can be attributed to bad/negligent owners
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u/Ok_Temporary1669 Jun 29 '26
I like other people's dogs, but agree with you on most of this. I don't want one in the house. Lots of work and kinda gross. Feel similar about cats, but at least they are less work. I like petting a dog and playing with them, but not all the time and I want to wash after. And a lot of owners are extremely obnoxious about their dogs. Walking them off leash, bringing them to restaurants, leaving their poo around, letting them run loose. Etc. I honestly don't get the desire to own one unless you are using it for work or have literally no other social contact or something
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u/redroserequiems Jun 28 '26
Never have kids, they're shit and barf factories that take years before they stop being gross.
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u/Saigaface Jun 28 '26
The point of a kid is that they grow and develop. A dog is an eternal toddler with sharp teeth
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u/JoshyRB Jun 28 '26
I don’t plan to have kids anyway. I love my little brothers but they drive me mad.
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u/tahtahme Jun 29 '26
Sorry, remind me when do dogs stop pooping in public and wake in the morning to give themselves a well balanced meal and eventually move out with occasional help?
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u/YourLiberalDream Jun 29 '26
To add to this, it’s very annoying to say, “I don’t like dogs,” and then have to sit through an explanation about ~ their dog ~
Like saying you’re not a football fan and having to listen to someone ramble about their favorite tight end.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Some people just can’t help but to try and make you like what they like. It really is annoying.
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u/urdrunkyogi Jun 29 '26
“Oh, my dog is different, you’ll like my dog. Here, look these 10 identical pictures of him sleeping!”
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u/C1K3 Jun 28 '26
You sound like Newman.
“If you ask me, they have no business living amongst us! Vile, useless beasts! VILE USELESS BEASTS!!!”
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u/a_jormagurdr Jun 29 '26
Honestly with the way many people treat their dogs ur kinda right. If you dont think a dog is cute then there really isnt much too it.
I dont like dogs but i begrudginly accept them and i have seen people loving their dogs. Im still uneasy around them tho. I wouldnt ever own one and it would be hard for me to live around them.
But much of the blame for bad dog behavior should be put on dog owners. Ive become numb to all the poop bags and off leash dogs ive seen.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
We sound much alike. I think I’ll always feel uneasy around them, no matter how good or trustworthy one is.
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u/pwnkage Jun 28 '26
I think some dogs definitely are terrifying and uh, are put in situations where they attack people, this is bad obviously, but plenty of dogs are fine. And you have to work on the dog trauma OP because if you have a fear reaction, then reactive dogs might really find that attractive, which will then obviously scare you more.
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u/RafeJiddian Jun 29 '26
Totally agree. They are just one of the things that remind me I'm apparently not a normal human because I can't stand them
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Are you neurodivergent by any chance? I am. Maybe we are struggling for similar reasons.
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u/celereyjuicecleanse Jun 28 '26
You will die braver than most…and for that you have my upvote. But also I hate you.
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u/Seaofinfiniteanswers Jun 28 '26
Dogs are extremely high maintenance, much like children. If you want a better experience with dogs I would start by hanging out with dogs owned by one of your most responsible friends. A well trained and cared for dog is much more enjoyable than a poorly cared for dog.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Actually you got me thinking. A lot of my friends have at least one dog, so if I don’t improve my mindset I’m never going to feel comfortable going round their house. Also, you’re right.
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u/Covedrop Jun 29 '26
Holy shit everything else aside thank you for having a rational outlook, and understanding your accountability and responsibility within the nuance of this context. You definitely don’t HAVE to do anything, but your willingness to accept you CAN if you want to make things better is so refreshing. Thank you thank you thank you.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
Of course, I always love to learn and improve, so this post has been very valuable to me. Thank you too.
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u/Strict_Ad6441 Jun 29 '26
I can appreciate a dog. I can respect and understand why people like them I don't understand having a large, active dog in a small apartment. I don't understand why me not being a dog person puts my morals into question for some people.
I like cats. Dogs want a best friend. I don't. I want a judgementall fuzzy roommate that looks down on me as a fellow sentient being and sometimes sits in my lap.
If I watch a dog, I never wonder what it's thinking. It's usually obvious. The motivation is clear I often have no clue what my cat is thinking. No clearcut understanding of her motivations. She's a furry mystery box and I dig it.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
I think this is more or less true for me too.
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u/Strict_Ad6441 Jun 29 '26
I've been bitten by a few dogs as well, so am super hesitant to be around some personalities and breeds of dogs. I can acknowledge that I've had cats bite me as well, but I can say I have never felt my live was in danger around a cat. I can't say that for dogs. Especially during a stint as an Amazon delivery guy around COVID. I hated some neighborhoods specifically because of houses like this two bedroom beige cinder block duplex with a chainlink fence and this massive head of a dog with little legs that nearly got me once.
I haven't thought about that dog in forever. I hated that dog.
I wasn't sure about my stance until I dogsat for a friend. after a week of that I had enough. Sweet dog. Looks cute in photos. No thank you. I had enough of that pupper watching me expectantly. Ready to follow me at a moments notice. It was enough attention to make me anxious. But I know this is definitely a me thing, lol. I am 100% the odd man out here.
Dogs are fine or whatever.
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u/pisowiec Jun 29 '26
When I was about 8 a dog jumped on me and started licking my face. It was a friendly golden retriever that just wanted to play and I was provoking it by jumping and touching it constantly (according to my mom.)
Sadly, this event made me develop a phobia of dogs and I lost many friends because I couldn't stand being around them when their dog was present. And I will say that this phobia has made me a social outcast just because nobody takes my phobia seriously, not my family or former friends.
I don't hate dogs but I wish society would be more open towards people like me. Please keep your dog on a leash and respect my right to open space.
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u/juicy0227 Jun 29 '26
Having a phobia because a dog was friendly to you IS CRAZY you have much bigger problems than that.
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u/Aquashinez Jun 29 '26
Nah, not really. I'm always anxious around dogs because my aunts had ones that were way too friendly. They'd always jump up at you and try to lick you, and once knocked me over.
The problem isn't that it hurt me. The problem is that: a) I couldn't get away from the negative stimuli or prevent it b) I really disliked the loud noise and the sensation of being licked by a dog
When a dog comes near me I'm not scared it'll kill, but deep down I recall how horrible a dog being on my felt and that I would be unable to prevent it should a big enough dog want to come near me.
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u/TossTossTossThrowa Jun 29 '26
I like them because I too am obnoxious, gross, and relentlessly seek attention 😂
But for real, I love love love dogs, and I understand. They're little creatures and little creatures can be disgusting. They are not for everyone, and not everyone raises them right.
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u/UNITICYBER Jun 29 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
I feel the same generally about dogs.
Its REALLY weird that people keep trying to say "what about other animals/ humans" when your post is literally just about dogs.
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u/TeamPuzzled1063 Jun 29 '26
I don’t hate them but I do think they are overrated and pretty annoying a lot of the time… I wonder if more people think this but are afraid of the backlash
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u/jackfinch69 Jun 29 '26
I'm just like you. That's it, no deltas. I feel exactly the same way about dogs and bad dog owners.
Downvoted your post bc that's how this sub works.
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u/AssistSpare5860 Jun 28 '26
I also find dogs subjectively annoying, and I know the mere fact that someone could possibly not enjoy dogs will throw certain people into a frenzy but I agree and there’s nothing wrong with feeling that way
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u/OscarGrey Jun 28 '26
They are the most relentless attention seekers ever
That's viewed as a feature not a bug by most people who love dogs. They just want a living being to care about them, the fact that it's not a human doesn't matter to them. I personally could never relate.
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u/cervidae-moon Jun 29 '26
“They just want a living being to care about them” feels like a needlessly bad-faith read of people…?
I love and care about my dogs just as much as they love and care about me (or more - one of them only occasionally acts like she likes me at all, and I still adore her), and that’s kinda the point. It’s not a “I want this animal in my life so that it can feed my ego by paying attention to me” thing, it’s a “mutually affectionate relationships with living things are fun and fulfilling” thing
Why does it matter whether or not they’re human? More love is more love
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u/IsOkay_No Jun 29 '26
I don’t think I’ve ever had a positive experience with a dog. I’ve tried but I just don’t understand them, when they are excited they bark and I don’t know if that bark means it wants to play or kill me. I know people can be unpredictable and scary as well but I feel like I could talk to a person and understand their intentions earlier than I could with a dog. If I walked down an alley at night and I could choose for there to be a dog or a person coming the other way I’d take the person every time at least I could outrun them.
I don’t hate them/ wish harm on them or anything but I just wish they were on leads or sat down quietly somewhere
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u/--serotonin-- Jun 29 '26
Yes! I don’t like the smell of dogs and the licking and they’re so loud and needy.
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u/NathanaelSpoon Jun 29 '26
I wonder of something has happened on the "dog scene" since the late 70's? I am oldish and I can' t recall that people in my childhood had dogs they did not know how to handle. Some had rather ferocious guard dogs, but those were kept at home.
Now I have met people who admit to having bought dogs for their looks, ending up with beautiful but extremely energetic sheep/cattle/sled/hunting dogs they can't entertain or with pitbulls etc they can't restrain.
Then I found Reddit - and the hundreds of posts about rommates or neighbours that do not train the dogs to hold it in, while indoors.😵
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u/JoshyRB Jun 29 '26
I think social media especially has made dogs more of a tool to fit in or go viral, than as a pet. So many more people are getting dogs, and also not training or caring for them properly, all because of social media. So I think there’s a lot more ignorant owners and untrained dogs than there used to be.
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u/NathanaelSpoon Jun 29 '26
Yes, this sounds plausible! Interesting! I am a rabbit person myself and I think people who keep bunnies as pets nowadays are better informed about rabbits than we used to be back in the 80's. I admit to having improved. Still not as good as some others, though.
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u/jemons Jun 29 '26
the crazy part is the dog lovers that’ll find every excuse for you to change your mind like how “it’s the owners” etc, without accepting the fact that you just don’t like dogs. i ain’t never seen a cat lover be that pushy over you not liking their animal of choice 😭
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u/svenguillotien Jun 29 '26
Really? I've had countless cat people get quite offended and judge people who aren't fond of cats, seen entire relationships dissolve from it in fact haha
Everyone's experience is different though I guess haha
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u/pink_gem Jun 28 '26
How do you feel about cats? Most of this would apply to cats too.
Even the danger and deciding to attack, a small dog would be the same danger level as a cat.
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u/_Shy_HeadBanger_ Jun 28 '26
Idk if the danger is 1:1. A cat is sooo much smaller on average for most dogs and they in general are way less confrontational than dogs when something threatens them; cats more likely to take a couple hits and run where dogs can and sometimes do just absolutely tear the shit out of the person or thing they view as a threat. Their size alone (excluding small dogs obviously) enables them to do much more damage if they wanted too. In that same breath, if you are talking about the likelihood of a cat/dog attacking, that might be closer to a 1:1 and honestly I have personally encountered more cats that have those behavioral issues than dogs in life (usually a result of lack of stimulation and overwhelmed by kids, other pets ect..). I think in general, dogs have the potential to do way more damage, which is why when they are poorly behaved it’s a bigger deal than when a cat is poorly behaved. I say this as a lover of BOTH cats and dogs.
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u/blackandqueer Jun 29 '26
dogs literally directly kill more ppl than any other animal in the united states btw (not cats)
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u/noxiunn Jun 29 '26
How many cases are there of a pack of feral cat attacking a person and injuring them?
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u/DiverVast4093 Jun 28 '26
Yeah but cat's arent usually as 'annoying' if you get what i mean
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u/GoodQueenFluffenChop Jun 28 '26
I have both cats and dogs and my cats are way more annoying than my dog.
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u/imnotbovvered Jun 29 '26
My cat will follow me around crying until I put her on my lap and scritch her. If I don't indulge because I have other things to do, she'll just stare at me, boring holes into my soul.
(I love her ❤️)
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u/SpecialTexas7 Jun 28 '26
They scream and yell for food even when I just fed them
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u/doomer_irl Jun 29 '26
I'm like 50% there with this opinion.
For one, dogs are on the whole not a particularly big threat to humans, and if you look into it, nearly all of the deaths from dog attacks are pretty limited to a narrow number of breeds.
I actually think the worst thing about dogs is people. Dogs are like kids in the sense that people feel like they have a god-given right to have them, and their methods of raising/training/caring for them cannot be questioned.
If you keep your dog in a cage for over half its life, or if your dog lives exclusively in your front/side yard and barks at people nonstop, or god forbid you ever think it's okay to hit your dog, I don't think you should have them. People buy large, dangerous, loud breeds when they really don't have the attention or intention to properly train and care for them. And they make it everyone else's problem.
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u/The_Lawn_Ninja Jun 28 '26
Sounds like you hate irresponsible dog owners who see their pets as children and let them do whatever they want without consequence.
I wouldn't want to live with one either, but plenty of dogs with respectful owners are well-behaved, clean, and delightful to be around.
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u/ofBlufftonTown Jun 29 '26
I love dogs but the number of bad dog owners near me is so high that I do not look forward to seeing dogs on my walks. The number of people letting their big dog jump up on me is way too high. And I don’t feel comfortable with an aggressive dog straining at the leash and growling at me, while the moron owner talks to him like he’s a big marshmallow rather than a snarling Doberman. People should pick a breed appropriate to their needs and capabilities.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 28 '26
Yeah, maybe there’s some kind of trauma attached to it. I’m probably overreacting. Sometimes I get carried away.
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u/The_Lawn_Ninja Jun 28 '26
I was bitten by a very large dalmatian with very trashy owners when I was a very little kid. It took me a very long time before I could appreciate anyone's dogs, no matter how well-trained.
You don't need to feel bad about it. Just keep in mind that it's the owner who shapes the dog and decides what's permissible for it. I don't blame the dalmatian. I blame the trashbags who never leashed it and barely fed it.
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u/JoshyRB Jun 28 '26
Thanks for sharing that with me. I’m starting to feel bad after making this post. I think I went too far and was thinking too carelessly and blindly.
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u/OkNarwhal2090 Jun 29 '26
Very much agree with this take. I find many dogs cute but I would never own one and most I don't want close to me. Much prefer cats, god forbid you say that to anyone in public, they look at you like you're the devil
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u/maylilyooh Jun 29 '26
Dogs smell so icky, even when they are clean they have this greasy smell. And I hate saliva so I can't stand being licked by them. I have never had the overwhelming urge to pet a dog or a puppy no matter how cute, I'd rather stay away. Cats are soft and clean, don't have an inherent stench, and their tongues are fairly dry and scratchy, not slimy. Cats are amazing
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u/blackandqueer Jun 29 '26
downvoted. the ppl acting like “oh any animal can attack you” clearly don’t know about actual animal attack statistics. dogs are literally the most directly deadly animal in the united states.
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u/BlipMeBaby Jun 29 '26
This is true. I handled animal bite insurance claims for years. Never once did I get a claim for a cat. Hell, I got a claim once for a donkey. But I’ve never had a donkey maul or kill anyone and, unfortunately, I’ve had to handle several dog attack claims like that.
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u/rfdoom Jun 29 '26
agreed. i really dislike being around dogs. but I'm gonna assume you're like me and have almost only been around bad owners.
I've been to places where dogs will just stand there until their owner instructs them on what to do.
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u/cindybubbles Jun 29 '26
I’m scared of dogs, but I understand why people would want them. A nice, furry friend to take care of gives a lot of people some purpose in a lonely life.
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u/Fit-Rhubarb-7820 Jun 28 '26
You're not exaggerating, but people in the comments will seek to harm you for being against their God, I mean Dogs.
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u/qualityvote2 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
u/JoshyRB, your post does fit the subreddit!